Michael Alvaro

Ones to Watch: 2025 Victorian Under 18 trials
WERRIBEE sets the scene for Friday’s Victorian Under 18 trials, with prospects pressing their case for a shot at representing the ‘Big V’. Players from outside the initial Country and Metro talent hubs will be particularly keen to leave an impression. We highlight 12 who you should keep an eye on. >> SQUADS: 2025 Victorian […]

RMC MEDAL | Saxena stocks skyrocket in RMC Medal race
OAKLEIGH Chargers livewire Jai Saxena has stormed atop the Rookie Me Central Medal leaderboard after a second consecutive best afield performance. The Collingwood Next Generation Academy (NGA) prospect booted five goals in his side’s Round 3 loss to Sandringham after breaking out last week. >> SCROLL for the Round 3 votes & leaderboard Saxena, tied […]

Victorian Under 18 trial squads released
SQUADS have been announced for Friday’s Victorian Under 18 trials, where Country and Metro will go head-to-head in a pair of showcase games. The fixtures serve as an audition for budding representative prospects to press their case to represent the Big V at this year’s National Championships. >> SCROLL to see the full squads Set […]

Scouting Notes: 2025 Coates Talent League – Round 3
A COUNTRY triple-header was the highlight of Round 3 in the Coates Talent League, with the absence of AFL Academy members allowing prospects to emerge across the weekend. For the final time in the first block of the season, we outline some of the top performers from each game in our Scouting Notes. >> CTL […]

2025 CTL | Round 3 Team of the Week
LOCAL rivals Sandringham Dragons may have stolen the last laugh, but Oakleigh Chargers came away with a high of four representatives in our Coates Talent League Team of the Week for Round 3. Every region contributed to this week’s edition – see who made the cut of our 24-player squad. >> CTL ROUND 3: Snapshot […]

Scouting Notes: 2025 SANFL U16 Showcase Game
PORT Adelaide earned bragging rights in the 2025 SANFL Under 16 Showcase Game, as part of the weekend’s Gather Round festivities. The Power’s Next Generation Academy (NGA) side held on to beat the Crows Academies outfit by five points in a high-paced shootout at Tanunda Recreation Park. South Australia’s top Under 16 talent converged for […]

2025 State Game Player Focus: Louis Pinnuck (VFL)
THE 2024 Werribee premiership team has produced three AFL exports, with Norm Goss Medallist Jack Henderson joining Aidan Johnson at Melbourne, and dasher Riley Bice being drafted by Sydney. That came after Shaun Mannagh‘s exploits in the 2023 decider led to him being picked up by Geelong. Plying his trade alongside each of those players […]

Scouting Notes: AFL Academy vs. Richmond VFL
THE AFL Academy made its first outing for the year in one of two showcase games against VFL opposition, going down to Richmond by 13 points at RSEA Park on Sunday. After falling 31 points down at half time, the Under 18 crop rallied after the main break to finish with more scoring shots in […]

2025 CTL | Round 3 Player of the Week: Thomas McGuane
WESTERN Jets midfielder Thomas McGuane is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after stuffing the stats sheet in Round 3. The Collingwood father-son gun racked up 38 disposals, 10 clearances and six inside 50s to stand tall in his side’s 59-point loss to Eastern Ranges. McGuane, the son of 152-game Magpie champion Mick, […]

Snapshot: 2025 Coates Talent League – Round 3
THE FIRST block of the Coates Talent League season has been completed, with many players now turning their attention to the upcoming Victorian trial games. Gippsland Power and Sandringham Dragons have set themselves apart as the only two remaining undefeated sides after three rounds. Catch up on all the latest action from the weekend in […]

PREVIEW | Powerhouse local rivals lock horns
ROUND 3 of the 2025 Coates Talent League season gets underway tomorrow, headlined by the match between local rivals Sandringham Dragons and Oakleigh Chargers. That fixture is followed by an all-Country triple-header in Bendigo on Sunday, which clashes with the AFL Academy showcase.

PREVIEW | AFL Academy vs. Richmond VFL
WHILE Gather Round rages on over in Adelaide, the AFL Academy will converge in Melbourne for the first of two exhibition matches. Richmond VFL is the Under 18 outfit’s first opponent, with the matchup slated for Sunday afternoon at RSEA Park. Coburg is up next at Whitten Oval on Sunday April 27. >> SCROLL for […]