Sandringham Dragons 2023 Coates Talent League Boys list breakdown
The Sandringham Dragons continue to pump out AFL talent and this year looks no different. Here’s what you need to know about every player in the 2023 CTL Boys squad.
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The best ever Dragons list?
It could be, according to Sandringham talent manager Mark Wheeler.
“It’s a really deep list,’’ he said.
“I think we’ll probably end up with six to 10 drafts. I reckon we’ve got six as a minimum which is pretty good on the back of having nearly 40 players drafted in the last three years.
“We’re pretty bullish about the list and in each game someone else is going to jump up.’’
Here is a player-by-player breakdown of the finalised Dragons 2023 Boys squad (with jumper numbers).
1. Oliver Green (Beaumaris JFC)
Quick high half forward, smart around goals, gets up the ground then uses his speed to work deep back into the forward line.
2. Ethan Williams (Port Melbourne Colts, SFNL)
Rebounding defender, reads the ball well in the air to come off his opponent and impact the contest. Nice left foot kick coming out of the back half.
3. Levi Ashcroft (Old Brighton Grammarians VAFA)
The son of Marcus Ashcroft and brother of Will, Levi is a potential Lions father-son selection. Strongly built and hard running midfielder and half forward. Shows great composure around the contest and reads the play at a very high level. Standout talent for his age. Can go forward and hit the scoreboard.
4. William Brown (East Brighton SFNL)
2023 Dragons captain, tall inside mid with great stoppage craft and elite endurance to work across the field. Can drift forward to kick goals and use his height as a marking target around the ground.
5. Cameron Saultry (St.Bedes Mentone Tigers AFC)
Versatile Wing/HB who is a neat ball user and a good reader of the play.
6. Harrison Oliver (Old Brighton Grammarians VAFA)
Hard-at-it utility who will play at half back initially but has spent time at both half forward and in the midfield during pre-season. Goes at the ball and the man as hard as any player in the team.
7. Charlie Bruce (Beaumaris FC VAFA)
Ball winning inside midfielder who is very comfortable in the heat of the contest. Uses it well by foot and has spent time at half back and half forward as well in pre-season to develop multiple positions.
8. Owen Bater (St.Bedes Mentone Tigers AFC)
Strongly built defender impressed in the early part of training before suffering a foot injury. Played games last year as a 16-year-old and will hopefully return later in the season.
9. Archie Roberts (Hampton Rovers VAFA)
Member of the AFL National Academy, eye-catching dashing defender. Runs hard at the game and uses the ball well. Member of the Dragons leadership group in 2023.
10. Mason Szonyi (Old Brighton Grammarians VAFA)
Rebounding defender capable of playing on smalls and third talls. Good in the contest and uses the ball well coming out of defence.
11. Calsher Dear (Old Brighton Grammarians VAFA)
Potential father-son to Hawthorn (son of Paul). Strong marking key forward who is excellent at ground level for his size. Has played basketball to a high level but now concentrating more on football.
12. Jeremy a’Beckett (South Melbourne Districts)
Big bodied key forward with great workrate up the ground. Reads the play very well as a forward and works to the right positions to get used. An exciting prospect as he continues to develop.
13. Joshua Docking (Hampton Rovers, VAFA)
Member of St Kilda’s NGA program. Has trained a lot as a wingman but can play half forward as well. Has excellent agility to step out of congestion and uses his hands well around the contest.
14. Ned Maginness (East Brighton Vampires JFC)
Potential father-son to Hawthorn (son of Scott). Has grown enormously over the past 18 months, to now be nearly 188cm (similar to his brother). Plays midfield and works hard contest to contest to impact the play. Has developed over pre-season as much as any player on the list.
15. Ryley Sanders (North Launceston Football Club)
Member of the AFL National Academy, originally from Tasmania and a member of the Allies squad. Strongly built inside mid who has improved his endurance enormously in the past 12 months. Played games last year, spending time at half back, but focused on being an inside mid now.
16. Luke Lloyd (De La Salle Old Collegians)
Talented key forward/third tall forward with great goal sense. Kicked bags of goals in school football last year. Has good forward craft and strong hands. Excellent pushing up the ground and connecting with teammates around goal.
17. Tarkyn O’Leary (Parkdale Vultures)
Elite athlete who will play as a hard running wing/mid/half forward. Ran a sub 6m 2km time trial and impressed in the Yo-Yo Test at the recent Coates League Testing Day. Has sharp hands around the contest and in Dragons training has been able to push forward and hit the scoreboard.
18. Matthew Carroll (East Malvern)
Eye-catching rebounding defender who takes the game on with his ability to run and carry. Has great speed and at 190cm can play on both talls and smalls.
19. Luka Pecer (Beaumaris FC VAFA)
Developing tall forward who is excellent at ground level for his size. Has shown a great ability to hit up through HF as a tall target and will continue to develop as he gets more games under his belt.
