
#3
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
height: 186cm
weight:
D.O.B: 16-11-2007
Leagues: AFL U18 Championships, Coates Talent League Boys
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Snapshot
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Analysis
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Summary
SNAPSHOT: “A developing utility who harnesses his star factor to step up in big moments with his important goals.” – Michael Alvaro
Few can lay claim to being as clutch as Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves. The Dandenong Stingrays prospect possesses obvious class and has been able to showcase it in glimpses this year amid several injury setbacks. He has long been on the radar, too, having made his Coates Talent League debut as a 15-year-old in 2023, fresh off representing Vic Country at the Under 16 National Championships.
As a bottom-ager in 2024, he made 16 appearances for Dandenong. That was the year he established himself as a man for the big moments, with 11 of his 23 goals coming in fourth quarters – including a game-winner against Bendigo. He also broke through for a berth at the Under 18 National Championships, travelling over to Western Australia and going on to be selected in the National Under 17 Futures squad.
On the back of a stellar bottom-age campaign, Hibbins-Hargreaves followed through with induction into the AFL Academy for 2025. He was also named co-captain of the Stingrays, and while he did not participate in preseason testing after having injections in his calf, recovered in time for Round 1. A sprain in the AC joint of his shoulder soon after kept him out of those two Academy games, signalling an early setback.
Once back in action, Hibbins-Hargreaves produced moments of magic at the National Championships, including four goals to almost drag Vic Country over the line against Western Australia. Although, another setback came his way in the form of a concussion suffered in the final game of the carnival, against Vic Metro. It meant he missed out on a possible VFL debut with Richmond.
Upon returning to Dandenong’s setup, he got to showcase his evolving midfield craft and was selected in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year. He was also called up to the National Draft Combine but missed through illness. Hibbins-Hargreaves is a Western Bulldogs supporter, credit to playing his junior football in identical colours at Mornington. Will Day is a player he looks up to for his versatility, and he remains close to former teammate Harvey Langford, who took him under his wing during a preseason stint at Melbourne.
Click the ANALYSIS tab for more
STRENGTHS:
+ Class
+ Decision making
+ Finishing
+ Overhead marking
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Versatility
IMPROVEMENTS:
- Durability
- Ground balls
Hibbins-Hargreaves has done much of his best work as a forward over the years, but is insistent on proving he is more than just a goalkicker. With plenty of exposure up on the wing and development as an onballer this year, Hibbins-Hargreaves has added strings to his bow and offers a highly developable profile - one which remains relatively untapped to this point.
His effectiveness as a forward is down to several factors. He's a difficult matchup, proving quick off the mark when leading but also strong overhead. That means both small and tall opponents have a hard time containing him. Hibbins-Hargreaves is a deadeye finisher to boot, converting at an 82 per cent rate for Dandenong last year, and popping up for important late goals throughout his junior career.
He can finish from any angle or situation, both in open play and over the mark. Further to his exploits inside 50, Hibbins-Hargreaves is also an effective ball user around the ground. His class and decision making have long been on show as a wingman, where he hardly wastes a touch. His ability to connect the lines on the outside is largely credit to short, sharp and accurate foot skills.
Hibbins-Hargreaves' clean hands are another asset adaptable across several roles. He sought to work on his ground ball cleanliness this year and that was evident with solid progress throughout the season. His willingness to attack the ball and absorb contact developed with each passing game - particularly during midfield exposure - along with his ability to distribute quickly and effectively.
That kind of progression lends to Hibbins-Hargreaves' versatility. While a proven match-winner up forward, he can get it done inside and outside, high or deep, and even spent five years playing off half-back as a junior. There isn't much he can't do with ball in hand and his athletic profile is highly promising - though the latter judgement is largely reliant on the eye test, given his lack of fitness testing data.
Hibbins-Hargreaves missed out on preseason testing over the last two years and was absent at the National Draft Combine. He suffered repeat setbacks throughout the season and thus struggled to gain much consistency or build on his endurance base. Along with talent, which Hibbins-Hargreaves has in spades, durability is a major factor in making a draft prospect bankable. He'll be more of a crystal ball selection as a result.
DRAFT RANGE: 10-20
SUMMARY:
Recruiters would arguably have liked to see Hibbins-Hargreaves produce a greater sample size this year given the glimpses of enormous talent he showed throughout. Missing out on VFL exposure and a pair of National Academy games didn’t help, but his starring performances for Vic Country and bigtime outings with Dandenong pulled back the ledger of his high-end talent. With a clean run at it, there is little reason to believe that Hibbins-Hargreaves could not have pushed to be a top 10 candidate. Still, clubs will be out for his services amongst the first round.
AFL U18 Championships
Season | Team | K | HB | D | M | CP | UP | T | HO | CLR | I50 | R50 | GL | GM | K | H | D | M | HO | T | G | DC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Vic Country | 7 | 6 | 13 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 7.0 | 6.0 | 13.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 46 |
2025 | Vic Country | 26 | 22 | 48 | 13 | 13 | 35 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6.5 | 5.5 | 12.0 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 56 |
Total | - | 33 | 28 | 61 | 16 | 18 | 43 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 6.6 | 5.6 | 12.2 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 102 |
Coates Talent League Boys
Season | Team | K | HB | D | M | CP | UP | T | HO | CLR | I50 | R50 | GL | GM | K | H | D | M | HO | T | G | DC |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Dandenong Stingrays | 13 | 15 | 28 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 14.0 | 5.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 60 |
2024 | Dandenong Stingrays | 143 | 95 | 238 | 71 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 11 | 23 | 16 | 8.9 | 5.9 | 14.9 | 4.4 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 66 |
2025 | Dandenong Stingrays | 117 | 62 | 179 | 49 | 83 | 95 | 22 | 0 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 16 | 11 | 10.6 | 5.6 | 16.3 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 74 |
Total | - | 273 | 172 | 445 | 131 | 83 | 95 | 60 | 0 | 17 | 56 | 19 | 41 | 29 | 9.4 | 5.9 | 15.3 | 4.5 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 200 |