APS Insider: The key takeaways from Scotch College v Caulfield Grammar battle

Caulfield Grammar’s clash with Scotch College always draws some keen observers, including one AFL superstar. But all eyes were on one young gun in Caulfield’s win on Scotch’s turf.

Caulfield player Oliver Greeves continues to impress. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Caulfield Grammar’s clash with Scotch College always draws some keen observers, including one AFL superstar.

But all eyes were on one young gun in Caulfield’s win on Scotch’s turf.

CAULFIELD GRAMMAR GUN PRODUCES DANGERFIELD-LIKE PERFORMANCE

Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie must have been wondering what could have been as he watched Oliver Greeves tear it up for Caulfield Grammar on Saturday.

The Hawks’ application for Greeves to be included in their Next Generation Academy program was rejected by the AFL earlier this year and his star has only risen ever since.

Greeves – who is a Geelong supporter – said in March that he modelled his game on players like Hawthorn’s Will Day and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca.

But he looked more like Cats champion Patrick Dangerfield as he led Caulfield to a 44-point win at Scotch College, individually breaking the contest wide open in the last quarter.

Greeves ripped the game to shreds in the final term against Scotch. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Greeves started at the first centre bounce opposed to fellow AFL Academy member Riley Onley and continually provided drive forward for his side throughout the opening half.

The 191cm big-bodied midfielder won numerous clearances, using his brute strength to break tackles and deliver the footy to Caulfield’s forwards.

In the second half, Greeves was then pushed forward himself and proved an unstoppable force.

He was too big, too strong and too smart for Scotch’s defenders – even dragging in a one-handed mark late in the game.

But like Dangerfield can be at times, Greeves’ goalkicking was a little inaccurate.

He could have easily booted seven or eight majors in what would have been an all-time great APS performance, but instead finished with three majors from 11 shots on goal.

It wasn’t just Greeves missing goals for Caulfield, which went into three-quarter time leading 4.15 (39) to 5.8 (38).

As one frustrated fan yelled out during the third term, “Have they had any goalkicking practice?”

Like Dangerfield, Greeves might need to work on his goalkicking. Picture: Michael Klein

There were similar complaints from talent scouts, who had expected a higher standard of skills overall on a perfect autumn day in Melbourne between two of the most stacked APS sides.

But Greeves found his groove in the final quarter, kicking three goals in a relatively short period of time to carry Caulfield to victory.

The first of those goals game from a set shot after a big contested mark at the front of a pack, while the other two came close to goal as he put himself in dangerous spots.

One AFL recruiter who watched the game live agreed Greeves was best afield and said he shaped as a top-15 draft pick, but added that he wouldn’t play as a forward at AFL level despite what he had put on display for his school side.

By game’s end, the scoreboard looked a little more respectable for Caulfield, who ran out victors 11.18 (84) to 5.10 (40).

OTHER EYE-CATCHERS

Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Will Darcy was on fire in the first 10 minutes of the match.

The Scotch College student – whose father Luke was watching on – booted two early goals playing as a deep forward.

He copped some flack after the first of those, which Darcy bounced into the Caulfield cheer squad behind the goals.

But the lean tall didn’t get to many contests after the first quarter and didn’t add any further to his goals tally.

Hawthorn father-son prospect Kobe Williams had some nice moments across halfback for Scotch, including showing some strong hands overhead.

The 186cm Williams is the son of 2008 Hawthorn premiership player Mark Williams and is also a member of the Western Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy.

Smooth-moving midfielder Sam Allen was one of Scotch’s best players, with the 183cm elite runner starting onball and finding plenty of the footy.

Carlton Next Generation Academy member Jack Ison – a 190cm midfielder-forward – kicked a goal in the first quarter and showed some impressive agility in traffic around the ground.

For the 2026 national draft, there is a growing watch on Caulfield’s Wil Malady, who again showed plenty of promise.

The 190cm forward took some big contested marks and finished with three goals, including a lovely set shot from tight on the boundary line in the second quarter.

Malady hails from Bairnsdale but is boarding at Caulfield Grammar.

He kicked four goals for Gippsland Power in the opening round of the Coates Talent League season this year.

JAGGA KEEPING BUSY

Carlton draftee Jagga Smith is still sporting a brace on his left knee and isn’t back running yet after suffering a season-ending ACL injury during a practice match in February.

But last year’s No. 3 pick is developing his football off the field as an assistant coach for Scotch College’s midfielders.

“I’m loving it,” Smith told this column of his involvement with his former school.

Smith tore his ACL in a pre-season clash this year. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Smith has been helping to take training each Thursday, along with directing players during matches each Saturday.

Smith captained Scotch in his graduating year of 2023, before serving as a captain of the Oakleigh Chargers and Vic Metro last year.

FACES IN THE CROWD

Jagga Smith’s Carlton teammate, Sam Walsh, was among the onlookers at Scotch College on Saturday, after helping the Blues to a 15-point win over St Kilda the previous night.

Connors Sports duo Paul Connors and Robbie D’Orazio were among the player agents who were buzzing around, while this column spotted recruiters from at least 10 different AFL clubs.

Sam Walsh was a keen observer. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos/Getty Images

They included Hawthorn list boss Mark McKenzie, Richmond pair Blair Hartley and Rhy Gieshen, Carlton’s Michael Agresta and Glenn Luff, Adelaide’s Hamish Ogilvie, Sydney’s Kinnear Beatson and Greater Western Sydney’s Adrian Caruso.

The Giants have an Academy player of their own featuring for Scotch this year in Harrison Wilson, a 189cm defender who hails from Albury.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel was also there in his role as Caulfield Grammar’s Head of Football.

THE ATMOSPHERE … AND THE SPREAD

Bagpipes playing the tune of Waltzing Matilda set the scene pre-match.

The Scotch cheer squad was certainly up-and-about early in the afternoon, pumping up the decibels with cheers and chants.

But their enthusiasm tailed off as Caulfield – who had a strong cheer squad of their own – ripped the game away from the home side in the last quarter.

The afternoon tea for parents and officials at halftime looked delicious, with standard crowd-pleasers on offer including a selection of sandwiches, party pies, tea cakes, mini muffins and a fresh fruit platter.

Originally published as APS Insider: The key takeaways from Scotch College v Caulfield Grammar battle