The Bellarine’s young guns of 2024
They’re the young players and rookies who are starting to make a name for themselves in the BFNL, or have enhanced their growing reputations even further. See the list of 26.
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It’s been another brilliant year of BFNL footy and some of the league’s younger players have either made a name for themselves or enhanced their growing reputations.
This masthead has taken a look at the numbers from Play HQ and Premier Data and spoken to the coaches and teammates of some of the Bellarine’s most promising players.
And here is the list of the BFNL’s hottest young guns of 2024.
Newcomb
Ryan Jackman
The young captain has led from the front for Power coach Tony Mirabella in the midfield despite a two-win season — playing in all 17 games and being named in the best on eight occasions.
The numbers show an incredibly influential and consistent season for the skipper.
The 23-year-old has led the club for disposals, contested possessions, groundball gets, pressure acts, tackles, midfield tackles, back 50 tackles, ball up clearances and centre clearances and is second for total ranking points and clearances.
Josh Saltalamacchia
The 23-year-old has put up strong midfield numbers for the Power while also doing some damage forward of the ball.
Kicking the third highest number of goals for the year with 13, second for goal involvements, third for goal assists and fourth for marks inside 50, Saltalamacchia has provided support to the league’s best forward and Power teammate, Jack Duke.
From a midfield perspective, he was also in Newcomb’s top five for total ranking points, contested possessions, disposals and groundball gets and all four types of clearances.
Playing all 17 games this year for Newcomb, Saltalamacchia has been named in the best on seven occasions.
A definite bright spot from an otherwise gloomy season.
Ocean Grove
Connor Asquith
The 20-year-old small forward, who played in Leopold’s reserves last season, is ranked above average in nine different areas in 2024, according to Premier Data.
At a club level, Asquith is in the top five for contested marks and marks inside 50, and top 10 for inside 50s and midfield tackles.
Asquith has also done damage on the scoreboard himself: first for goal assists, second for goals (with a personal best of four against Newcomb) and third for goal involvements.
Named in the best on five occasions, Asquith is tracking above average in nine different statistical areas this season.
Max Sutton
The Grubbers junior, who was playing under-19s in 2019, has had an enormous season in 2024, ranked elite in nine different statistical areas by Premier Data.
His numbers have been incredible with the 22-year-old ranked number one at the club for disposals, contested possessions, groundball gets, ranking points, all types of clearances, one per centers, pressure acts, tackles, midfield tackles and forward 50 tackles.
Named in the best on eight occasions from all 17 games, Sutton is also second for inside 50s and goal involvements and third for goal assists.
Kye Annand
The former Falcon and young ruckman started his season in tremendous style, named in the Grubbers’ best on seven occasions from nine games despite his team’s lack of form and 0-9 start.
At a club level, Annand was top 10 for contested possessions, and top five for contested marks and marks inside 50 (both first), hit outs (second), intercept marks, centre clearances, ranking points, one per centers, spoils, pressure acts, goals and goal involvements.
In a BOG performance in Round 10 against Portarlington, Annand had 22 touches with 12 contested, five inside 50s and 11 marks.
Sadly, Annand, who also played a match with Geelong’s VFL team in May, had his season ended in June with a kidney injury.
Portarlington
Jack Baldi
Baldi, who played under-18s last year with St Mary’s had an impact in his first senior season with the Demons with his defensive skills and pressure.
Playing the first eight games of the year, Baldi was in the best for senior coach Warren Finlayson as the Demons opened their account with two straight wins.
Despite his absence since Round 8, Baldi remains in the club’s top 10 for groundball gets, all four varieties of clearances, pressure acts, tackles, back 50 tackles, midfield tackles and forward 50 tackles.
Harry Sedgmen
Another recruit from St Mary’s under-18s, Sedgmen has been a consistent contributor for the Demons, playing 16 games and named in the team’s best on three occasions.
Has done some hard yakka in the middle to be in the club’s top five for contested possessions, groundball gets and centre clearances plus inside 50s, tackles, midfield tackles and forward 50 tackles.
Also ranks high for contested marks, one per centers, clearances and throw in clearances.
