THE 2025 Coates Talent League season gets underway on Saturday with a standalone clash between Bendigo Pioneers and Tasmania Devils. Before the 19-round home-and-away campaign commences, we take you through all you need to know about the season ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
>> SCROLL for club-by-club previews & predictions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Coates Talent League premiership will be up for grabs to 13 full-time regions, including Tasmania Devils who have yielded a revised 12-game home-and-away schedule. That means a weighted ladder system will used to determine the Wildcard Round and thus, finals matchups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the 12 Victorian regions and Tasmanian pathway team, five Northern Academies will also enjoy stints in the competition from Rounds 4-7. Namely, they are the Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, Greater Western Sydney Giants, Sydney Swans, and Northern Territory Academies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout the 19-round season, all matches will be live streamed via the Coates Talent League app, with one game broadcast and commentated on Kommunity TV. All the fallout; including Player & Teams of the Week, Scouting Notes, and more analysis will be available on Rookie Me Central.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n >> FULL FIXTURE:<\/strong> 2025 Coates Talent League Boys<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Saturday March 29: Sunday March 30:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sandringham Dragons vs. Western Jets Dandenong Stingrays vs. Geelong Falcons Murray Bushrangers vs. Gippsland Power Oakleigh Chargers vs. Calder Cannons Northern Knights vs. Eastern Ranges >> MORE:<\/strong> Must-watch Coates Talent League fixtures in 2025<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Round 1: March 29-30 <\/p>\n\n\n\n PLAYER Q&As:<\/strong> ONES TO WATCH: <\/strong>Players pick their breakout candidates<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: <\/strong>Separate previews will be made for Academy Series sides<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n BENDIGO PIONEERS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Danny O’Bree >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> Bendigo Pioneers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n CALDER CANNONS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Sam Willatt >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> Calder Cannons<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n DANDENONG STINGRAYS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Nick Cox >> PREVIEW: <\/strong>Dandenong Stingrays<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n EASTERN RANGES<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Lauren Morecroft >> PREVIEW: <\/strong>Eastern Ranges<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n GEELONG FALCONS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Paul Corrigan GIPPSLAND POWER<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Rhett McLennan >> PREVIEW: <\/strong>Gippsland Power<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n GWV REBELS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>David Loader >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> GWV Rebels<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n MURRAY BUSHRANGERS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Mark Brown >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> Murray Bushrangers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n NORTHERN KNIGHTS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Anthony Rocca >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> Northern Knights<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n OAKLEIGH CHARGERS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Ash Close >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> Oakleigh Chargers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Rob Harding >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> Sandringham Dragons<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n TASMANIA DEVILS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coach: <\/strong>Jeromey Webberley >> PREVIEW:<\/strong> Tasmania Devils<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nNEED TO KNOW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
ROUND 1 FIXTURE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/em><\/strong>Bendigo Pioneers vs. Tasmania Devils
10:45am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve<\/p>\n\n\n\n
11:30am @ RSEA Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n
12:30pm @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1:00pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2:00pm @ RSEA Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3:00pm @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval<\/p>\n\n\n\nKEY DATES<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Academy Series: Rounds 4-7 (April 25 – May 18)
Wildcard Round: August 30-31
Grand Final: September 20-21<\/p>\n\n\n\nPRESEASON CONTENT<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Jack Dalton<\/a> (Sandringham Dragons)
Harry Dean<\/a> (Murray Bushrangers)
Harley Hicks<\/a> (GWV Rebels)
Archie Ludowyke<\/a> (Sandringham Dragons)
Thomas McGuane<\/a> (Western Jets)
Mitchell Stevens<\/a> (Gippsland Power)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PLAYER COMPARISONS: <\/strong>Who the players mould their game on<\/a>
LOYALTIES: <\/strong>Which AFL clubs do the players support?<\/a>
TOP 10s: <\/strong>2025 nationwide preseason testing results<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nCLUB-BY-CLUB<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Captain: <\/strong>TBC
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Nil.
