Draft Intel: 10 top prospects to watch in Coates Talent League decider
AFL recruiters will have eyes on an ‘electric’ forward who shapes as a top-10 pick. But some late draft bolters will also be a close watch in this weekend’s Coates Talent League grand final.
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AFL recruiters will be out in force at Princes Park this weekend as two teams stacked with top-end talent face off in the Coates Talent League grand final.
The Sandringham Dragons will attempt to secure back-to-back premierships when they face off against the Eastern Ranges at 11.15am on Sunday.
The Dragons look set to have up to three players selected in the first round of this year’s national draft in midfielder Ryley Sanders, key defender Ollie Murphy and rebounding half-back Archie Roberts.
Eastern Ranges outside midfielder Caleb Windsor is another potential first-round selection, while exciting small forward Nick Watson is a likely top-10 pick.
“We’re looking forward to what he can do this week but also potentially what his AFL career will look like over the next 10 or 15 years,” Eastern Ranges talent manager Danny Ryan said of Watson.
“He’s an electric player who is certainly going to bring some people through the gates this week and into the future with the way that he does play.”
The match will also be an opportunity for some late bolters to push their cases for selection in November’s drafts, including Sandringham midfielder Charlie Edwards.
“He played half-back for us earlier in the year … but has become one of our starting inside midfielders,” Dragons coach Rob Harding said of Edwards.
“He’s had a fantastic second half of the season.”
Eastern Ranges key defender Cooper Trembath is another player who has attracted late-season interest and will have a big part to play in his side’s prospects this weekend.
“This is the first year he’s played as a defender and he’s really starting to learn when to mark, when to spoil, body positioning, all those type of things,” Ryan said.
“He’s certainly been a pivotal player for us this year and he’s going to have to have a big game on the weekend with a lot of Sandy’s talls that are down there. We’re really excited about Coop.”
Here are 10 players to watch in the season decider – including nine who have been invited to national or state draft combines next month, and one who is already shaping as a top-10 pick for 2024.
RYLEY SANDERS
186cm Midfielder
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Draft Range: 1-10
Sanders has been Mr Consistent across all his football programs this season and will be looking to cap of his year with another title. Originally from Tasmania, he helped lead the Allies to victory in the under-18 national championships and won the Larke Medal as the best player of the tournament. A prolific ball winner who plays as a traditional centreman and has a strong appetite for the contest, Sanders has averaged 31.3 disposals, 6.5 clearances and 5.3 tackles across his eight games for the Dragons this year. He was named as a starting midfielder in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year this week. Sanders is a player to watch for North Melbourne fans, with the Kangaroos still hopeful of receiving some form of priority access to him in this year’s draft as part of an AFL assistance package.
NICK WATSON
170cm Forward
Club: Eastern Ranges
Draft Range: 1-10
A dynamo small forward, Watson has been nicknamed ‘The Wizard’ and is more than capable of producing some magic in the forward half. He is smart, quick, and agile, along with boasting unrivalled goal sense. Watson was the leading goalkicker of the under-18 national championships, finishing with 14 majors from his four matches for Vic Metro. He has been playing a little higher up the ground for the Ranges in recent weeks and has missed a few tough shots, which has meant he has only registered one goal from each of his past two finals. However, Watson is a player who loves the big stage and is sure to put his best foot forward in the season decider.
LEVI ASHCROFT
179cm Midfielder
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Draft Range: 1-10 in 2024
A bottom-age player who does not turn 17 until December, Ashcroft has been a star all season for the Dragons and shapes as a high draft pick in 2024. Levi is the younger brother of Brisbane Lions midfielder Will Aschcoft and son of three-time Lions premiership player Marcus Ashcroft, making him eligible to head north as a father-son next year. Levi has great balance between his inside and outside game and has been regularly able to push forward and hit the scoreboard. He logged 24 disposals, five clearances and three goals in last week’s preliminary final against Geelong and was named as a starting midfielder in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year this week.
