{"id":194955,"date":"2025-07-11T16:49:15","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:49:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=194955"},"modified":"2025-07-11T16:49:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T06:49:17","slug":"preview-ladder-leaders-kick-off-super-saturday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/07\/11\/preview-ladder-leaders-kick-off-super-saturday\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Ladder leaders kick off super Saturday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>ROUND 15 of the Coates Talent League kicks off tomorrow morning as Gippsland Power takes on Calder Cannons at Shepley Oval. The fixture is the first of four slated for what is set to be a super Saturday, leaving only the Oakleigh-Greater Western Victoria clash for Sunday.<\/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'>Gippsland Power<\/h5><img src='https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/gippsland-150x150.jpg' \/><\/li><\/ul><\/div><div class='match-result_team'><ul><li class='column-head'><h5 class='heading title h5'>Calder Cannons<\/h5><img src='https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/FB_IMG_1728076435556-150x150.jpg' \/><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>WHEN:<\/strong> Saturday July 12, 11:00am<br><strong>WHERE:<\/strong> Shepley Oval, Dandenong<br><strong>WATCH: <\/strong>Live stream via Coates Talent League app<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IN A SENTENCE:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After snapping a four-game losing run last week, Calder Cannons face the toughest test in Coates Talent League football right now when they face the 9-1 Gippsland Power on neutral ground, minus a host of Vic Metro representatives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WHERE THEY SIT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gippsland Power &#8211; 9-1 | 154.9% | WWWWW<br>Calder Cannons &#8211; 5-5 | 113.8% | WLLLL<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>TEAMS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Gippsland Power<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>B:<\/strong> 21. O. Wilson &#8211; 22. F. O\u2019Brien &#8211; 15. T. Macmillan<br><strong>HB:<\/strong> 28. H. Tatterson &#8211; 32. L. Masters &#8211; 41. C. Snell<br><strong>C:<\/strong> 26. M. Stevens &#8211; 10. C. Templeton &#8211; 16. J. Scapin<br><strong>HF:<\/strong> 2. J. Bills &#8211; 3. S. Grummisch &#8211; 37. K. Boi<br><strong>F:<\/strong> 33. W. Malady &#8211; 40. X. Ladbrook &#8211; 11. M. Neocleous<br><strong>FOL: <\/strong>44. D. Leslie &#8211; 17. L. Cheffers &#8211; 4. Z. O\u2019Keefe<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INT: <\/strong>6. J. Burgiel, 9. M. Woodall, 20. S. Anderson, 36. A. Mounsey, 45. K. Mounsey<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Calder Cannons<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>B:<\/strong> 8. J. Dodorico &#8211; 27. J. Barber &#8211; 50. I. Merhi<br><strong>HB:<\/strong> 7. H. Pearce &#8211; 15. G. Papal &#8211; 10. J. Laidler<br><strong>C:<\/strong> 1. J. Manfre &#8211; 4. O. Watt &#8211; 13. J. Naim<br><strong>HF:<\/strong> 20. J. Watkins &#8211; 12. T. Robinson &#8211; 11. J. Fleming<br><strong>F:<\/strong> 35. W. Hanegraaf &#8211; 30. B. Taylor &#8211; 26. Z. McKenzie<br><strong>FOL: <\/strong>42. Z. Newman &#8211; 34. B. Justice &#8211; 18. S. Harris<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INT: <\/strong>19. L. West, 31. T. Lincoln, 37. D. Sexton, 38. T. Leeds, 39. C. Robbins, 57. N. Hanegraaf<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ONES TO WATCH:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gippsland has regained access to a bunch of Vic Country representatives, barring top pick contender <strong>Willem Duursma<\/strong>, A1 midfielder <strong>Brodie Atkins<\/strong>, and injured captain <strong>Tom Matthews<\/strong>. Despite that, six Country squad members will take the field for the ladder leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"154223\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/mitch-stevens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mitchell Stevens<\/a> and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"134606\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/jobe-scapin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jobe Scapin<\/a> look like being the wing pairing, while <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"134599\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/zachary-okeefe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zachary O&#8217;Keefe<\/a> and bottom-ager <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"164988\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/cody-templeton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Cody Templeton<\/a> line up at the centre bounces. The full forward line of 2026 talent is perhaps most exciting, featuring <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"165019\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/wil-malady\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Wil Malady<\/a>, <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"184107\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/xavier-ladbrook-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Xavier Ladbrook<\/a>, and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"164982\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/marlon-neocleous\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Marlon Neocleous<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Calder comes in comparatively undermanned, but fresh off a strong bounceback win. Key defensive duo <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"154315\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/jackson-barber\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jackson Barber<\/a> and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"154329\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/gus-papal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gus