Calder Cannons coach Sam Willatt talks us through his Coates League list

Calder Cannons boast a host of father-son, NGA and mid-season draft prospects. Coach Sam Willatt discusses every player in the Coates League squad.

Calder Cannons 2026 Coates League list.

Calder Cannons saw four players drafted last year.

The Coates League talent factory will look to replicate, and potentially improve, on that result this year with a number of promising youngsters on its list.

There are four father-son prospects and a host of Essendon NGA members.

Cooper Duff-Tytler has been named in the AFL Academy squad, while several more Cannons are involved in the Vic Metro squad.

Calder coach Sam Willatt discusses each player on the 2025 list.

ALEX ALESSIO (St Bernard’s)

A 19-year-old, father-son prospect for Essendon. Alex is a developing ruck, with great transition capacity. A good kick, he is building his aerial capabilities to transition around the ground.

JACKSON BARBER (Aberfeldie)

Top-age 197cm key back. Played a handful of games last year as bottom-ager. Reads the flight of the ball well and is a damaging kick of the football.

HAMISH BIRD (Aberfeldie)

An Under-16 Vic Metro representative, Hamish played several positions as a bottom-ager last year. He has a great ability to get from inside to outside and has good speed and ball use.

BROOKLYN CROOK (Pascoe Vale)

Brooklyn was part of our 16’s program last year. He has a good aerobic tank and is a tough inside midfielder. Can also win outside ball and may spend some time forward this year.

JACK DODORICO (Hadfield)

An Under-16 Vic Metro representative last year and played in the national championships on the Gold Coast. Damaging kick and can play taller than his height suggests.

COOPER DUFF-TYTLER (Woodend-Hesket)

A 200cm ruck who runs a 6.20 2km. Former Australian representative basketballer who has chosen football this year, involved in both Vic Metro and the National Academy. Has great ball control and wins possessions around the ground, looking to hit the scoreboard more this year.

HUSSIEN EL ACHKAR (Pascoe Vale)

Small forward, who is aligned to Essendon as an NGA prospect. Proven goalkicker at Coates League level and can also play midfield. Part of the Vic Metro academy.

CALED EL KHODR (Pascoe Vale)

A 19-year-old who joined our program mid way through 2024. Has played consistent senior football for Pascoe Vale as both a forward and ruck. Great aerially and damaging around goals, will look to build with a full year of pre-season under his belt.

JAMIESON FLEMING (Aberfeldie)

Hard running mid-sized forward, with great hands above his head. Has wing/midfield capabilities and will develop goalkicking traits as the year progresses.

WILLEM HANEGRAAF (Strathmore)

Mid-sized forward who plays taller but also demonstrates great running capacity. Came into the side late last year and demonstrated his contested marking and ability to hit the scoreboard.

AIDEN HARRIS (Essendon Doutta Stars)

One of the best runners in the program, Aiden is a transition winger with good contest capacity who can kick the ball well.

SAM HARRIS (Pascoe Vale)

Father-son prospect at North Melbourne, dad Daniel Harris played 149 games for the Kangaroos. Sam was a part of the Vic Metro team on the Gold Coast last year. He’s a natural ball-winner who can play forward or midfield.

COOPER HERBERT (Laurimar)

A 19-year-old, who demonstrated AFL attributes in the back end of 2024. A hybrid forward, Cooper can play tall and has great athletic traits.

BEN HOWELL (Keilor)

Key forward from Keilor, Ben is a good lead-up forward and contested mark. Will develop his scoreboard impact as the year goes on.

BLAKE JUSTICE

A NGA prospect for Essendon, Blake demonstrates strong contest attributes and aerial strengths.

Felix Kniepp (left) puts pressure on Tom McGuane in the AFL Futures match.

FELIX KNEIPP (Collegians)

A Vic Metro academy member, Felix is a midfield/half-back with great running capacity. Demonstrated both strong inside game at school football and outside game in the Coates League.

JETT LAIDLER (Strathmore)

Strong bodied half-forward who transitions around the ground well. Played a handful of games in 2024 and will look to continue on and hit the scoreboard in 2025.

TRISTAN LEEDS (Coburg Districts)

An NGA prospect for Essendon, Tristan had an ACL reconstruction last year. He will continue his rehab and be keen to show his marking capabilities when with Calder.

