IT comes with little surprise that as each Allies contingent descended on the Gold Coast this past weekend, that a high of seven Suns Academy players would feature in the Round 6 Coates Talent League Team of the Week. All six sides who took the field are represented by at least two players each – check out who made the cut!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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B: <\/strong>Christian Webster (SS) – Josh Zanker-Close (GC) – Jackson Savage (GWS) There’s a good deal of height in our hypothetical back six this week, pillared by key position Queenslanders Josh Zanker-Close<\/a> and Patrick Snell<\/a>. The former had a slightly more enjoyable time of it in Gold Coast’s 99-point win, while the latter fared well in an altered role as Brisbane was defeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swans Academy over-ager Christian Webster<\/a> could also have filled either slot at 193cm, but instead slots in on the last line, while solid Giants Academy operator Jackson Savage<\/a> takes his place in the opposite pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Up at half-back is where rebound runners shine, and that’s what Tasmania’s Geordie Payne<\/a> and Gold Coast’s Nelson Belkoff-Smart<\/strong> did in Round 6. The latter is the only bottom-ager to feature in this week’s defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n C: <\/strong>Liam Ling (TD) – Colby McKercher (TD) – Tye Gander (SS) Two sides take up four of the six midfield slots this week, starting with the Tasmania Devils. Standout prospect Colby McKercher<\/a> starred once again through the middle, while gutsy bottom-aged wing\/forward Liam Ling<\/strong> impressed enough to slot in on the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the opposite wing is dynamic Swans Academy over-ager Tye Gander<\/a>, who usually plies his trade as a marking forward. He’s joined by teammate Caiden Cleary<\/a> in the side after the bull-like ball winner produced another prolific outing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rounding out the on-ballers is Lions Academy prospect Owen Collins<\/a>, who made his maiden Talent League appearance this year after four VFL games with Brisbane. Fellow Queenslander Ethan Read<\/a> is the designated ruck, and the third National Academy member in this week’s midfield group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n HF:<\/strong> Jake Rogers (GC) – Jed Walter (GC) – William Rowlands (NT) Three teams are represented evenly across the forward line, which hosts two of three Northern Territory Academy guns. Namely, William Rowlands<\/a> and bottom-ager Waylon Davey<\/strong> made the cut having both hit the scoreboard and spent time in midfield during the Thunder’s heavy defeat to Gold Coast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both players would have been familiar with Suns Academy standouts Jake Rogers<\/a> and Jed Walter<\/a>, the latter of whom earned Player of the Week<\/a> honours with a bag of eight goals. Rogers was his usual speedy self too, rotating forward from midfield and using his speed both ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, two Tasmanians round out the starting side. Will Groom<\/strong> was impossible to overlook after dining out with five goals as the Devils won by 110 points, while Jack Callinan<\/a> had another busy game with three majors from 22 disposals and plenty of score involvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n INT:<\/strong> Marlin Corbett (GC), Lenny Douglas (TD), Jack Glanvill (GWS), Will Graham (GC), Indhi Kirk (SS), Orlando Turner (NT)<\/p>\n\n\n\n With only three games played this week, you’d have to be pretty stiff not to make the cut in our six-player bench. Gold Coast’s seven-man contribution is rounded out by midfielders Marlin Corbett<\/a> and Will Graham<\/a>, while Tasmania, GWS, Sydney, and the Northern Territory boast one more representative each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Among them, Swans father-son prospect Indhi Kirk<\/a> did some nice things in his side’s second win for the season, while exciting NT forward Orlando Turner<\/a> brought the count of National Academy members up to seven for Round 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
HB:<\/strong> Geordie Payne (TD) – Patrick Snell (BL) – Nelson Belkoff-Smart (GC)<\/p>\n\n\n\nMIDFIELD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
FOL:<\/strong> Ethan Read (GC) – Caiden Cleary (SS) – Owen Collins (BL)<\/p>\n\n\n\nFORWARD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
F:<\/strong> Jack Callinan (TD) – Will Groom (TD) – Waylon Davey (NT)<\/p>\n\n\n\nINTERCHANGE<\/h3>\n\n\n\n