Gippsland Power reveals their boys squad ahead of the season
From the next Duursma sibling to kids who have dominated country footy, meet this year’s Gippsland Power squad. See analysis of every boys player here.
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As Gippsland Power celebrates 20 years since its first Coates Talent League premiership, this year’s squad hopes continuity can provide a chance to get back to the promise land.
Last season was a strong year for Gippsland with two players taken in the AFL draft inside the top-11 selections and the Power making the semi-final.
While the Power has lost some players from last year’s squad there is a core team ready to build on 2024.
“We played 16 bottom agers last year,” Power coach Rhett McLennan said.
“Of those guys we have 15 returning all up. We’ll wait and see how it all develops (as a premiership chance).
“We just want to get the boys learning good habits inside and outside of football to make themselves better footballers in the long run.”
The Power also has plenty of draft hopefuls.
Willem Duursma, the brother of Zane and Xavier, is one already talked about in AFL circles as a potential high draft pick.
McLennan said others were just waiting to impress AFL scouts this year.
The Power has six players, the most of any country team, in the Victoria Country hub, which selects this year’s team for the under-18 nationals.
This includes Mitchell Stevens, Jobe Scapin and Zachary O’Keefe who could be selected at the end of this year.
“We believe we’ve got some good prospects in that draft window,” McLennan said.
“There’s a handful who have had good pre-seasons and finished the season off really well.
“So it would be interesting to see how they go.”
Check out the full squad below and analysis of each player, with the help of McLennan.
Brodie Atkins, Drouin
The Power’s vice-captain. Was by far and away the best defensive player in the competition last year as a bottom-ager. He laid 95 tackles and plays as an inside midfielder.
Blake Bibby, Drouin
A busy, hard at it small defender. A bottom ager.
Jesse Bills, Bairnsdale
Coming back for his second year. A really busy inside midfielder who can sneak forward and kick goals.
Judd Burgiel, Maffra
The brother of Coby Burgiel who spent two years on the West Coast list. He’s in similar vein to Coby, really versatile, uses the ball really well and is great with sideways movement. Is in his bottom age year and studies at Wesley College.
Yianni Caffieri, Phillip Island
Came in after playing some good senior football for Phillip Island last year. Is an onballer who uses the ball really well. Will probably play down the back for us.
Luke Cheffers, Moe
Has worked hard to make the Power squad as a top-ager. A really powerful runner, is hard at, who has played senior Gippsland football for a long time.
Willem Duursma, Foster
He’s an exceptional talent. His athleticism is something that sets him apart from the male Duursma’s. What he can do at his height at 191cm gives him flexibility to nearly play everywhere around the ground. He’s obviously someone a lot of AFL clubs have had interest in.
Hamish Gill, Leongatha
A bottom-age tall who will play in the ruck. A great competitor and a beautiful contested marker.
Sam Grummisch, Warragul
Worked really hard to get into the squad after missing out last year. A busy small forward who can go into the midfield.
Jack Hilton, Beaconsfield
He’s had a fantastic pre-season. Comes in from his bottom age year and will play early. Is a smart small forward.
Jackson Honey, Officer
Worked really hard to make it into the squad. A big powerful, adaptable sized player. Will play half back and half forward.
Guy Jiath, Morwell
The younger brother of CJ and Tew. Has had a really interesting year in terms of physical growth. Gone from the smallest to the biggest Jiath. Done some good things over the pre-season. Is a defender who can swing forward. He also studies at Xavier College.
Xavier Ladbrook, Nar Nar Goon
Another Vic Country under-16 player who is part of the Country under-18 hub this year. A 200cm wingman who has got a beautiful left foot.
Damian Leslie, Warragul Industrials
A 197cm ruckman who will play in the forward line. Has elite running talent.
Thomas MacMillan, Wonthaggi
A beautiful smooth moving left footer. Played in the under-16s last year and will play down back and on the wing.
Wil Malady, Bairnsdale
A star of the under-16s carnival last year and kicked the winning goal to win Vic Country the national championship. Great hands and is a great mover. Is also a part of the under-18 Country hub and is attending Caulfield Grammar this year.
Liam Masters, Moe
Coming back for his second year. Has got really good speed and is hard at it. Will play half back and in the midfield.
Thomas Matthews, Moe
The Power captain had some really electrifying moments last year in the finals as a small forward and has had a really good pre-season. We expect some really exciting things this year.
Kai Mounsey, Neerim Neerim South
Been playing senior football in the Ellinbank and District league for a couple of years as a powerfully built deep forward. Will do the same role for us this year.
Marlon Neocleous, Traralgon
Played a handful of games as a 16-year-old last year and had a really good under-16s national carnival for Vic Country. Was one of the most important players on the ground in the senior Gippsland league grand final as a small forward. Is studying at Caulfield Grammar this year.
Finn O’Brien, Phillip Island
Has been primarily a forward for us but in his top-age year we’re going to play him down back. A really good user of the football, nice and strong as well as a key defender.
Zachary O’Keefe, Maffra
In the current Vic Country hub squad. A really smart footballer who will play in the midfield and forward.
Blair Roscoe, Traralgon
A powerfully built bottom age player. Has a strong left foot and will play half back and half forward this season. He might also play in the midfield as well.
Juddson Ryan, Trafalgar
A great competitor in the ruck and will sneak forward at times.
Jobe Scapin, Inverloch-Kongwak
Is part of the Vic Country hub and part of the leadership group this year. Developed really well, highly athletic with a beautiful right foot.
Jordan Shields, Moe
His first year in the program. A player with good talent but has just been undersized but he’s had a fantastic pre-season and shot up.
Clancy Snell, Mirboo North
The nephew of former Opals basketballer Belinda Snell. Has turned into a really big strong kid who is fit. Will play tall forward or tall back.
Mitchell Stevens, Heyfield
The son of former Adelaide and North Melbourne forward Mark Stevens and is eligible to the Crows as a father-son recruit. Has got fantastic pace, great skills and can play in a lot of different positions.
Harry Tatterson, Sale
Played last year as a small defender and is an elite cricketer. His first full pre-season and show elite speed and great skills on both sides of his body. Will play on the wing and half back this year.
Cody Templeton, Warragul
A natural old school centreman. Played last year as a 16-year-old and is great off both sides of his body. Is very creative around the contest.
Archie Terlich, Inverloch-Kongwak
Played last year and is a really good user of the football. Will play as a high defender, sometimes a high forward.
Jonah Walker, Bairnsdale
A powerfully built forward who can go into the ruck. Played some good football last year.
Zac Walker, Phillip Island
The only 19-year-old on the Power list. Earned his spot after playing seniors for Phillip Island for three years as an intercept defender.
Oliver Wilson, Warragul
Wilson is solidly built, can play in a lot of different positions and uses the ball really well. Studies at Caulfield Grammar.
Max Woodall, Moe
A really talented sportsman who can also play golf and cricket. Can play in a lot of different positions, is quite skilful and has good athleticism.
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