20. Adrian Cole (St Bedes Mentone)
Athletic key defender who has made great progress in recent months. Has potential to play in a variety of positions as he learns the game.
21. Ted Clayton (Beaumaris JFC)
Wing/half forward who played five Dragons games as a 16-year-old in 2022. Strong in the contest despite his size and continues to develop his running ability to compliment his contest work.
22. Williams Nish (Beaumaris FC VAFA)
Strongly built inside mid and half back who is a member of St Kilda’s NGA. Has shown a good ability to win clearances and take the ball forward from contests through pre-season.
23. Charlton Harrop (Beaumaris FC VAFA)
Versatile mid sized player who can play all over the ground and impact with his strong aerial and contest winning ability. Trained at half back but will spend time through half forward and the wing.
24. Brodie Findlay (Parkdale Vultures)
Developing tall who has worked hard on his endurance and continues to make progress with his football. Has deft touch with his ruckwork and neat ball use around the ground.
25. Billy McGee Galimberti (Kew Bears FC)
Elite kick who can play half back or half forward to make use of his decision making and skill execution with ball in hand.
26. Miles Enders (Prahran FC, VAFA)
Athletic tall who has stood out in match play with his contested marking and workrate as a key forward. Hit the scoreboard in the Dragons match play blocks, kicking four goals in one block.
27. Levie Young (Beaumaris FC VAFA)
Developing ruck/forward from WA who has fantastic work ethic and attitude to his football. Was a junior state champion in jiu jitsu and kung fu before focusing on football, which shows in his follow up tackling at ground level.
28. Charlie Edwards (Sandhurst Dragons (Bendigo League))
Running defender who reads the play well in the air and provides rebound run, making use of his long kicking.
29. Harvey Johnston (Parkdale Vultures)
The Dragons’ vice captain in 2023, has impressed his teammates and coaches with his lateral movement out of contest and his composure with ball in hand. A damaging mid-forward who can hit the scoreboard or set teammates up to score.
30. Nathan Sullivan (Parkdale Vultures)
Versatile third tall defender with a basketball background who has good reach to get an arm in to spoil opponents, and has built his ability to provide rebound run through this pre-season.
31. Jake Nicholas (Old Melbournians VAFA)
Key forward/ruck who returned this pre-season as a 19-year-old, but suffered a hamstring injury that slowed his progress. As he continues to fill out physically he’ll provide an option.
32. Vigo Visentini (Brighton Beach Junior Football Club)
Member of the Vic Metro Academy. Athletic and tall. And is also a high level volleyballer. As a ruck he jumps aggressively and follows up well at ground level. Can push back behind the ball to provide an intercept mark and could play as a key forward or key back.
33. Aaron Taylor (Ormond Football Club JFC)
Running defender who reads the play well and will continue to develop his game as a bottom ager.
34. Nicky Christian (South Melbourne Districts)
Potential father-son to Collingwood (son of 1990 premiership player Michael). Can play a variety of positions but will mostly likely start as a rebounding defender. At his size (191cm) could develop into an inside mid.
35. Justin Krok (Hampton Rovers, VAFA)
Athletic third tall forward with excellent hands and jumping ability. Can push up the ground to connect through high HF or play deep as an isolated marking target.
36. Samuel Marshall (St Bedes Mentone)
Elite athlete is tied to Brisbane as a member of the Lions Academy. Ran a 6m 2km time trial coming back from Christmas. Already runs hard from contest to contest to find the ball and will continue to add more contest work to his game through his bottom age year.
37. Taj Hotton (Hampton Rovers, VAFA)
Brother of St Kilda’s Olli, has explosive speed and great aerial craft as a mid-sized forward. Exciting prospect who will play games this year as a bottom ager and continue to add layers to his game in his bottom age year.
38. Jhett Haeata (Beaumaris FC VAFA)
Wingman/half forward has worked hard at his game over the pre-season and improved quickly. Has a good turn of speed and nice ball use by foot. Could grow into a creative forward half player.
39. Timothy Parris (Malvern Knights JFC)
Ruckman who missed last year with a shoulder injury, suffered playing basketball. Worked on his conditioning while injured and has impressed all through pre-season. Works his opposition ruck all over the ground and competes well in ruck contests.
40. Cooper Lord (Kew Football club)
Inside mid/wing has elite endurance and contest winning ability. Has the prototype AFL midfielder body at 187cm and is a good ball user in time and space. Joined the Dragons program late and has impressed teammates and coaches with his attitude and ability.
41. Cody Goonewardene (Parkdale Vultures)
Exciting small forward/defender is lightly built but loves the contest. Has been a highly regarded cricketer and basketballer before focusing on football. Provides high energy for his teammates.
42. Harry Sullivan (Labrador Football Club)
Elite athlete is tied to the Suns as a member of the Gold Coast Academy. Performed well in the 20m sprint and Yo Yo at the Coates League Testing Day. Has trained as a wingman and uses his running power to work end to end.
