Up the Grades: Cochrane, Walker stand tall in defeats
LEADING draft prospects Dougie Cochrane and Cody Walker showed their class in stat-stuffing state league performances over the weekend. Considered by some as the top two talents in this year’s crop, the pair proved their readiness for higher levels with strong performances in heavy defeats. Meanwhile, the debuts kept on coming across the country. There […]
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 […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – Allies vs. Western Australia
THE ALLIES have ended their National Championships campaign on a high after defeating Western Australia by six points in a thrilling encounter at Mars Stadium on Wednesday. The Sandgropers led by as many as 28 points during term three, but were quickly reined in and made to settle for a 2-2 record. A run of […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 AFL U18s – South Australia vs. Allies
SOUTH Australia has arrived at the 2026 AFL Under 18 National Championships after a thumping 66-point win over the Allies on Sunday. Having made a losing start to their title defence last week, it took a quarter time rev-up from coach Tony Bamford to kickstart the Croweaters in Alberton. Whatever he said seemed to work, […]
Allies lock in 27-player squad ahead of AFL U18s
A FINAL trial match ahead of their first match on Sunday week will take place this weekend, but the Allies have confirmed an initial 27-player squad for the upcoming AFL Under 18 Championships. In previous years the selection process has largely just come from Talent League Boys form without coming together too long before the […]
Scouting Notes: Lions roll reigning premiers
THE LIONS Academy rounded out their Talent League stint with a fourth-consecutive win, downing reigning premiers Eastern by 32 points at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday. After conceding a quarter time deficit, the hosts piled on nine goals to two over the next two terms to set up a comfortable victory. With Eastern racking up […]
Scouting Notes: Lions roar, Knights checkmate Suns
THE BRISBANE Lions Academy improved to 5-1 in its penultimate Talent League outing with a 15-point away win over Gippsland Power. Both sides were in fine shooting form as only a goal separated them after a high-scoring first half, before the Lions began to pull away in term three at La Trobe University. A pair […]
Talent League Player Focus: Cooper Hodge (Lions Academy)
THERE has been plenty of talk surrounding Cooper Hodge‘s pending decision ahead of this year’s draft, whether to follow his father-son ties to Hawthorn or continue through Brisbane’s academy pipeline. Either way, he let his footy do the talking on Sunday with a breakout Talent League performance. Hodge racked up a season-high tally of 32 […]
Scouting Notes: Lions slay Dragons, Suns downed by Devils
THE BRISBANE Lions Academy moved to an impressive 4-1 record after accounting for Sandringham in a 22-point win on home turf. Despite the Dragons being bolstered by St Kevin’s talent on an APS bye, the hosts kicked clear in the second half – spearheaded by five goals to bottom-age star Jackson Bridge. Meanwhile, the Suns […]