OLLIE MURPHY
200cm Defender
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Draft Range: 11-20
One of the best key defenders in this year’s draft pool, Murphy won Vic Metro’s MVP award after an impressive under-18 national championships campaign. He has also starred at school football level and with the Dragons this year, in what has been his first season playing in the backline after accepting a challenge over pre-season to make a switch from the forward line. Named at fullback in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year this week, Murphy reads the play well and positions himself nicely to be able to take intercept marks, while he is also neat and composed with ball in hand when he does win it back.
ARCHIE ROBERTS
184cm Defender
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Draft Range: 15-30
A rebounding halfback, Roberts has found a way to have an impact almost every week across his various football programs this season. The left-footer is a damaging and penetrating kick, while he is also an elite runner who loves to play on and run and carry off halfback to break the lines. The Dragons have also been particularly impressed with Roberts’ one-one-one defending in recent weeks and his leadership out on the field has been important during the finals series. Roberts recorded 25 disposals, five marks and seven rebound-50s in last week’s preliminary final and was named on a halfback flank in the Coates Talent League Team of the Year earlier this week.
CALEB WINDSOR
184cm Midfielder
Club: Eastern Ranges
Draft Range: 15-30
A wingman with pace to burn, Windsor took a little while to get going this year after battling a syndesmosis injury late last season. However, he hit form at the right time with Vic Metro in the under-18 national championships in the middle of the season and has continued that form since returning to the Ranges. He makes good decisions, uses the ball well by hand and foot and brings teammates into the game. Windsor has also been able to impact on the scoreboard, kicking at least one goal in each of his past seven Coates Talent League matches.
CHARLIE EDWARDS
190cm Midfielder
Draft Range: 20-40
A draft bolter in the second half of the season, there is no doubt that recruiters will have a close eye on Edwards in the Grand Final. He started the year across halfback and was not part of Vic Metro’s squad for the under-18 national championships. However, Edwards has not looked back since making a move into the midfield in round 13 which changed everything. He is a good size for an onballer, has an ability to drive his legs through traffic, is a penetrating kick and has shown an ability to push forward and kick goals. Edwards had 21 disposals, four clearances, five inside-50s, six tackles and kicked one goal in last week’s preliminary final.
COOPER TREMBATH
192cm Defender
Club: Eastern Ranges
Draft Range: Late to Rookie Chance
A late addition for the Ranges’ program last year, Trembath has come on in leaps and bounds since a big pre-season. He had not played in defence before this year but caught some attention after taking five intercept marks in a round 1 match against Sandringham. Trembath has averaged 4.1 intercept marks across his 12 matches this season, along with 14.5 disposals. He has a great set of hands, uses the ball well when he does win it back and has continued to improve his defensive craft throughout the year. Trembath made his VFL debut for Frankston late in the season and did not look out of place, logging 11 disposals, four intercept marks and two spoils.
RY CANTWELL
186cm Forward
Club: Eastern Ranges
Draft Range: Late to Rookie Chance
A mid-sized half-forward or wingman who works hard up the ground to provide his side with a marking target, Cantwell is considered to be a player with some real AFL traits. He is good in the air, possesses speed and power and is a penetrating kick who can hit the scoreboard. Cantwell has booted multiple goals in six of his 11 games for the Ranges this year, including three majors in an eye-catching performance against Tasmania Devils in last week’s preliminary final.
RILEY WEATHERILL
195cm Forward
Club: Eastern Ranges
Draft Range: Late to Rookie Chance
A good-sized key forward, Weatherill has not only been the Ranges’ leading goalkicker this season but also the leading goalkicker in the Coates Talent League. He has booted 35 majors across his 14 games, including a haul of four goals against Tasmania Devils in last week’s preliminary final. Weatherill provides a target, has a great set of hands in the air and is a nice kick for goal. He has also become quite a competitor in the second half of the season.
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