{"id":153658,"date":"2024-04-01T13:30:03","date_gmt":"2024-04-01T03:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=153658"},"modified":"2024-04-01T13:30:04","modified_gmt":"2024-04-01T03:30:04","slug":"2024-coates-talent-league-round-2-potw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/04\/01\/2024-coates-talent-league-round-2-potw\/","title":{"rendered":"2024 Coates Talent League: Round 2 POTW"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SANDRINGHAM Dragons midfielder-forward Taj Hotton<\/a> is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week for Round 2 after turning it on in his side’s 52-point win over Oakleigh. The top-ager filled his boots with 32 disposals, 10 marks, five inside 50s and four goals in a sparkling performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotton booted three consecutive majors amid a third quarter procession for Sandringham, helping set up the comprehensive victory. He started forward before getting his usual run through the centre bounces and led the Dragons’ disposal count for a second week running.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The son of 78-game former Blue and Magpie Trent<\/strong>, Taj is not father-son eligible for either club. He has further ties to the elite level, though, having seen brother Olli<\/strong> be drafted to St Kilda in 2022. Ollie was part of the Dragons’ premiership side that year, with the region gunning for a three-peat in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotton is highly regarded for his athletic traits and put them on show on Saturday. At 182cm, he is a terrific overhead mark and utilises a strong leap to impact aerially, while also covering the ground with a wicked turn of speed which sees opponents turned inside-out in a flash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His exploits have seen Sandringham begin its premiership defence at 2-0 after also defeating Metro rivals Calder in Round 1 – both wins have been in excess of 50 points. The Dragons will next face Eastern on Saturday in a third consecutive fixture at RSEA Park, in what looms as the match of Round 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Around the grounds, top 10 prospect Christian Moraes<\/a> had a day out for the Ranges in a 56-point win over Northern. The midfielder matched Hotton’s four-goal haul while helping himself to 25 touches and nine marks in another outstanding showing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite his side going down by two points in a thriller against Bendigo, Murray Bushrangers forward Joshua Murphy<\/a> snared six goals to back up his Round 1 bag of four. teammate Joe Berry<\/a> also nabbed four majors for the second straight week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also among the goals was Geelong forward Will McLachlan<\/strong>, who posted 5.3 from 13 disposals and six marks as the Falcons thumped GWV. Over in Seaford, fellow over-ager Tom Hanily<\/a> dominated with 32 disposals, nine marks, and seven tackles in Gippsland’s win over Dandenong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Round 1: <\/strong>Josh Smillie<\/a> (Eastern Ranges)
Round 2: <\/strong>Taj Hotton (Sandringham Dragons)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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