{"id":209699,"date":"2026-03-12T15:22:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T05:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=209699"},"modified":"2026-03-12T15:22:52","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T05:22:52","slug":"knapp-the-name-to-note-in-talent-league","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/03\/12\/knapp-the-name-to-note-in-talent-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Knapp the name to note in Talent League"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

EASTERN Ranges midfielder Jordan Knapp<\/a> is primed for a big season according to his teammates. A total of 41 top-age (2026 draft eligible) prospects from the Vic Country and Metro summer squads were surveyed at Saturday’s Talent League preseason testing event, asked for a teammate to watch for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> ONES TO WATCH: <\/strong>South Australia<\/a> | Western Australia<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fellow premiership players Harrison Chapman<\/a>, Archie Spencer<\/a>, and Sam Devers<\/a> all put his name forward. Knapp, a skilful and poised accumulator, played 11 games last year and earned a late call-up to the National Futures match. He’s part of the Vic Metro program, following through on his Under 16 year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While his teammates put him down as an obvious choice, Knapp highlighted forward Max Bartlett<\/a> as a “serious talent”. High-flyer William Waller<\/a> was another wildcard put forward by Spencer as a “tough as nails” defender, while Sam Devers<\/a> is high on Zac Antonellos<\/a> after a three-goal Grand Final showing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Clancy Snell is one to watch for Gippsland | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Along with Eastern, 2025 minor premier Gippsland boasts a stacked list once again. Three Power players – Marlon Neocleous<\/a>, Clancy Snell<\/a>, and Cody Templeton<\/a> – were all named twice. Templeton singled out Snell for “[lighting] the preseason up”. Snell has family ties to the Duursmas and former Opal, Belinda<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dandenong hard nut Gus Kennedy<\/a> labelled Stingrays stars Darcy Szerszyn<\/a> and Marcus Prasad<\/a> as “hard to play on” at either end of the ground. Prasad’s second reference came from Murray Bushrangers prospect Tanner Armstrong<\/a>, who also put forward Rhys Osborne<\/a> from outside the Vic Country setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Others in a similar boat to Osborne include luckless Sandringham Dragons forward Jack Surkitt<\/a> and Northern Knights “workhorse” Harvie Cooke<\/a>. Knights defender Tate Hodgson<\/a> lauded Cooke for being the “first there [and] last to leave”, on top of doing all the extras throughout preseason.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jack Surkitt in action for Sandringham | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Surkitt, whose injury setbacks were acknowledged by Arki Butler<\/a> and Tyson Bradley<\/a>, having missed out on last year’s Talent League Grand Final. Nonetheless, he was backed to remind onlookers of his talent. Bradley is a fan of how hard he goes at the footy, despite measuring up on the smaller end of the scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other standout descriptions included Billy Wigmore<\/a>, who quipped “good luck getting past him this year” when pumping up Zach Dalli<\/a>. The “all-round athleticism” of Andrio Sousa<\/a> was lauded by Szerszyn, while Blake Justice<\/a> is confident that Nathaniel Jenkins<\/a> will “kick a lot of goals” for Calder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fabled “training the house down” call was reserved for Noah Williams<\/a>, who praised Geelong Falcons teammate Joel Bartley<\/strong>. There was excitement for midfield “bull” Charlie Hanegraaf<\/a>. The man himself was in awe of Charlie Gray<\/a>‘s “next level” attack on the footy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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