2025 Coates Talent League: Calder Cannons season preview
CALDER Cannons are stacked with club-tied talent across every age group in 2025, with Essendon fans likely to take a particular interest in the local region for years to come. Headlined by a pick one contender, the Cannons head coach Sam Willett says his side is set to play an exciting brand of footy. PRESEASON […]
Scouting Notes: Giants pipped in Summer Series thriller
THE GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) Giants Academy has gone down in a three-point thriller to AFL Canberra in their Summer Series clash at Alan Ray Oval. After a 61-point defeat at the hands of AFL Sydney last week, the Giants proved much more competitive against their local Under 22 adversaries. AFL Canberra kicked ahead in […]
Gulden the guide for Coates Talent League prospects
SYDNEY Swans star Errol Gulden was a popular answer to the question ‘which AFL player do you mould you game on?’, at the recent Coates Talent League preseason testing day. 41 top-age players in the Vic Country, Vic Metro, and Allies training squads were surveyed, with 52 different AFL players put forward. >> SCROLL to see […]
2025 Coates Talent League: Bendigo Pioneers season preview
BENDIGO Pioneers are hitting their stride at the pointy end of preseason, boasting a pair of top-age prospects in the Vic Country summer training hub, five returning over-agers, and one standout bottom-age father-son gun. We chatted to coach Danny O’Bree about all of the above, and much more. PRESEASON “We were probably a little bit […]
Preseason Q&A: Thomas McGuane (Western Jets)
COLLINGWOOD fans are rejoicing the impending arrival of yet another father-son gun in Thomas McGuane. The son of 152-game premiership Pie and ever-present footy brain Mick, McGuane junior projects as a prolific onballer with crafty skills and high footy IQ. McGuane, who represented Vic Metro at Under 16 and 17 level, is part of the […]
Scouting Notes: Bolstered Swans stay undefeated in Summer Series
SYDNEY Swans Academy have taken out more senior opposition twice in as many weeks after dispatching the AFL Sydney U22s by 19 points at Blacktown International Sportspark on Saturday. The Swans were challenged but led at every break despite less accurate goalkicking to move to a 2-0 record. Bolstered by the return of National Academy […]
Preseason Q&A: Harley Hicks (GWV Rebels)
GREATER Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels speedster Harley Hicks impressed at the weekend’s Coates Talent League preseason testing event, posting the competition’s top standing vertical jump (88cm). A dynamic athlete native to Deniliquin, he’s looking to earn more midfield minutes as a top-ager in 2025. We chatted to Hicks about the year ahead, his strengths as […]
Preseason Q&A: Jack Dalton (Sandringham Dragons)
HAVING burst onto the scene as Vic Metro’s captain and MVP in the title-winning Under 16 side of 2023, Jack Dalton is perhaps flying under the radar heading into his top-age campaign. A syndesmosis injury at the start of last year couldn’t stop him from helping Sandringham take out a third straight flag, and now […]
Preseason Q&A: Kalani White (Suns Academy)
TWO CLUBS, one gun prospect. Kalani White faces a difficult choice in his draft year, tied to a pair of clubs via father-son (Melbourne) and academy (Gold Coast) eligibility. While he is keeping his cards close to his chest with no timeline on a decision, White has already garnered plenty of attention. The 17-year-old was […]
Star Turn: Patterson puts speed on show
REPRESENTATIVE football presents the chance not only for prospects to show their wares on the big stage, but also for states to showcase their talent pool. Queensland did so last year with a win over Vic Metro in the Under 17 Futures trials, unveiling a raft of stars to the wider footballing audience. One of […]
Scouting Notes: Giants cut down to size in Summer Series
THE GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) Giants Academy has been comfortably beaten in its opening Summer Series outing, going down to the AFL Sydney Under 22s by 61 points. After a goalless opening quarter, the victors kicked away with 10 majors to one across the second and third terms. Inaccuracy cost the Giants a kinder scoreline, […]
Star Turn: Hibbins-Hargreaves’ hurt factor highlighted
DANDENONG Stingrays utility Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves became synonymous with kicking crucial goals in 2024, doing so regularly across a strong bottom-age campaign. Mixing his time between the wing and forwardline, he booted 23 majors in 16 games at an extraordinarily efficient rate (82 per cent). Having represented Vic Country at Under 16 level and made his […]
