TOP 5s | 2024 Preseason Testing – Coates Talent League
RECORDS tumbled at last week’s Coates Talent League boys preseason testing day, as athletes from the 12 Victorian regions were put through their paces in Thornbury. In the event hosted by Rookie Me, Jett McLaughlan notched the best preseason Yo-Yo Test score ever recorded. >> SCROLL for all top five results The Northern Knights top-ager’s effort […]
Full 2024 Coates Talent League fixtures finalised
AFTER releasing the Round 1 schedule earlier this week, the AFL has now confirmed the entire Coates Talent League fixture for season 2024 – across both the boys and girls competitions. Once again, 12 Victorian regions will participate full-time alongside Tasmania Devils. >> 2024 CTL fixture: Round 1 announcement Both competitions will also feature the […]
2024 AFL Draft | Race to #1: Levi Ashcroft
FATHER-SON prospects are often compared to their fathers ad nauseam, but Levi Ashcroft will endure the quirk of having his name placed next to another member of his family – big brother Will. Levi is living up to the family name, too, having already collected a bunch of individual and team accolades. The Ashcrofts are […]
PROFILED | 2024 Vic Metro Talent Hub
THE 2024 Vic Metro summer training squad has been announced, with 22 prospects selected from across all six applicable Coates Talent League regions. In anticipation of their respective top and bottom-age campaigns, we profile each player and break down the overall squad. >> ANNOUNCEMENT: 2024 Victorian summer training squads 2024 VIC COUNTRY SUMMER TRAINING SQUAD […]
Industrious Ashcroft relishing high standards
THERE’S a lot on Levi Ashcroft‘s plate in 2024, and plenty he’s already achieved. The top draft prospect is aiming to become the third member of his family to reach the top level of Australian rules football, after father Marcus and big brother Will both hit the bigtime in Brisbane. Levi is an esteemed junior, […]
2023 Talent League Season Review: Finalists
THE 2023 Coates Talent League season has been run and won, with Sandringham Dragons taking out a second straight premiership. As we reflect on the year that was for part two of our season review, we cast an eye on the league’s finalists. Note; top-ranked Wildcard loser, Northern was covered in part one. >> 2023 […]
Brown best afield in back-to-back triumph
YOU could hardly write a better script for Will Brown to end his top-age campaign. Having played a hand in Sandringham’s 2022 flag, he was named captain this year and skippered his side to a second-straight Coates Talent League title. No less, he was also the best player afield with three goals. As one of […]
Scouting Notes: 2023 Coates Talent League Grand Final
SANDRINGHAM Dragons secured their second consecutive Coates Talent League premiership on Sunday after downing Eastern Ranges by 43 points at IKON Park. With exciting prospects taking to the field in droves, we noted some of the top performers from either side. >> Match Report: Sandringham storms to second straight flag
Sandringham storms to second straight flag
SANDRINGHAM Dragons have claimed consecutive Coates Talent League premierships after defeating Eastern Ranges by 43 points today. Under sunny skies at IKON Park, the star-studded victors were tested but kicked away with five of the game’s last six goals to win by a comfortable margin. Five Dragons became dual premiership players, including captain Will Brown […]
Dragons not taking Ranges lightly in flag defence
SANDRINGHAM Dragons will play off for back-to-back Coates Talent League premierships when they face Eastern in today’s Grand Final at IKON Park. Having taken out last year’s title in similar circumstances, the dominant Metro region has a tough task ahead of it to claim another. Regional talent lead Mark Wheeler has been there before, and […]
Full 2024 Coates Talent League fixtures finalised
AFTER releasing the Round 1 schedule earlier this week, the AFL has now confirmed the entire Coates Talent League fixture for season 2024 – across both the boys and girls competitions. Once again, 12 Victorian regions will participate full-time alongside Tasmania Devils. >> 2024 CTL fixture: Round 1 announcement Both competitions will also feature the […]
2023 AFLW Draft review: Richmond
RICHMOND opted to just take two picks into the 2023 AFL Women’s Draft, but showed the Tigers had a need for speed. With their first round selection, the Tigers pounced on draft bolter Isabel Bacon at Pick 13, with the Sandringham Dragons defender and midfielder heading to Punt Road. With their only other selection, the […]
2023 AFLW Draft review: Essendon
TAKING the minimum two selections in an otherwise quieter AFLW Draft, the Bombers picked up two very different players, with selections 20 and 38. Sandringham Dragons’ tall Emily Gough was snapped up at Pick 20, while Geelong Falcons skipper Chloe Adams slid down to their next selection at 38. Emily Gough (Sandringham Dragons / Vic […]
Q&A: Isabel Bacon (Sandringham Dragons)
SANDRINGHAM Dragons top-ager Isabel Bacon is a rising AFLW Draft prospect and among the most athletic players in the pool. We spoke to the first-year talent at the recent AFLW Draft Combine event to find out her thoughts on her 2023 season, and get to know the midfielder/defender a little bit more. Q: Isabel, how […]
2023 Talent League Girls team reviews: Metro non-finalists
ANOTHER season is quickly coming to a close in the Coates Talent League Girls and we take a look at how 2023 panned out for each of the 13 sides. In the second of these team reviews articles, we take a look at the two Metropolitan-based non-finalists, diving into their season, draft prospects and some […]
2023 Talent League Girls Player Of The Week: Round 10
CARLTON father-daughter prospect Sophie McKay is enjoying an outstanding debut season at Coates Talent League level, and now the bottom-ager is our Rookie Me Central Player of the Week nomination. McKay starred with 28 touches and booted three goals in the Dragons’ huge win over Western Jets in Round 10 yesterday. In the absence of […]
Scouting notes: 2023 Vic Metro AFLW U18s trial
IN the first of two Victorian trial games, Vic Metro hopefuls strutted their stuff at Werribee to help selectors determine a final squad for the upcoming AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. Tomorrow night we will take a look at the Vic Country Under 18s trial match. VIC METRO BLUE 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.6 | […]
Howley runaway leader after perfect three-game stint
BREAKING away from the post Round 6 logjam, Geelong Falcons bottom-age star Sara Howley picked up a perfect 15 votes in the past three weeks to build serious separation to second spot in the 2023 Rookie Me Central Medal race. Sitting equal fourth after the first six rounds, Howley came back from the community break […]
State of play: Coates Talent League Girls
THE FIRST block of Coates Talent League Girls action has been completed in season 2023, but with the competition returning as soon as next week, there’s no better time for a refresher on what has gone down to date. We take you through all you need to know before Round 7 gets underway. WHEN DOES […]
Zielinski making up for lost time
AFTER ankle surgery over the off-season delayed her start to the 2023 Coates Talent League Girls competition, Sandringham Dragons key forward Mia Zielinski is not wasting any time upon her return. In the two games leading up to the community break, Zielinski booted four goals from six scoring shots and looked like the genuine threat […]