Picked up 20 touches, with 12 contested, and five clearances in Round 5 against Drysdale.
Ethan Hughes
Demons coach Warren Finlayson has been very impressed with Hughes’ development in defence.
Playing all but one game this year, Hughes put in a BOG performance against Barwon Heads and has been named in the Demons’ best on six occasions.
Queenscliff
Lachie Kidd
The 21-year-old has been a star for the Coutas this year under new coach Heath Jamieson and was integral to the club’s mid-season run.
Kidd, who flirted with the idea of switching to Bannockburn during the off-season, repaid the faith with a damaging season with elite numbers at a league level, in the top 10 across groundball gets and clearances, throw in clearances, clearances and disposals.
Playing all but one game in 2024, Kidd has been in the club’s best on nine occasions, including the last two games against Torquay and Barwon Heads, with Kidd picking up 34 (24 contested) touches and 17 clearances versus the Tigers.
Jonty Rush
Has led the Coutas goalkickers this year with 23 majors from 17 matches this year.
Rush, who was playing under-18s footy just two years ago, is also a leader in a number of areas at the Couta Bowl, including contested marks and marks inside 50.
He is number one at Queenscliff for goal assists and involvements, fourth for tackles in the club’s attacking 50, and seventh for inside 50s.
Barwon Heads
Angus Ford
The talented left footer, who made his senior debut last season at the age of 15 against Portarlington, has become a key part of Sam Schaller’s outfit, with a BOG performance at home against Queenscliff.
Playing 14 games for the Seagulls this year, while sharing his time with the Geelong Falcons, Ford has impressed on the wing to be named in the best on six occasions in 2024.
The teenager has also chipped in with nine goals this year, according to Play HQ, complementing one of the BFNL’s most prolific scoring teams.
Premier Data shows Ford’s even contributions this year, in the club’s top 10 for disposals, marks, marks inside 50, uncontested marks, intercept marks, all four varieties of clearances, inside 50s, forward 50 tackles, ranking points, goals and goal involvements.
Harry Hyland
Hyland, who was playing under-16s footy just two years ago, has had a tremendous season for the Seagulls, named in the best on four occasions from eight games in his debut senior year.
Chipping in with 10 goals, Hyland has also contributed a steady number of contested marks (sixth) and marks inside 50 (eighth) at club level.
Finn Cornell
The former Falcon has played eight games this year for the Seagulls, twice named in the best.
At a club level, Cornell has made the top 10 for all four varieties of clearances, inside 50s, pressure acts, midfield tackles and tackles inside attacking 50.
Cornell, who made his senior debut in 2022, 18 disposals (eight contested) and four inside 50s to be in the best last round against Queenscliff.
Cooper Ward
Seen by the Seagulls as their standout youngster, Ward has been restricted to just five games this year due to commitments with the Geelong Falcons.
Ward kicked 16 goals from five games for Barwon Heads this year, including bags of five against Newcomb and Ocean Grove and was in the best against Drysdale with four majors.
Despite playing his last game in mid-July, Ward is still in the club’s top 10 for marks inside 50 and majors.
Drysdale
Luke Preece
The youngster has grown into a fine backman for the Hawks with a relentless attack on the ball and an ability jag a couple of goals, with two in Round 16 against Geelong Amateur, including one via a 50m penalty.
Preece leads the BFNL for intercept marks, contested grabs and one percenters.
Senior coach Ben Carmichael will be hoping young Preece will be once again dependable during another deep finals run.
Joel Watson
The defender-turned-forward has been a consistent presence in the front half alongside fellow young ace Jake Hargreaves as Drysdale has battled injury and player availability.
Watson has kicked 29 goals for the Hawks this year, according to Play HQ, behind only Hargreaves according to Play HQ, and is second at the club for goal involvements.
Playing just eight games in the seniors last year, Watson has played all 17 in 2024 and named in the best three times.
Modewarre
Oscar Cooke
Modewarre senior coach Mark Hovey thinks young Cooke should be in the BFNL team of the year.
