{"id":200610,"date":"2025-09-05T18:32:49","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T08:32:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=200610"},"modified":"2025-09-05T18:32:52","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T08:32:52","slug":"preview-draft-prospects-look-to-make-finals-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2025\/09\/05\/preview-draft-prospects-look-to-make-finals-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"PREVIEW | Draft prospects look to make finals statement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

FINALS time is heating up around the nation, and plenty of AFL Draft prospects are in line to make a major impact. In the SANFL, draft combine invitees and state representatives will feature throughout each grade – League, Reserves, and Under 18s – in the pursuit of premiership glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glenelg forward Latrelle Pickett<\/a> will line up for his third top flight appearance in Sunday’s semi-final against Sturt. While his starting spot is safe in the forward pocket, Norwood defender Balyn O’Brien<\/a> has been named on an extended bench for the Redlegs’ clash against the Crows at Adelaide Oval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A battle between state teammates awaits in the Reserves grade, as Jesse Nye<\/a>‘s South Adelaide takes on Luke Candy<\/a>‘s Glenelg. The pair have effectively been named to match up on each other, with Nye locking in a spot at half-forward while Candy is set to feature across the Bays’ half-back line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the second half of Saturday’s Reserves double-header at Stratarama Stadium, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier<\/a> will look to build on a best afield performance last week as his North Adelaide side meets Sturt. The midfielder will be joined by state teammate Bryce Sanders<\/a>, named at centre half-forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Louis Kellaway will hope to keep Sturt’s flag hopes alive | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Also on Saturday, minor premier Sturt will host Woodville-West Torrens for a spot in the Under 18 decider. The Double Blues have used up their double chance after going down to West Adelaide last week, while the Eagles kept their flag defence alive after defeating Central District in a thriller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sturt’s side is littered with top talent. Midfield pair Noah Roberts-Thomson<\/a> and Louis Kellaway<\/a> are always competitive, while a half-back line consisting of elite kicker Jett Dahlitz<\/a>, robust tall Blake Thredgold<\/a>, and bottom-age accumulator Kale Matthews-Hampton<\/a> can get it done going both ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Eagles’ starting on-ball trio is sure to prove a handful. Skipper Jevan Phillipou<\/a> lines up alongside Jack Cook<\/a>, who he recently made an extended run in the League side with. Lachlan Sands<\/a>, who recently hit the Reserves grade, will also run through there with speedster Zane Peucker<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over in Western Australia, rivals South and East Fremantle will battle it out for Colts Grand Final qualification. Star bottom-ager Lucas Robinson<\/a> returns for the Bulldogs, set to line up in midfield alongside fellow Fremantle NGA prospect Toby Whan<\/a> and state 18s captain Fred Rodriguez<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Toby Whan winds up a kick | Image Credit: Peter Keleman Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

East Fremantle’s young talent is sure to be a feature in the front half. Bottom-age tall pairing Benjamin Wood<\/strong> and Kye Ormerod<\/a> have relaibly hit the scoreboard all season, while lively smalls Finlay Yeo<\/a> and Reid Foot<\/a> are capable of producing highlight-reel passages inside attacking 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That clash takes place at Fremantle Oval on Saturday, while Claremont takes on West Perth in Sunday’s elimination semi. The reigning premiers have been made to ride a double chance after losing to the Sharks last week, while the Falcons accounted for Swan Districts in their week one clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There will be intriguing matchups scattered across Claremont Oval. Perhaps the best of the lot sees West Coast father-son hopeful Charlie Banfield<\/a> lock horns with Falcons pair Sam Swadling<\/a> and Jacob Farrow<\/a>. All three were dominant last week and have proven to be prolific ball winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Perth captain Lochlain Carpenter<\/a> will also likely spend time on imposing Claremont spearhead Cody Curtin<\/a>, who was well held last week. Meanwhile, star Falcon Koby LeCras<\/a> may find fellow bottom-agers George Gale<\/a> and Heath Mellody<\/a> keeping him company in his half-forward role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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George Gale will be a key ball user for Claremont | Image Credit: Jack Foley\/Claremont FC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Victoria, the Coates Talent League finals series gets underway after Wildcard Round narrowed the contenders down to eight. A chance of venue has taken place, with Toorak Park no longer set to host a triple-header of quarter finals on Sunday due to the surface being deemed unsafe for play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The standalone fixture between Dandenong and Greater Western Victoria (GWV) has not been impacted, with the two Country regions set to thrown down in Ballarat. The Stingrays beat Murray in a tough slog last week, while the Rebels established a first half lead against Tasmania and never looked back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rays co-captain Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves<\/a> has enjoyed some midfield exposure of late and will likely continue that venture. Mainstay Callum Smith<\/a> will be a likely pairing on-ball, while Melbourne NGA prospect Toby Sinnema<\/a> starts on a wing with potential to rotate inside or down back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also plenty of young talent at Dandenong’s disposal. Tall defender Darcy Szerszyn<\/a> will likely play a key role in shutting down competition leading goalkicker Charlie McKinnon<\/a>, alongside over-ager Adrian Cole<\/a>. Gus Kennedy<\/a> is another bottom-ager to watch, as is 2027 Port father-son gun Louis Salopek<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves celebrates a goal | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

With McKinnon a central attacking figure, Charlie Molan<\/a> was freed up to kick six goals in last week’s Wildcard Round win. The ruck rotation of Flynn Penry<\/a>, Floyd Burmeister<\/a>, and Chad Finck<\/a> is also sure to cause Dandenong a few headaches, especially with the athletic latter pair rotating forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, over at La Trobe University in Bundoora, Eastern Ranges face Calder Cannons for a spot in the final four. The Ranges finished the home-and-away season as the top Metro side, while the Cannons came through Wildcard Round as a lucky loser having been bested by Oakleigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among Eastern’s eight selected draft combine invitees, Sullivan Robey<\/a> is charging towards top 30 calculations after his 40 disposals and three goals last week. Defenders Xavier<\/a> and Oskar Taylor<\/a> are already there, along with co-captain Oliver Greeves<\/a>, who leads the midfield line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cannons’ top prospect, Cooper Duff-Tytler<\/a> showed out last week as a potent ruck-forward. Adam Sweid<\/a> was prolific in midfield and Felix Kneipp<\/a> looks set to spend more time there in rotation from half-back. Meanwhile goalsneak Hussien El Achkar<\/a> remains a huge scoring threat inside 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adam Sweid bursts through a pack | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Along with Sweid and El Achkar, the Cannons have plenty more talent tied to Essendon. Under 16 prospects Koby Bewick<\/a> and Moustafa Darwish<\/a> have both been named, along with bottom-ager Blake Justice<\/a>. The Western Bulldogs also have one to watch for next year in father-son hopeful Levi West<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the time of writing, teams are yet to be finalised for Sunday\u2019s double-header at Shepley Oval. Minor premier Gippsland enters the postseason with a clash against Geelong Falcons at 12:30pm, before rivals Sandringham and Oakleigh resume hostilities at 3pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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