Papal<\/a> will have their hands full, while at the other end of the ground competitive goalkicker <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"183946\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/taj-robinson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Taj Robinson<\/a> is in form, booting 11 majors in his last four games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There will also be interest in club-tied talent like <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"182511\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/blake-justice\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Blake Justice<\/a> (Essendon Next Generation Academy), <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"183944\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/sam-harris-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sam Harris<\/a> (North Melbourne father-son), and <a data-type=\"player\" data-id=\"183938\" class=\"_dc_spo\" href=\"\/afl\/player\/levi-west\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Levi West<\/a> (Western Bulldogs father-son). All three are set to be unleashed in midfield, with the latter pair being bottom-agers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PREDICTION:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gippsland has been a force this year and head into this clash with plenty of firepower. The combination of a Vic Country bye and APS break means Calder will be well and truly up against it, especially in the absence of their leading draft prospects to Vic Metro. Power by 30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-185959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3-128x85.jpg 128w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3-32x21.jpg 32w, https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/CC-Levi-West-3.jpg 1944w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Levi West cuts through traffic | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-round-15-fixture\">ROUND 15 FIXTURE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Saturday July 12:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Gippsland Power vs. Calder Cannons<br>11:00am @ Shepley Oval<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Geelong Falcons vs. Western Jets<br>1:10pm @ St Albans, Thomson<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bendigo Pioneers vs. Murray Bushrangers<br>1:40pm @ Queen Elizabeth Oval<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dandenong Stingrays vs. Sandringham Dragons<br>2:00pm @ Belvedere Reserve<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Sunday July 13:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GWV Rebels vs. Oakleigh Chargers<br>1:10pm @ Shepley 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\/mitchell-stevens\/\">Mitchell Stevens<\/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\/jobe-scapin\/\">Jobe Scapin<\/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\/zachary-okeefe\/\">Zachary O&#8217;Keefe<\/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\/cody-templeton\/\">Cody Templeton<\/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\/wil-malady\/\">Wil Malady<\/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\/xavier-ladbrook-2\/\">Xavier Ladbrook<\/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\/marlon-neocleous\/\">Marlon Neocleous<\/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\/jackson-barber\/\">Jackson Barber<\/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\/gus-papal\/\">Gus Papal<\/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\/taj-robinson\/\">Taj Robinson<\/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\/blake-justice\/\">Blake Justice<\/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\/sam-harris-2\/\">Sam Harris<\/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\/levi-west\/\">Levi West<\/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\/gippsland-power-vs-calder-cannons-12\/\">Gippsland Power vs Calder Cannons<\/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>ROUND 15 of the Coates Talent League kicks off tomorrow morning as Gippsland Power takes on Calder Cannons at Shepley Oval. The fixture is the first of four slated for what is set to be a super Saturday, leaving only the Oakleigh-Greater Western Victoria clash for Sunday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":185684,"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":[18050,11586,11587,11588,11589,11590,11591,11592,11593,8,11594,11595,11596,20172,11597,3134,11598],"tags":[22270,21875,18673,22264,22262,20919,21051,21954,21840,21046,22610,21829,22098,20918],"class_list":["post-194955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-afl-draft","category-bendigo-pioneers","category-calder-cannons","category-dandenong-stingrays","category-eastern-ranges","category-geelong-falcons","category-gippsland-power","category-gwv-rebels","category-murray-bushrangers","category-news","category-northern-knights","category-oakleigh-chargers","category-sandringham-dragons","category-talent-league","category-tasmania-devils","category-victoria","category-western-jets","tag-blake-justice","tag-cody-templeton","tag-gippsland-power-vs-calder-cannons","tag-gus-papal","tag-jackson-barber","tag-jobe-scapin","tag-levi-west","tag-marlon-neocleous","tag-mitch-stevens","tag-sam-harris","tag-taj-robinson","tag-wil-malady","tag-xavier-ladbrook","tag-zachary-okeefe"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194955","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=194955"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":194995,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/194955\/revisions\/194995"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/185684"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=194955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=194955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=194955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}