{"id":221897,"date":"2026-08-24T19:04:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=221897"},"modified":"2026-08-24T19:04:45","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T09:04:45","slug":"up-the-grades-mellody-on-song-to-end-eagles-finals-hopes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2026\/08\/24\/up-the-grades-mellody-on-song-to-end-eagles-finals-hopes\/","title":{"rendered":"Up the Grades: Mellody on song to end Eagles’ finals hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

CLAREMONT prospect Heath Mellody<\/a> has starred in just his second WAFL League game, leading all comers as the Tigers’ ended West Coast’s finals hopes. Turning out alongside fellow Under 18 All-Australian George Gale<\/a>, the midfielder now looks destined for a senior postseason berth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elsewhere around the country, pick one fancy Dougie Cochrane<\/a> stood tall despite Port Adelaide ending the SANFL season as wooden spooners. The same could be said for Carlton father-son gun Cody Walker<\/a>, who once again had no trouble finding the footy in his side’s VFL Wildcard Round exit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

>> Player Focus: <\/strong>George Gale & Heath Mellody (Claremont)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SANFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

SANFL League & Reserves Round 19<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bunch of usual suspects played out their respective SANFL League seasons over the weekend, headlined by Port Adelaide-tied star Dougie Cochrane<\/a>. The athletic tall utility racked up 23 disposals and seven marks as his side was felled to the tune of 65 points by Central District on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fellow Port Next Generation Academy (NGA) member Zackariah Young<\/a> also turned in arguably his best League performance, finishing with 16 touches and five marks. State teammate Jack Gordon<\/a> (13 disposals, three rebound 50s) turned out for Centrals as the Magpies were handed the wooden spoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

State Under 18 captain Kodah Edwards<\/a> again impressed for South Adelaide, who fell half a game short of the top five despite beating fourth-placed West Adelaide. Edwards notched up 20 disposals and eight marks, accompanied by another solid hand from Archie Van Dyk<\/a> (16 disposals, five tackles).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A couple of over-age talls were also out and about in the top flight. Lincoln Pitt<\/a> contributed six marks, 17 hitouts and a goal in Westies’ defeat and looks set for finals footy. Meanwhile, Jack Slattery<\/a> continued his stint in the Eagles’ League side but sustained a hip injury after gathering three touches against Norwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Taj Garrett in action for Sturt | Image Credit: Shaun Howell<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Sturt blooded a trio of young guns in at Reserves level, with bottom-ager Taj Garrett<\/a> being the pick of the bunch. The hard-running outside accumulator picked up 18 disposals and three goals in his side’s 75-point thumping of Central District, marking an impressive senior debut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Territory native Ben Barnard<\/a> also showed his wares for the victors with 13 disposals. He was part of the Allies squad this year. Lively small forward Lachie Werts<\/a> was the third of the trio and got involved in the scoring with one goal from his seven possessions at X Convenience Oval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plenty of young talent also took the field as South Adelaide edged past West Adelaide by nine points. Creative forward Cain Florance<\/a> (18 disposals, six inside 50s) was lively for the Panthers, while bottom-ager Laurence Andriani<\/a> (20 disposals, eight clearances) continued his strong vein of form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Andriani has played six Reserves games this year for the finals-bound bloods, having also been part of the state Under 18 side. Teammates Josh Bell<\/strong> (six tackles) and Nathaniel Lampton<\/a> – another Northern Territory product – also took the field for Westies, gathering seven disposals each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glenelg was served well by towering ruckman Jobe Janeway<\/a> (38 hitouts) in its 100-point win over North Adelaide. Over-ager Kobe Gibson<\/a> (15 disposals, one goal) was also terrific for the minor premiers. Elsewhere, Richmond father-son hopeful Jack Leys<\/a> has helped the Eagles land in fifth with 12 disposals, five marks and a goal, despite a heavy loss to Norwood in the final round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cody Walker in action for Vic Country | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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VFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

VFL Wildcard Round<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The VFL entered Wildcard Round over the weekend, with two fixtures helping consolidate the finals picture. It marked Cody Walker<\/a>‘s final game in navy blue for the year, as Carlton was eliminated at the hands on Williamstown. He was productive as usual despite the result, posting 24 disposals, five clearances and seven score involvements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the other Wildcard game, Sydney blooded a bunch of Academy talent in its 68-point win over Frankston. Among them was debutant Benjamin Pignatelli<\/a>, who clunked three contested marks and booted two goals in the resounding victory at Blacktown ISP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the other end of the ground, fellow tall Will Morahan<\/a> (four marks, seven intercepts) impressed alongside Alex Norris<\/a> (17 disposals, six intercepts), while Oscar Clifton<\/a> (15 disposals, four clearances) got busy in the ruck and Henry Meaney<\/a> (17 disposals) showed his wares as a classy mid-forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Ben Pignatelli hit the scoreboard in his VFL debut | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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WAFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2026 WAFL League & Reserves Round 20<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like the SANFL, the WAFL home-and-away rounds came to a close over the weekend, with plenty of junior having a say in the finals picture. Top-10 prospect Heath Mellody<\/a> was at the top of that list, starring as Claremont knocked West Coast out of the finals race and landed in second place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slick-kicking, hard-running midfielder amassed 34 disposals, 10 tackles and a crucial final quarter goal to kill off the Eagles’ final quarter surge. Teammate George Gale<\/a> also popped up with a ridiculous effort from the boundary for his maiden League goal en route to 22 disposals and six marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eagles NGA prospect Cody Lee<\/a> (Perth) was handed a debut in the 33-point defeat at Mineral Resources park, managing two touches. The tall marking defender follows in the footsteps of fellow West Coast-tied talents like Harper Banfield <\/strong>and Garrison Kenh<\/strong> to have been trialled in Eagles colours this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The League campaigns of Leo Steed<\/a> and Harvey Spawton-Guy<\/a> came to an end over the weekend. Steed was productive with 21 disposals and seven tackles as Swan Districts beat East Fremantle to finish in eighth. Spawton-Guy’s West Perth was felled by Perth and finished three games adrift in last place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leo Steed rounded out his League campaign for Swan Districts | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Frazer Rickson<\/a>‘s Subiaco finished the home-and-away rounds in sixth, edged out of a finals place by East Perth despite comfortably beating the Royals on Saturday. He won 37 hitouts in the win, capping off a terrific season of senior and state football for the over-age ruckman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucas Robinson<\/a> and South Fremantle can exact revenge for Subi when they take on East Perth in this elimination final. The Fremantle NGA prospect managed 11 disposals, five tackles and a goal as the Bulldogs knocked off minor premier Peel Thunder to land clear in fourth spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, potential Tasmanian target Axel Walsh<\/a> was unleashed in the Reserves grade. The debutant, a leading prospect for next year’s draft, impressed with 20 disposals, five marks, 23 hitouts and two goals in East Perth’s 34-point win over Subiaco. The Royals are finals-bound in both grades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perth also handed a debut to speedy small Jayden Clarke<\/a> in its 12-point road win over West Perth. Having had an injury interrupted start to the season, he has been in strong form and continued that with 13 disposals, five marks and a goal as the Demons secured third place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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