Vic Country hub: <\/strong>Shaun Watson, Hunter Wright, Cody Walker
Top prospect: <\/strong>Hunter Wright
One to watch: <\/strong>Jaidi Jackson-Leahy
Future star:<\/strong> Cody Walker
MSD watch: <\/strong>Zaydyn Lockwood<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-captains: <\/strong>Jackson Barber & Hamish Bird
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Cooper Duff-Tytler
Vic Metro hub: <\/strong>Cooper Duff-Tytler, Hussien El Achkar, Felix Kneipp
Top prospect: <\/strong>Cooper Duff-Tytler
One to watch: <\/strong>Adam Sweid
Future star:<\/strong> Levi West
MSD watch: <\/strong>Cooper Herbert<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-captains: <\/strong>Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves & Max Lee
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
Vic Country hub: <\/strong>Tairon Ah-Mu, Josh Granger, Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves, Max Lee, Marcus Prasad, Toby Sinnema
Top prospect: <\/strong>Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
One to watch: <\/strong>Sam Lewis
Future star:<\/strong> Marcus Prasad
MSD watch: <\/strong>Adrian Cole<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-captains: <\/strong>Andrew Barker & Oliver Greeves
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Oliver Greeves
Vic Metro hub: <\/strong>Andrew Barker, Lachy Dovaston, Oliver Greeves, Xavier Taylor
Top prospect: <\/strong>Oliver Greeves
One to watch: <\/strong>Rod Ali
Future star:<\/strong> Will Waller
MSD watch: <\/strong>Seth Macdonald<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-captains: <\/strong>Ben Coote & Josh Lindsay
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Josh Lindsay, Ben Rongdit
Vic Country hub: <\/strong>Josh Lindsay, Hugo Mikunda, Jack Pickett, Ben Rongdit
Top prospect: <\/strong>Josh Lindsay
One to watch: <\/strong>Jett Elek
Future star:<\/strong> Jack Pickett
MSD watch: <\/strong>Dan Lowther<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain: <\/strong>Thomas Matthews
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Willem Duursma
Vic Country hub: <\/strong>Willem Duursma, Xavier Ladbrook, Wil Malady, Zac O’Keefe, Jobe Scapin, Mitchell Stevens
Top prospect: <\/strong>Willem Duursma
One to watch: <\/strong>Thomas Matthews
Future star:<\/strong> Wil Malady
Over-age talent: <\/strong>Zach Walker<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain: <\/strong>TBC
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Nil.
Vic Country hub: <\/strong>Harley Hicks, Archie Taylor
Top prospect: <\/strong>Archie Taylor
One to watch: <\/strong>Sinclair Burmeister
Future star:<\/strong> Ethan Drever
MSD watch: <\/strong>Floyd Burmeister<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain: <\/strong>N\/A – rotate each week
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Liam Hetherton, Riley Onley
Vic Country\/Allies hubs: <\/strong>Tanner Armstrong, Harry Dean, Riley Onley \/ Ryder Corrigan, Liam Hetherton, Harrison Wilson
Top prospect: <\/strong>Liam Hetherton
One to watch: <\/strong>Lenny Koller
Future star:<\/strong> Tanner Armstrong
MSD watch: <\/strong>Ben Kennedy<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Co-captains:<\/strong> Tyson Gresham & Sebastian Murphy
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Nil.
Vic Metro hub: <\/strong>Tyson Gresham, Tate Hodgson, Harry Van Hattum
Top prospect: <\/strong>Tyson Gresham
One to watch: <\/strong>Mitchell Moate
Future star:<\/strong> Tate Hodgson
MSD watch: <\/strong>Gabriel Stumpf<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain: <\/strong>TBC
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Louis Emmett
Vic Metro hub: <\/strong>Sam Allen, Louis Emmett, Sam Grlj, Jack Ison
Top prospect: <\/strong>Louis Emmett
One to watch: <\/strong>Zac McCarthy
Future star:<\/strong> Flynn Woolhouse
MSD watch: <\/strong>Jez Rigoni<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain: <\/strong>Xavier Bamert
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Archie Ludowyke
Vic Metro hub: <\/strong>Xavier Bamert, Arki Butler, Jack Dalton, Kye Fincher, Archie Ludowyke, Miles Tyrer
Top prospect: <\/strong>Archie Ludowyke
One to watch: <\/strong>Sacha Levine
Future star:<\/strong> Arki Butler
MSD watch: <\/strong>Julian Galbally<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Captain: <\/strong>Rylee McHenry
AFL Academy:<\/strong> Jasper Hay
Allies hub: <\/strong>Jasper Hay, Lucas Wootton
Top prospect: <\/strong>Jasper Hay
One to watch: <\/strong>Jack Miller
Future star:<\/strong> Charlie Bovill
MSD watch:<\/strong> <\/strong>Nathaniel Sulzberger<\/p>\n\n\n\n