{"id":184513,"date":"2025-03-28T18:04:59","date_gmt":"2025-03-28T08:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=184513"},"modified":"2025-03-28T18:05:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-28T08:05:01","slug":"preview-pioneers-devils-kick-off-coates-league-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/03\/28\/preview-pioneers-devils-kick-off-coates-league-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Pioneers, Devils kick off Coates League campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>THE 2025 Coates Talent League season gets underway as Bendigo Pioneers play host to Tasmania Devils in Craigieburn on Saturday. Both sides, sporting plenty of fresh and familiar faces alike, will be itching to get off to a perfect start in the new campaign. We preview their standalone clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>>> <strong>SEASON GUIDE:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/03\/28\/season-guide-2025-coates-talent-league\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">All you need to know about the 2025 Coates Talent League<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div>\n<div class=\"t7_match_result match-result-comparison rmc-block is-match-preview\">\n<div class='match-result_legend'><ul><li>Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class='match-result_team'><ul><li class='column-head'><h5 class='heading title h5'>Bendigo Pioneers<\/h5><img src='https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/Bendigo_Pioneers_logo-150x150.png' \/><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class='match-result_team'><ul><li class='column-head'><h5 class='heading title h5'>Tasmania Devils<\/h5><img src='https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Tasmania-Devils-150x150.jpg' \/><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-need-to-know\">NEED TO KNOW<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Saturday March 29, 10:45pm<br><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn<br><strong>WATCH:<\/strong> Live stream via Coates Talent League app<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-teams\">TEAMS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BENDIGO PIONEERS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Full squad to be confirmed.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>>> <strong>PREVIEW:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/03\/12\/2025-coates-talent-league-bendigo-pioneers-season-preview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bendigo Pioneers<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TASMANIA DEVILS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>B: <\/strong>#20 M. Roney, #38 M. Brown, #41 I. Smedley<br><strong>HB: <\/strong>#27 J. Breen, #36 J. Webber, #21 E. Bonde<br><strong>C<\/strong>: #22 H. McCallum, #11 N. Sulzberger, #16 B. Barwick<br><strong>HF: <\/strong>#4 J. Miller, #13 O. Depaoli-Kubank, #3 M. Sheehan<br><strong>F: <\/strong>#31 B. Philpott, #7 J. Hay, #9 T. Callow<br><strong>FOL: <\/strong>#10 O. Dean, #12 R. McHenry, #19 L. Wootton<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INT: <\/strong>#8 J. Bula, #14 W. McMurray, #15 A. Devine, #18 J. Stretton, #28 A. Thomas, #33 K. Peters-Chapman<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>>> <strong>PREVIEW:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/03\/26\/2025-coates-talent-league-tasmania-devils-season-preview\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tasmania Devils<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ones-to-watch\">ONES TO WATCH<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bendigo comes in with three members of the Vic Country summer hub, including star bottom-age midfielder <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"164983\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/cody-walker\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cody Walker<\/a>. The son of 202-game former Blue <strong><em>Andrew<\/em><\/strong> is tied to Carlton via father-son rules, but has also paved his way through Richmond&#8217;s Next Generation Academy program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He&#8217;ll likely feature through the Pioneers&#8217; spine alongside <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"134620\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/hunter-wright\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hunter Wright<\/a> and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"134629\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/shaun-watson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Shaun Watson<\/a>. The former is a leftie considered his region&#8217;s best top-age prospect, while the latter will provide some grunt and size on the inside. Watch out for <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"154086\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/jaidi-jackson-leahy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jaidi Jackson-Leahy<\/a>, too, after an impressive preseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tasmania also boasts quality in its on-ball group. Over-ager <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"143615\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/nathan-sulzberger\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nathaniel Sulzberger<\/a> was a great get after his time in Victoria, providing size to counter Watson. Allies hub member <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"154778\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/lucas-wootton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lucas Wootton<\/a> offers speed and clean skills, while <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"154775\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/rylee-mchenry\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Rylee McHenry<\/a> is also primed to do the grunt work at stoppages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tasmania&#8217;s lone National Academy