THOMAS LINCOLN (Aberfeldie)

An Under-16’s program graduate, Tom is a mid-sized forward who marks well above his head and can hit the scoreboard.

TEX LONGMIRE (Corowa-Rutherglen)

A former GWS Giants Academy member, Tex is a mid-sized forward with strong aerial capabilities. Brother of Werribee VFL’s Jedd and nephew of AFL great John.

Isaac Kako was drafted by Essendon as a NGA graduate.

JAMES MANFRE (Greenvale)

James is a damaging half-back with good ball use who can break the game open and hurt opposition. Has played senior football for Greenvale.

FINN McAVOY (Maribyrnong Park)

A 192cm utility, Finn has a terrific aerobic capacity which allows him to transition around the ground.

COEN McGRATH (Moonee Valley)

Son of 78-game former Essendon and Carlton player Corey, Coen is an outside midfielder who runs well and hurts opposition by foot.

ZACH McKENZIE (Gisborne Giants)

Recovering from an Achilles rupture, Zach is a developing key defender with great aerial traits.

NASH McMAHON (Maribyrnong Park)

Nash is a damaging ball user, off the half-back line who can take the game on.

JAD NAIM (Strathmore)

A NGA prospect at Essendon, Jad is a damaging winger who transitions around the ground well.

ZAC NEWMAN (Aberfeldie)

A developing ruck, Zac has great contest and follow up work in the ruck, often winning clearances.

OLU OLALEKAN (Gisborne Giants)

A NGA prospect at Essendon, Olu is an athletic mid-sized defender who marks the ball well overhead.

GUS PAPAL (Aberfeldie)

A 19-year-old who joined the program last year after switching from basketball. Key defender who reads the ball well in the air and has strong aerial traits.

HAMISH PEARCE (Strathmore)

The midfield-forward played a handful of games last year as a winger. Damaging kick who can impact the scoreboard.

Adelaide great Ben Rutten with sons Bernie and Jack. Picture: Sarah Reed

CHARLIE ROBBINS (Fitzroy)

Athletic and hard running winger/defender who can transition both ways, and take the game on.

TAJ ROBINSON (Keilor)

A 195cm key forward who transitions around the ground well and marks the ball in contested situations.

JACK RUTTEN (Gisborne)

A father-son prospect for Adelaide, after dad Ben played 229 games for the Crows. Jack is a mid-sized forward who can roll up to the wing. A smart decision maker, Jack will look to hit the scoreboard in 2025.

JACK RYAN (Strathmore)

A 19-year-old athletic defender. Played multiple positions last year, with great aerial abilities.

DANIEL SEXTON (Essendon Doutta Stars)

Big-bodied midfielder who is versatile and wins clearances, Daniel could develop at both ends of the ground.

Arden Stevens competes in the high jump during the Athletics Victoria Shield League in 2022. Picture: Andy Brownbill

JACK SHEEDY (Pascoe Vale)

Mid-sized forward/defender, Jack is a good leader and decision-maker who can mark the ball well.

ARDEN STEVENS (Aberfeldie)

Underage state champion in triple jump, Arden played several positions last year as a bottom-ager. Shows great running traits and can play tall or small with aerial capacity.

ADAM SWEID (Pascoe Vale)

A NGA prospect for Essendon, Adam missed a majority of last year with ACL rehab. Will play both midfield and forward, a natural ball-winner.

GABRIEL TANGATA (Bundoora)

A NGA prospect for Essendon, Gab is a powerful half-back who can win contest and break lines.

DARCY TARCZON (Avondale)

Having played senior football for Avondale in 2024, Darcy comes onto the list after impressing as a half-forward/winger in pre-season.

BEN TAYLOR (Riddell)

A Vic Metro representative last year, Ben is a developing key-forward/ruck who can mark the ball well overhead.

JACKSON WATKINS (Aberfeldie)

A Vic Metro representative last year, Jackson is a damaging small forward/midfielder who has great game sense and can hit the scoreboard.

OLIVER WATT (Woodend-Hesket)

Played a handful of games in 2024, Oliver will play both as a small forward and midfielder. Shows great forward pressure, goal sense and overhead marking traits.

LEVI WEST (Strathmore)

A father-son prospect at the Western Bulldogs, looking to join brother Rhylee. Levi missed the under-16’s national championships with injury. A strong contest midfielder, Levi will look to win clearance and showcase forward craft in 2025.