Up the Grades: Mellody on song to end Eagles’ finals hopes
CLAREMONT prospect Heath Mellody has starred in just his second WAFL League game, leading all comers as the Tigers’ ended West Coast’s finals hopes. Turning out alongside fellow Under 18 All-Australian George Gale, the midfielder now looks destined for a senior postseason berth. Elsewhere around the country, pick one fancy Dougie Cochrane stood tall despite […]
VFL Player Focus: Jackson Phillips (Casey Demons)
DANDENONG Stingrays midfielder Jackson Phillips made a promising VFL debut for Casey Demons over the weekend in what was the final fixture of the home-and-away season. The 18-year-old took the field in a game where both sides fielded a whopping 17 AFL-listed players, and Box Hill saluted by 57 points. Phillips has enjoyed a steep […]
VFL Player Focus: Tanner Armstrong (Richmond)
RICHMOND-TIED prospect Tanner Armstrong has added another jewel to his crown, as he made his VFL debut for the Tigers on Saturday. Armstrong has been a member of Richmond’s Next Generation Academy (NGA) for five years, and was a key cog in the Vic Country Under 18 side in 2026. The tenacious 177cm defender/midfielder assumed […]
VFL Player Focus: Cooper French (GWS Giants)
GREATER Western Sydney (GWS) has another emerging star coming through its academy, with bottom-ager Cooper French making his VFL debut over the weekend. The energetic midfielder-forward kicked a crucial steadying goal in the final term of his side’s 13-point win over Gold Coast in Blacktown. French, a native of Ainslie in the ACT, was the […]
VFL Player Focus: Darcy Szerszyn (North Melbourne)
DANDENONG Stingrays vice-captain Darcy Szerszyn was among the latest batch of state league debutants over the weekend, turning out for North Melbourne’s VFL side. The highly touted defender matched up on a couple of AFL-experienced adversaries in the Roos’ 46-point loss to Footscray at Arden Street Oval on Friday. Fellow draft hopeful Khaled El Souki […]
Up the Grades: Top prospect makes long-awaited return
JUNIOR talent continues to filter up the grades in the back-end of season 2026, with the latest batch headlined by top draft prospect Dougie Cochrane. The Port Adelaide aligned utility made his long-awaited first appearance for the season having been sidelined by knee tendinitis. While he made his club debut for the Port Magpies, several […]
VFL Player Focus: Caylen Murray (Brisbane Lions)
IT WAS an exciting couple of days for Brisbane Lions Academy prospect Caylen Murray. After being awarded honours as half-back in the Under 18s All-Australian side, Murray found himself competing against North Melbourne for the Lions VFL side a few days later. Coming off the back of a standout performance for the Allies in June, […]
Player Focus: Meaney, Medved team up in Swans smashing
SYDNEY Swans fans can anticipate another strong wave of academy talent this year, headlined by a pair of recent VFL debutants. Emerging defender Jake Medved was the latest to earn a state league berth, joining smooth moving midfielder Henry Meaney at the level in Round 18 over the weekend. Both prospects were recently part of […]
Up the Grades: State teammates turn rivals in WAFL
WEST Coast father-son prospect Harper Banfield and state teammate Harvey Spawton-Guy were among the next wave of state league debutants over the weekend. Banfield claimed bragging rights in that WAFL matchup, while Jake Medved helped the Swans claim bragging rights over their local rivals. Elsewhere, Allies MVP Caylen Murray was back in action for Brisbane […]
Up the Grades: State stars, club-tied talent climb the ranks
STATE captains, club-tied talent, and many other representative stars were among the promising juniors to turn out at state league level over the weekend. South Australian standout Kodah Edwards debuted for South Adelaide, as did Essendon-tied prospect Blake Justice and Fremantle Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Joshua Nathan in the WAFL. Catch up on how […]
