Michael Alvaro

2024 Coates Talent League: Round 8 TOTW
EVERY Coates Talent League region which featured in Round 8 is represented in our Team of the Week, with nine of the 10 teams laying claim to multiple entrants. The Dandenong Stingrays and Lions Academy are among five clubs to have three players in the squad after their thrilling draw. See who made the cut. […]

2024 Coates Talent League: Round 8 POTW
TASMANIA Devils over-ager Geordie Payne is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after stuffing the stats sheet in Round 8. The mid-season draft prospect racked up 29 disposals, seven marks, nine inside 50s, and four goals in his side’s 42-point win over Eastern Ranges on Sunday. Payne has been in ripping form over […]

Scouting Notes: WA U18s vs. WAFL U21 All-Stars
WESTERN Australia’s state Under 18 side has come up agonisingly short of an unlikely comeback victory in Saturday’s trial match against the WAFL Under 21 All-Stars. The Sandgropers’ elder counterparts were wasteful at Fremantle Oval, but held on to win by seven points in the face of a spirited late surge. With seven behinds being […]

Scouting Notes: 2024 South Australia U18 vs. U20
SOUTH Australia’s Under 18 side has made it two wins from as many trial games in 2024, after defeating the state Under 20s in Saturday’s annual Youth Match at Thebarton Oval. The younger outfit trailed by two points at the opening two breaks but piled on seven goals in term three to take the ascendancy. […]

Snapshot: 2024 Coates Talent League – Round 8
AS THE Northern Academies completed their Coates Talent League stints, the reigning premier is no longer undefeated in 2024, and Dandenong’s dramatic draw with the Lions Academy made for an unlikely match of the weekend. Catch up on all the Round 8 action in a snapshot.

Weekend Preview: State trials rage on ahead of championships
STATE trial games in South and Western Australia headline the pathway football action this weekend, while the Coates Talent League season rolls on into Round 8. The Under 18 Croweaters take on a state Under 20 outfit, while the Sandgropers will lock horns with an Under 21 counterpart. South Australia’s second trial comes after last […]

Scouting Notes: 2024 Coates Talent League – Round 7
WITH all bar one Under 18 representative squad announced, Coates Talent League prospects continued to up their games in Round 7. A massive six games played out on Sunday following a standalone clash on Saturday, leaving plenty of talent to highlight in the latest Scouting Notes instalment. >> 2024 CTL Round 7: Snapshot | POTW […]

Purple Patch: Ormerod rips open second quarter
NORTHERN Knights top-ager Riley Ormerod had a day out on Sunday, booting six goals in Northern’s runaway win over Bendigo. The 173cm prospect snared four in a second quarter shootout to help turn a one-point deficit into an 11-point lead at half time. We recap all the action in his 15-minute purple patch. BREAKDOWN TIME […]

Three Metro guns tied for top spot in RMC Medal
A TRIO of Vic Metro midfielders are tied for first place in this year’s Rookie Me Central Medal count, with two returning best afield performances in Round 7 of the Coates Talent League. Namely, Zak Johnson (Northern), Josh Smillie (Eastern), and Jagga Smith (Oakleigh) all have a high of 10 votes to their names. >> […]

2024 Allies Under 18 squad announced
THE ALLIES’ squad for this year’s Under 18 National Championships has been announced, comprising of 31 players from NSW-ACT, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania. The reigning title holders will look to defend their crown under new coach Mitch Hahn after 2023’s historic undefeated campaign. >> SCROLL to see the full squad & fixture NSW-ACT and […]

2024 Coates Talent League: Round 7 TOTW
AFTER playing out a thriller against each other last week, the Brisbane Lions Academy and Eastern Ranges boast a high of four Coates Talent League Team of the Week representatives each in Round 7. A stacked seven-game weekend sees players from 12 regions feature in the 24-man squad. >> 2024 CTL Round 7: Snapshot | […]

Purple Patch: Wes Walley finds early form
SUBIACO bottom-ager Wesley Walley produced a scintillating first quarter in his side’s Round 7 win over South Fremantle, booting four goals to kickstart the 75-point mauling. The bottom-ager booted the opening three majors of the match within four minutes, before adding a fourth late in the term. The Lions’ five unanswered goals at the first […]