Greater Western Victorian Rebels 2024 Coates Talent League Boys list breakdown
The Rebels continue to punch above their weight when it comes to talent and this year is no different as the team prepares to play in the Coates Talent League. We analyse every player in the squad.
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There is one focus for the Greater Western Victoria Rebels heading into a new Coates Talent League season — continued development of their players to get more AFL draft success.
The Rebels continue to be one of the success stories of the competition, producing quality players for the AFL despite being one of the smallest catchment areas in Victoria.
Last year, four were selected by AFL clubs.
In 2022, the Rebels producing the number one pick in the draft, Aaron Cadman.
On the field the team has also been successful, making finals but falling at the final couple of hurdles.
This year looks to be another year where the Rebels will be competitive again.
But coach David Loader tempered expectations given the lengths some of the players go just to train and play.
“Our focus is way more around individual development,” he said.
“It’s a big challenge for country teams as they go forward because they have got so many challenges across the season.
“It’s a long year and some of these boys are travelling two-and-a-half hours to training and then two-and-a-half to come home.
“People really need to get an understanding of what the regional teams have to go through.
“We were nearly the best side in it last year (and at times we were) but traditionally we find a day in the finals series when we conk out at once.
“Sometimes they just run out of fuel at the end of the year.”
Loader said if there was one Rebels team prepared for the challenge ahead, it’s this year with many returning.
But the pre-season has been tough.
“A lot of these boys have already played some Coates League games,” Loader said.
“Fourteen of them played in the final as bottom aged (and return). We’ve got quite a good crop of those who are experienced to play at the level.
“But we’ve got quite a few boys who are injured at the moment, we’re not going to see them for a while.
“It will provide an opportunity for someone else to get a game.”
Here is a look at all the players in the Rebels team for this year as coach Loader breaks them all down.
Nedd Bennett, East Point
A top-age player in his first year in the program. A really good endurance athlete. His testing and what he addressed from not making the list as a bottom-ager to making it as a top-aged was really good. He’ll get his chance to play this year.
Taj Bowman, North Ballarat
A bottom-ager in his first year in the program. Played some good under-16 footy last year. A small defender that plays really well on dangerous forwards. He’s good at close checking and very competitive.
Floyd Burmeister, Redan
The older brother to Sinclair. Is about 199cm and an incredible athlete with high level speed, got good running capabilities and can jump. Played the last four games last season. A really exciting prospect to watch going forward.
Sinclair Burmeister, Redan
Played in the state under-16 team last year. An outside midfielder with a high running capability. A long left foot kick who moves very well across the ground.
Talor Byrne, Koroit
Younger brother of Connor Byrne, who left the program last year. A small forward who is a left footer. Tough as nails and a good kick of the footy.
Archie Caldow, East Point
In his second year. An 18-year-old high level runner, he’s the club’s best endurance athlete. About 190cm and can really run.
Harry Charleson, East Point
Brother of Lachie Charleson who was drafted last year to Port Adelaide. A little bit bigger than Lachie and plays a different role to his brother. Very clean, contested ballplayer, has played at half-back a lot but will probably go into the midfield this year.
Jonty Faull, Redan
An AFL academy player. A 197cm key forward, really good athlete who played some great footy last year. Was in the Vic Country side. He’s got a long-term injury with the club hopeful of having him back later in the year.
Chad Finck, Portland
A rangy type, about 191 or 192cm, and we hope he continues to grow. Played some great footy as a 16-year-old in our under-16s program last year. Has a bright future if he continues to develop.
Cooper Glenwright-McGuane, East Point
Was injured last year so he joins us again now he has his body fit and healthy. A running half back or half forward, nice size with the scope to grow a little bit more. Is the cousin of former Carlton and Collingwood player Mick McGuane.
Jett Grayland, Koroit
Another who played good footy in our under-16 program. Played some senior footy at home. He’ll start getting a game after we play a couple of rounds. He’s a really good prospect.
Oliver Hannaford, East Point
Hannaford can play all areas of the ground. A terrific little player who has grown a bit. High level speed, great kick and really competitive. Think he’ll have a great year.
Dean Harten, Redan
Has come across from South Australia and is boarding in Ballarat. A really good runner and a nice left foot kick. A really smooth mover and will have great scope going forward.
Harley Hicks, Lake Wendouree
Played under-16s last year in the state side. A real power athlete with a huge leap and has really good speed and is an evasive player. Looking forward to having him impact as a top-aged.
Riley Holloway, Warrnambool
Played really well in the trial games, was given a few jobs and was able to complete them calmly and coolly. Looking forward to him playing some football over the season.
Samuel Janetzki, Horsham
Another top-ager who joins us for the first time. Every deficiency he had he worked on. He’s got a lot fitter, a lot stronger and his running capability and ability to win the ball in the trial was really impressive. Hopefully Sam can put that into the way he plays during the season.
Sam Kalio, Redan
A tall developing forward. Played under-16 footy last year. Has got a lot of talent, he just needs to keep working on harnessing it. He may be a late developer but with scope going forward.
Alby Kingston, Rupanyup
Played really well in the trial games. He’s a bottom-ager who came in and won contested ball after contested ball. Looks a type who may be able to do some heavy lifting around the contest.
Lincoln Koliba, Lake Wendouree
A high level cricketer but is leaning towards footy. Was very close to the Vic Country team last year. A real contest ball winner around the footy.
