ACC football 2025: Top prospects and the players to watch from every school
There is some promising talent in the Associated Catholic Colleges competition, including the brother of an Essendon dynamo and two sons of Geelong greats. Find out the top prospects, surprise packets and more.
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There are a host of promising talents in the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) football competition.
The mid-week competition has been running for close to a century and the sides also compete in the Herald Sun Shield.
Parade College, coached by former Essendon player Ricky Dyson, has won back-to-back ACC premierships and loom as the hot favourite for a third.
We take a look at the top prospects, familiar names and surprise packets from every division one ACC school, and what to expect from every side in 2025.
Parade College
Last title: 2024
Famous AFL alumni: Blake Caracella, Paul Licuria, Ben Johnson, Trent Cotchin, Jade Gresham, Nate Caddy, Isaac Kako
TOP PROSPECTS
The talent-laden Parade College is filled with quality Northern Knights prospects. Tyson Gresham is the brother of Essendon’s Jade and is a similar type of player. The lively forward-midfielder has been named in the Vic Metro squad after a promising start to the Coates Talent League season. Two Parade bottom-agers, ruck-forward Lewis Houndsome and midfielder Mitchell Moate, are also part of the wider Vic Metro squad as train-ons after impressive bottom-age seasons to date. Athletic forward Sam Gayfer and ball-winner Max Downes both showed encouraging for Vic Metro at under-16 level last year, with Downes tallying 25 disposals and 16 contested possessions in their opening game. Downes has been sidelined and will be out of action until mid-season of the Coates Talent League.
FATHER-SONS & NGA PROSPECTS
Gresham is tied to Carlton as a Next Generation Academy prospect.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Gresham is one of three brothers of AFL players in the Parade line-up. Sebastian Murphy, brother of Adelaide’s Lachlan, was dangerous up forward in the Herald Sun Shield last season and is coming off a big fortnight for the Northern Knights, kicking three goals from 24 touches in one game and following it up with 36 disposals and 22 contested possessions. Sonny Johnson is the brother of 2024 Essendon draftee Zak, who was best afield in the Herald Sun Shield final last year. Northern Knights bottom-ager Matt Kayrooz is the grandson of Melbourne triple premiership player Hassa Mann.
SURPRISE PACKETS
Medium forward Rhylee Ratkovic has had an eye-catching start to his bottom-age year with five goals in his first two games with the Knights. As has Harvie Cooke, who has been able to impact both ways at Coates Talent League level. Midfielder James Allison and halfback Zach Broadbent will have more responsibility on them at school level than at the Knights, while 191cm key forward-ruck Josh Bawden kicked two majors in round seven of the Coates Talent League. Daniel Sexton is a bottom-age player on the Calder Cannons list.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Coached by former Essendon player Ricky Dyson, the Parade squad has more bottom-age players than previous seasons, but the school remains the hot favourite to take out a third consecutive ACC title. The school’s 54-point win over St Patrick’s in their grand final rematch in round two was an ominous sign for the rest of the competition.
St Bede’s
Last premiership: 2019
Famous AFL alumni: Grant Thomas, Gerard Healy, Luke Beveridge, Dylan Shiel, Finn Callaghan
TOP PROSPECTS
Blistering halfback Max Lee is the school’s best draft chance and is a co-captain at the Dandenong Stingrays. Looking ahead to the 2026 draft, Max Matthews caught the eye for Vic Metro at the U16 national champs last year and was captain of the Sandringham Dragons under-16 side. He has been sidelined for the early part of the Coates Talent league and ACC season with a back issue.
FATHER-SONS & NGA PROSPECTS
Archer Grant, the son of North Melbourne Norm Smith medallist Shannon, is part of the St Bede’s side as an athletic winger or half-forward. He also featured for the Sandringham Dragons in round five.
SURPRISE PACKETS
Keep an eye out for marking forward Oliver Griffin throughout the rest of his draft year. Griffin impressed for the Dragons across the pre-season and in his Sandringham Dragons debut, before an ankle injury kept him out for more than a month. He is now back in action and his contested marking and athleticism makes him a serious aerial threat. His Dragons and St Bede’s teammate Darby Heelis is an aggressive and strong midfielder who covers the ground well, while Dandenong Stingrays small forward Tom Sullivan applies manic pressure and returned from an ankle injury in round four of the Coates Talent League.
WHAT TO EXPECT
St Bede’s is behind the Eight ball after losing its first two games of the season, but the school only went down by two goals to 2024 ACC grand finalist St Patrick’s in its first match of 2025. That narrow defeat is a sign they should remain competitive across the campaign – even without the top-end talent of other schools.
St Bernard’s College
Last premiership: 2018
Famous AFL alumni: Gary Foulds, Simon Madden, Justin Madden, Scott Lucas, Matthew Lloyd, Jude Bolton, Dane Swan, Tom Liberatore, Joe Daniher.
TOP PROSPECTS
Not in the elite talent pathway, Nick Serapoli has wowed onlookers with his athleticism and marking. Serapoli is an ex-high jumper with a phenomenal leap who has developed at a rate of knots in the past year. He stood out in St Bernard’s opening round loss to St Joseph’s.
SURPRISE PACKETS
Captain Jack Parker is strong overhead and dangerous around goal. Explosive and creative midfielder Lachlan Gustinich and Year 11s in intercepting key back Mac Hofmann and inside midfielder Mac Hofmann will be others to watch out for throughout the season.
WHAT TO EXPECT
St Bernard’s has several quality local footballers but it will be difficult for them to compete with schools stacked with Coates Talent League talents. But they are led by an experienced football director in Paul Groves, who coached the Western Bulldogs to an AFLW premiership and is now an assistant of Essendon’s AFLW side.