member, <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"136059\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/jasper-hay\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jasper Hay<\/a>, also has plenty of talent. He has been named at full forward but will likely also ruck alongside <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"131080\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/oliver-dean\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Oliver Dean<\/a>. Small forward <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"166952\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/jack-miller\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jack Miller<\/a> is another to monitor around goal having missed most of last year through injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-where-it-s-won\">WHERE IT&#8217;S WON<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Neither region is set to be blessed with overwhelming key position depth, but have plenty of speed and skill around the square. Expect a fast pace from the outset with both sides proving tough on the inside, but also willing to take the game on, break lines and put the opposition on the back foot. Whichever team can blow out the cobwebs quickest and feed their forwards best will stand strong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-prediction\">PREDICTION<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Bendigo has historically been a fast starter, winning at least three of its first four games in three of the last four seasons. The nature of the competition means past data matters little, but Tasmania looks at that having dropped its first three games last year. The talent on paper is difficult to split, but the Devils&#8217; emergence of bottom-age talent looks promising. Devils by 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-remaining-round-1-fixture\">REMAINING ROUND 1 FIXTURE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Sunday March 30:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sandringham Dragons vs. Western Jets<br>11:30am @ RSEA Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dandenong Stingrays vs. Geelong Falcons<br>12:30pm @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Murray Bushrangers vs. Gippsland Power<br>1:00pm @ Highgate Recreation Reserve<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oakleigh Chargers vs. Calder Cannons<br>2:00pm @ RSEA Park<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Northern Knights vs. Eastern Ranges<br>3:00pm @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-dc-block-dc-mention _dc_mention\"><div class=\"section-heading_wrap\"><span class=\"section-heading is-small\">Mentions<\/span><span class=\"hor-border\"><\/span><\/div><ul class=\"js-overflow-list overflow-list\"><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/cody-walker\/\">Cody Walker<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/hunter-wright\/\">Hunter Wright<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/shaun-watson\/\">Shaun Watson<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/jaidi-jackson-leahy\/\">Jaidi Jackson-Leahy<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/nathan-sulzberger\/\">Nathaniel Sulzberger<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/lucas-wootton\/\">Lucas Wootton<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/rylee-mchenry\/\">Rylee McHenry<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/jasper-hay\/\">Jasper Hay<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/oliver-dean\/\">Oliver Dean<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_p\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/player\/jack-miller\/\">Jack Miller<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"object-mention_single\"><div class=\"tag tag--is-clickable\"><a class=\"tag-text _dc_mention_e\" href=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/event\/bendigo-pioneers-vs-tasmania-devils-9\/\">Bendigo Pioneers vs Tasmania Devils<\/a><\/div><\/li><li class=\"js-dropdown dropdown overflowed\"><button class=\"btn btn-icon-only\"><span class=\"icon btn-icon\">\n                    <!-- icon - plus circle - 20px-->\n                    <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 20 20\">\n                        <path d=\"M15,9.28h-4.3V5h0A.72.72,0,1,0,9.28,5h0V9.28H5a.72.72,0,0,0,0,1.43H9.28V15a.72.72,0,0,0,1.43,0h0V10.71H15a.72.72,0,0,0,0-1.43Z\"\/>\n                        <path d=\"M10,0A10,10,0,1,0,20,10,10,10,0,0,0,10,0Zm0,18.57A8.57,8.57,0,0,1,10,1.43h0a8.57,8.57,0,0,1,0,17.14Z\"\/>\n                    <\/svg>\n                <\/span><\/button><div class=\"popover\"><div class=\"popover-content\"><ul class=\"popover-menu\"><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>THE 2025 Coates Talent League season gets underway as Bendigo Pioneers play host to Tasmania Devils in Craigieburn on Saturday. Both sides, sporting plenty of fresh and familiar faces alike, will be itching to get off to a perfect start in the new campaign. We preview their standalone clash. >> SEASON GUIDE: All you need [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":184535,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18050,11586,8,20172,3133,11597,3134],"tags":[18674,21045,21959,21880,22253,20942,20959,21197,21176,20869,21958],"class_list":["post-184513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-afl-draft","category-bendigo-pioneers","category-news","category-talent-league","category-tasmania","category-tasmania-devils","category-victoria","tag-bendigo-pioneers-vs-tasmania-devils","tag-cody-walker","tag-hunter-wright","tag-jack-miller","tag-jaidi-jackson-leahy","tag-jasper-hay","tag-lucas-wootton","tag-nathaniel-sulzberger","tag-oliver-dean","tag-rylee-mchenry","tag-shaun-watson"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184513"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":184539,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184513\/revisions\/184539"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/184535"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}