Sam Lalor, Bacchus Marsh
A superstar. This kid is the complete package. Power, size and very clean around the contest. Can play in a range of positions. He’s big and he’s strong and can kick the ball a mile.
Harry Lawson, Redan
Our only 19-year-old. We brought him back as he joined us halfway through last year. A small defender who is a good kick and is super competitive in the contest. Hopefully he can go to the next level.
Harvey Lewis, North Ballarat
A small pressure forward. Got high end speed and is nippy around the packs. He is also great around the contest and gets to the right spots to be dangerous around goal. Really excited with where he can go with his football.
Tristan Leyshan, Lake Wendouree
A small forward who is a left footer and is super clever through traffic and around goals. Really knows where the goals are, he’s one if you give him an inch, he’ll take it. He’s going to be really influential as he continues to grow.
Mitchell Lloyd, Koroit
Played nearly every game with us as a key forward. Will change roles and play as a key back this year. He’s improved his running and his strength. A really complete player.
Sam Marris, South Warrnambool
A small outside runner. He’s a talented junior who has been a really good player the whole way through his program. A good players who makes really good decisions and uses the ball well.
Reggie Mast, Warrnambool
A top-ager who will probably play as a key defender or as a third tall defender. He’s strong in the contest and pretty good in any aerial contest. He’ll get an opportunity to ply his trade.
Sam McDonald, Ballarat Swans
He had a great year last year as a small forward. Really started to hit the scoreboard at the end of the year. He’s improved his running, his kicking and has improved his pressure at the contest.
Ben McGlade, Cobden
He’ll have a change of role. Last year as a 17-year-old he played on the wing. Ben’s grown and will play as a key defensive post this year. He’s a great runner and has a great ability to close at an aerial contest.
Charlie McKinnon, North Warrnambool.
Quite a talented player who made the under-16 state side last year as a key defender. Had an injury interrupted pre-season. We are waiting for him to get fit and healthy before he comes back. Very good aerially and has a great set of hands.
Fraser Molan, Mount Clear
The younger brother of Alex who finished at the Rebels last year. He is a tallish forward who has a bit of growing in him. He’s a nice kick of the footy and he’s got pretty good hands. As he develops he will get his opportunity throughout the season.
Hugh Morgan, Warrnambool
Had a great pre-season with him. Played really well in our trial games and got a bit of football as an outside midfielder. As a younger player there is a fair bit to work with. He’ll work towards an inside midfielder as he keeps growing and gets stronger.
Jack Murray, Lake Wendouree
A 200cm ruckman who played in the state under-16 team last year. Hopefully he continues to grow and gets fitter and can play an influential role as a tall.
Sam Niklaus, Warrnambool
Played in the under-16 state side. He’s at boarding school at Melbourne so we won’t have a lot of access to him. He’s a real hard nosed defender who is a good kick. He’s good through traffic, get around the ground and is really fit. He’s a nice player who could become a good player in the future.
Jack Ough, East Point
Jack’s back for his second year and played nearly every game last year. He’s grown a little bit more, worked on his fitness and has come back as a pretty impressive package. Will play as a third tall forward and sometimes as an inside midfielder. He’ll give them headaches around the footy and is a great decision maker.
Flynn Penry, Cobden
A ruckman in his third year at the level. About 202cm and he rucks for us and is in the Vic Country squad. Unfortunately he’s a long-term injury prospect right now.
Brodie Philips, Hamilton
A young up and coming player. He did some really nice things off half back during the trial games. A rangy type player. If he continues to grow he will be a big player.
Xavier Pumpa, Horsham
Joins us for the first time as an under-18 player. Kicks the ball exceptionally well as a left footer. Can also slice and dice through traffic. He’ll show us through the season what he can do with the ball in his hand.
Amon Radley, Warrnambool
Amon played last year as a ruckman and key defender with us. He’s got fitter and healthier in the off-season and will get his opportunity, especially with injuries to talls, during the season.
Wil Rantall, South Warrnambool
He’s in the Vic Country squad and is a centre half back type player. He’s 194cm but got real good speed, he got great ability to close a contest and has got long arms. He’ll hold down a key defensive post for us this year.
Ned Renfree, East Point
We won’t see him until around round six due to his basketball commitments. He’s a genuine inside powerful midfielder with a great leap. Ned’s a really powerful strongly built player who loves a contest.
Nic Robinson, Ballarat
Gets his first chance to play as a top-aged. He was fearlessly brave and threw himself at every contest during the trials. He won his spot on how he performed in our lead up games.
Strahan Robinson, East Point
Joins us as an 18-year-old who hasn’t been in the program before. Has worked on his physical attributes to get to where he can compete with other boys who are fit and healthy. A power forward, loves a one-on-one contest who is a good kick.
Archie Taylor, Cobden
A super exciting player. bottom aged who joins us for the first time. Played in the under-16 Vic Country team last year. He’s lightning quick and will play a fair bit of footy this year.
Hugh Toner, Ararat
Has really improved his athletic profile over the off-season. Is a rangy tall defender who will play in that role when he comes back from injury.
Rhys Unwin, Cobden
A super exciting small pressure forward who can also play in the midfield. Should be in the state side this year and is a real excitement package. Kicked multiple goals for the Rebels in contests last year.
Connor Weidemann, Rupanyup
Had a wonderful off-season and taken his game to another level. A third tall forward who is 194cm. He’s got attributes at either end of the ground.
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