{"id":182413,"date":"2025-03-12T16:20:10","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T06:20:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=182413"},"modified":"2025-03-12T16:20:11","modified_gmt":"2025-03-12T06:20:11","slug":"gulden-the-guide-for-coates-talent-league-prospects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/03\/12\/gulden-the-guide-for-coates-talent-league-prospects\/","title":{"rendered":"Gulden the guide for Coates Talent League prospects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SYDNEY Swans star Errol Gulden<\/strong> was a popular answer to the question ‘which AFL player do you mould you game on?’, at the recent Coates Talent League preseason testing day. 41 top-age players in the Vic Country, Vic Metro, and Allies training squads were surveyed, with 52 different AFL players put forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> SCROLL to see all the player comparisons<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gulden was the best archetype for a high of six prospects, including Collingwood father-son candidate Thomas McGuane<\/a> and National Academy member Josh Lindsay<\/a>. The latter admired his inside-outside balance, while Jack Dalton<\/a> and Felix Kneipp<\/a> credited his kicking, two-way running and work rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unsurprisingly, Nick Daicos<\/strong> was another popular choice among midfielders with five nominations. Oakleigh Chargers speedster Sam Grlj<\/a> outlined his ball use and pace out of stoppages as desirable traits, while Pies fans Lucas Wootton<\/a>, Hugo Mikunda<\/a>, and Lachy Dovaston<\/a> simply couldn’t look past him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Port Adelaide best and fairest Zak Butters<\/strong> is also in vogue among similar types, named four times. Dandenong’s Max Lee<\/a> described his “aggressive running” as the go-to attribute, with Carlton NGA member Tyson Gresham<\/a> (brother of Jade<\/strong>) lauding his cleanliness, explosiveness, and courage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the bigger, taller midfielders, it was difficult name anyone other than captains Marcus Bontempelli <\/strong>(five nominations) and Patrick Cripps <\/strong>(four). They were mentioned together three times, by Bendigo pair Shaun Watson<\/a> and Hunter Wright<\/a>, and 194cm Murray talent Riley Onley<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After his star Opening Round showing, Hawthorn’s Will Day<\/strong> also got plenty of recognition amongst the junior group. Dandenong utility Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves<\/a> said he drew from the South Australian’s versatility and ability to go inside and out, proving a difficult player to defend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading Eastern Ranges prospect Oliver Greeves<\/a> was another to put forward Day’s name, saying he was in awe of him during his preseason training stint at Hawthorn. The Hawks were recently denied priority access to Greeves, a relative of the great Carji Greeves<\/em><\/strong>, under their NGA program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there were less key position players in the mix, Luke Jackson<\/strong>, Jeremy Cameron<\/strong>, and Charlie Curnow<\/strong> were mentioned two times apiece. The former two, combined, made for Louis Emmett<\/a>‘s ideal archetype as a ruck-forward, while high-flyer Archie Ludowyke<\/a> highlighted the latter pair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among the most unique nominations, Carlton supporter Xavier Bamert<\/a> said he aims to be a mix of Cripps and Sam Walsh<\/strong>. Two players nominated Isaac Kako<\/strong>, who is yet to play an AFL game, highlighting the rising profile of draft prospects. Zachary O’Keefe<\/a> went slightly off broadway, naming Kane Lambert<\/strong> and Harvey Thomas<\/strong> in addition to Gulden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLAYER COMPARISONS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

BENDIGO PIONEERS:<\/strong>
Shaun Watson – Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, Isaac Heeney
Hunter Wright – Patrick Cripps, Scott Pendlebury, Marcus Bontempelli<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CALDER CANNONS:<\/strong>
Cooper Duff-Tytler – Luke Jackson, Tom De Koning
Hussein El Achkar – Izak Rankine, Kysaiah Pickett, Isaac Kako
Felix Kneipp – Josh Kelly, Sam Walsh, Errol Gulden, Zach Merrett<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:<\/strong>
Tairon Ah-Mu – Lance Franklin, Jack Riewoldt, Harry Armstrong
Josh Granger – Darcy Moore, Harris Andrews
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves – Will Day, Marcus Bontempelli
Max Lee – Nick Blakey, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Zak Butters
Toby Sinnema – Errol Gulden, Massimo D’Ambrosio<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EASTERN RANGES:<\/strong>
Andrew Barker – Harris Andrews
Lachy Dovaston – Bobby Hill, Nick Daicos, Kysaiah Pickett, Izak Rankine
Oliver Greeves – Will Day, Christian Petracca
Xavier Taylor – Nathan Broad<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GEELONG FALCONS:<\/strong>
Josh Lindsay – Errol Gulden, Scott Pendlebury
Hugo Mikunda – Nick Daicos, Bobby Hill
Ben Rongdit – Isaac Quaynor, Tom Stewart<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GIPPSLAND POWER:<\/strong>
Willem Duursma – Will Day, Zach Merrett
Zack O’Keefe – Errol Gulden, Harvey Thomas, Kane Lambert
Jobe Scapin – Sam Walsh, Jarrod Berry
Mitchell Stevens – Will Day, Max Michalanney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GWV REBELS:<\/strong>
Harley Hicks – Isaac Kako
Archie Taylor – Tanner Bruhn, Max Holmes<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:<\/strong>
Ryder Corrigan – Patrick Dangerfield
Harry Dean – Mitch McGovern, Nick Haynes
Liam Hetherton – Charlie Curnow, Aaron Naughton
Riley Onley – Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli, Jason Horne-Francis
Harrison Wilson – Lachie Whitfield, Nick Martin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:<\/strong>
Tyson Gresham – Zak Butters, Tom Papley<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:<\/strong>
Sam Allen – Connor Rozee, Chad Warner, Dylan Moore, Isaac Heeney
Louis Emmett – Luke Jackson, Jeremy Cameron
Sam Grlj – Zak Butters, Nick Daicos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:<\/strong>
Xavier Bamert – Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh
Jack Dalton – Lachie Neale, Errol Gulden
Archie Ludowyke – Jeremy Cameron, Charlie Curnow, Aaron Cadman
Miles Tyrer – Tom Hawkins, Matthew Kreuzer, Rowan Marshall, Max Gawn<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TASMANIA DEVILS:<\/strong>
Jasper Hay – Harris Andrews
Lucas Wootton – Nick Daicos<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WESTERN JETS:<\/strong>
Thomas Burton – Jason Johannisen, Zak Butters
Finn Davis – Marcus Bontempelli, Bailey Dale
Thomas McGuane – Nick Daicos, Zach Merrett, Errol Gulden<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>