St Patrick’s College
Last premiership: Nil (Recent re-entrant to comp)
Famous AFL alumni: Danny Frawley, Mick McGuane, Drew Petrie, Shaun Grigg, Tom McDonald.
TOP PROSPECTS
St Patrick’s boasts a number of promising year 11 students. Ethan Drever is a real talent who is clean with the footy in the midfield and runs the ball well. The school has also added Archie Eliott who is showcasing great pace and quality. Expect to see him on the wing but he can also play half back. Taj Bowman is a small defender who’s clean with the footy and represented Vic Country against the Young Guns in the latest clash. All three are tied to the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in the Coates Talent League.
FAMILIAR NAMES
Cooper Glenwright-McGuane is related to famous St Patrick’s alumni and 155-game AFL player Mick McGuane. Cooper is returning from injury after serious leg and back issues kept him sidelined for 12 months. The key forward is a talented footballer who already has senior ACC football under his belt from when he was in year 10. Is also in the Rebels program.
SURPRISE PACKETS
Year 12 student Tashaun Wright is an Indigenous player who started the season strongly with a pair of goals against St Joseph’s in the Respect Cup. He’s an evasive player with great skills who is clean and works hard. Will largely play as a high half forward and is also a great leader. Has played Rebels but is now over-age. Fraser Molan is another Rebel to watch who is talented and uses the ball well in the midfield.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Started their season with a win over St Joseph’s in the Respect Cup and should be competitive again after falling short in the grand final last season.
St Joseph’s Geelong
Last premiership: 2016
Famous AFL alumni: Sam Walsh, Matthew Scarlett, Cameron Ling, Jimmy Bartel, Nick Maxwell, Shaun Higgins, Jack Henry, Tom Stewart
TOP PROSPECTS
Jagger Mooney, son of dual Geelong leading goalkicker Cam, shapes as the top draft chance from the school this year. The father-son key defender’s reading of the play and ability to compete in one-on-ones are his standout attributes, allowing him to play on talls and smalls.
FATHER-SONS AND NGA PROSPECTS
There are three sons of greats in the St Joseph’s line-up in Mooney, Jaxon Cooney (son of Brownlow medallist Adam, tied to the Western Bulldogs) and Boston Riccardi, son of Cats best and fairest Peter. Boston’s brother, Osca, was on Geelong’s list for the 2023 season. Boston is a skilful forward who id dangerous around goal, while Cooney, who debuted for the Falcons earlier this season, offers versatility but injured his shoulder recently. Paul Wichay is tied to Geelong’s Next Generation Academy. He is a powerful halfback who is on the Geelong Falcons list but is yet to play in the Coates Talent League.
FAMILIAR NAMES
Bottom-ager Van Rahilly is the son of Geelong assistant coach James Rahilly. He played 90-game for the Cats, so Van does not qualify as a father-son. Van made his Falcons debut in round one and his running capabilities will hold him at good stead at school level.
SURPRISE PACKET
Geelong Falcons midfielder Hamish McGowan has led from the front in the engine room, with fellow on-baller and Falcon Archer Chamberlain is also a prominent ball-winner. Key forward Riley McLeod is bottom-ager with lots of upside, kicking two goals in each of his last two Falcons games. St Joseph’s school captain Charlie Meadows runs all day on the wing and has good skills, having played every game at Falcons level this season, small forward Jordan Monohan featured at senior level for Queenscliff, and Tyson Roberts can be used in multiple positions with his speed, Hugo Walsh and Josh Leonard aren’t on the Falcons list, but are great leaders and have impressed for St Joseph’s.
WHAT TO EXPECT
St Joseph’s has great depth with a host of Coates Talent League players in its side and is coached by former Collingwood star and Pies recruiting manager Shane O’Bree. The school should make the finals after a 2-2 start, with their two defeats within two goals against St Patrick’s and Whitefriars.
Whitefriars
Last premiership: 2022
Famous AFL alumni: Christian Petracca, Marc Murphy, Paul Vander Haar, John Blakey
TOP PROSPECTS
There are some promising bottom-age talents to keep tabs on at Whitefriars. Northern Knights mid-forward Logan Shepherd and Eastern Ranges defender-midfielder Zac Antonellos both represented Vic Metro at the U16 national champs, with the skilful Antonellos tallying 21 disposals and 10 marks (four intercept marks). Shepherd has played four games for the Knights this season.
FATHER-SONS AND NGAs
Ryder Brown, the son of ex-Melbourne defender Nathan Brown, is playing in the intermediate side at Whitefriars.
FAMILIAR NAMES
Eastern Ranges bottom-ager Sam Devers is the brother of Brisbane Bullets guard Tristan, who signed a three-year deal with the NBL franchise last year. He has some exciting attributes with his soaring leap, tidy skills and speed.
SURPRISE PACKETS
Cut from the Northern Knights at the end of his bottom-age year, Josh Shepherd – the brother of Whitefiars teammate Logan – has caught the eye after joining the Oakleigh Chargers as a train-on. The intercepting key defender is tipped to surprise this season and has started strongly, averaging 19 disposals and 4.3 intercept marks in his first three Coates Talent League games. Chargers prospect Charlie Whitehead will be one of Whitefriars’ most important players and featured for Victorian under-15s and Vic Metro U16s. Small forward Elijah Smith is also on the Chargers’ list as a bottom-ager. Ruckman Riley Jones and key back Jack Larson are two local players who have impressed at school level for Whitefriars.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Whitefriars was disappointed to miss the finals last year but the school looks well-placed to bounce back and finish inside the top four in 2025. But their results may fluctuate pending the availability of their Coates Talent League players.
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