And the numbers would suggest he’s at least a strong candidate for club best and fairest: in the Warriors’ top 10 for disposals, intercept marks, rebounds from defensive 50 (all first), marks, ranking points (both second), spoils, contested possessions, contested marks and groundball gets.
He also goes at 69 per cent by foot, making him one of the club’s most accurate kicks, and 73 per cent disposal efficiency.
Named in the best players on nine occasions, Cooke has hit top form coming into a finals run with a BOG performance against Newcomb in Round 17 with 28 touches.
Patrick Fitzgerald
Young Fitzgerald has stepped up in some big games this year, and is one of the Warriors’ most precise kicks.
Playing under-18s in 2022 – the same year he made his senior debut against Portarlington – Fitzgerald became a regular feature last season before another consistent campaign in 2024.
Playing all 17 games, Fitzgerald has impressed with his pressure: ranked in the club’s top 10 for tackles in the forward arc, and top six for pressure acts, midfield tackles and tackles.
Was amongst the best players in games against Barwon Heads (twice), Torquay and Anglesea (twice).
Geelong Amateur
Tom Gorell
Gorell, who has mixed his commitments with the Ammos and the Falcons, has managed to boot 15 goals from nine games for coach Dan Holroyd — fourth at the club in 2024.
Complementing the likes of Paddy Dowling up forward, Gorell started the season with twin bags of four against Modewarre and Portarlington and then three against the Demons again in Round 12.
Gorell is also fourth at the club for marks inside 50 and seventh for contested marks, underlying his ability to compete in the air.
Will Mithen
Like Gorell, Mithen’s availability has been limited to just five games this year, due to APS and Falcons commitments – kicking three against Gippsland Power – but he’s done enough to impress the Ammos coaching staff this year.
Kicking five goals for the BFNL season, Mithen is ranked sixth at the club for six-pointer assists and eighth for marks inside 50 this year from limited game time.
Had a BOG performance against Queenscliff in Round 10 with 18 possessions (eight contested) and eight inside 50s.
Anglesea
Kobe Iversen-Smith
The young defender has been a strong contributor for the second-placed Roos as they chase their first flag in 25 years.
In his club’s top 10 for marks, intercept marks, uncontested marks and tackles, Iversen-Smith has also set the agenda at Anglesea across back 50 tackles (first), second for spoils and third for one per centers and rebound from defensive 50.
Playing all but one game this year, Iversen-Smith has been in the Roos’ best on five occasions.
Ike Hardman
When asked which youngsters had impressed this year, coach Jordan Keras was quick to mention Hardman who has played 15 matches this year in the seniors.
Playing games this year, Hardman is in the club’s top 10 for forward 50 tackles (fourth).
Put in a near BOG performance for the Roos against Torquay in Round 14 with 12 possessions and one goal.
Noah Collins
One of Anglesea’s more polished users of the ball, Collins has gone at 65 per cent by foot this year, and 71 per cent disposal efficiency overall, after eight games for the Roos this year.
Collins, who was playing under-18s footy for Anglesea in 2022, has found form in the front half in recent weeks too with eight goals from his past five games.
Three majors against Barwon Heads has been his best individual display this season.
Torquay
Patrick Hughes
The ex-Falcon has been restricted to just three games this year due to his commitments with Geelong’s VFL team.
His last BFNL game was a BOG performance against Ocean Grove in Round 3 with six majors.
Chase Loftus
The reigning best and fairest winner has backed it up in 2024 as the Tigers have dropped just one game this year and appear the hottest of premiership favourites.
The former Falcon has tracked strongly at a league level, in the top 10 for contested possessions and groundball gets.
Playing all 17 games this year, Loftus is rated elite or above average across 18 different statistical areas.
Nathan Mifsud
Arguably Torquay’s most dangerous forward.
Kicking 22 goals from 17 games this year, going by Play HQ, Mifsud has complemented the likes of Matt Boag, Jesse Dawson and Will Tamassy who have all recorded 20+ seasons in the forward arc after 17 rounds.
Making his senior debut in 2019, Mifsud is second in the BFNL this year for goal assists, seventh for goal involvements and is rated either elite or above average in 14 different statistical areas.
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Originally published as The Bellarine’s young guns of 2024
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