43. Oscar Cheetham (Prahran JFC)
Developing key defender is strong in the air and has good follow up at ground level for a tall. Will continue to develop his game as a bottom ager this year.
44. Jack Cheep (Mordialloc Braeside JFC)
Key position player suffered an ACL injury in 2022 and will most likely be available from mid-season in 2023. A high-quality character who has attacked his rehab well.
45. Luke Kennedy (Ormond AFC)
Half forward and midfielder who has impressed in high half forward roles in our match play blocks, making good decisions around the contest and using the ball well through HF.
46. Zach Travers (Old Brighton Grammarians VAFA)
Athletic wing/HF is a great 2km runner and combines that with good footy nous. Unfortunately suffered an ankle injury late in pre-season but will continue to develop his game as a bottom ager this year.
47. Lachlan Voss (Port Melbourne Colts, SFNL)
Highly athletic tall has great speed and elite endurance for 199cm. Has played as a ruck/key forward previously but trained as a key back this pre-season, to showcase another element to his game. Reads the play well and uses his athleticism to provide run from defence. As a ruck follows up well at ground level.
48. Lachlan Lawrence (Caulfield Grammarians U19)
19-year-old returned this year to continue building his game. In Dragons’ match play blocks has shown good movement as a key forward and pinch hitting ruck.
49. Charlie Gaiardo (Old Carey)
Mid-sizes forward impressed in Dragons match play blocks with four goals in one block, largely as a deep forward. Has excellent timing and leading patterns as a deep forward, and is working on adding layers as a half forward. Will spend time through the midfield to make use of his big body in contests.
50. Charlie Eerhard (Ormond Football Club)
Third tal/mid-sized defender has excellent defensive craft and ability to read the play and intercept mark. Performed strongly in school footy last year and trained well through pre-season before a late ankle injury.
51. William Hudolin (East Brighton Vampires)
Key position player has spent time forward in our training and shown a good ability to compete in aerial contests. A great character who has been appointed school captain at his school.
52. Mitchell Kirkwood-Scott (Old Haileyburians FC VAFA)
Talented cricketer and small defender, has a powerful weapon of a kick, which he uses well out of the back half.
53. Samuel Fanning (Brighton Beach Kangaroos)
Athletic tall has played both key forward and key back this pre-season. At school has played as an undersized ruck, making use of his jumping ability, but will develop as a key position player at Dragons.
54. Lennox Hofmann (Old Brighton Grammarians VAFA)
Member of St Kilda’s NGA program, unfortunately suffered a shoulder injury in training in December and will miss most of the season. Exciting prospect for the future.
55. Riely Collins (Redan)
Member of the Western Bulldogs NGA. Developing inside midfielder has improved his endurance enormously in the past year and continues to develop his running patterns as a mid. Has good contest craft and has impressed in match play blocks.
56. Ollie Murphy (East Brighton Vampiers)
Developing key defender at 199cm can also play ruck and forward. Reads the play well and has a neat kick for his size. Will continue to add physical size this year but is an exciting prospect.
57. Nathaniel Sulzberger (North Hobart Football Club)
Inside midfielder with good burst from the contest, moved over from Tasmania to board at Caulfield Grammar. Has impressed coaches with his contest work and gone from strength to strength since joining the program.
58. Murphy Reid (Sth Melbourne Districts)
Exciting midfielder has elite agility and an ability to bend his body around tacklers while stepping out of contests. Will spend time playing wing and HF to aid his development in his bottom age year.
59. Samuel Linder (St Kilda City)
Small defender stood out in match play blocks with his contest winning ability and effective ball use off half back. A member of St Kilda’s NGA.
60. Joshua Levine (Ormond Football Club)
Key forward is still developing his physical size but moves well as a forward and leads up at the ball carrier well. Has shown an ability to hit the scoreboard.
61. Sam Buck (Beaumaris JFC)
Developing third tall can play either end but has been more of a forward, and kicked four goals in our second match play block. Showed an ability to compete well in the air.
62. Sebastian Duffy (St Kevins Old Boys (SKOB))
Strongly built high HF reads cues early to be an exit release option, either from D50 or from stoppages. Has improved his endurance and as he continues to improve it he will push further up the ground.
64. Luke Trainor (Old Brighton Grammarians VAFA)
Member of the Vic Metro Academy as a bottom ager, and can play either end of the ground as a third tall forward or back, but long term will most likely play as a midfielder. Has excellent ball use in open play.
65. Jake Johnson (Beaumaris FC VAFA)
19-year-old returned this year while rehabbing an ACL. Likely to be available in the second half of the season as a tall option.
66. Oliver Tyrer (South Melbourne)
Tall midfielder can play both inside and outside but playing on the wing showcases his good ball use by foot. Has embraced the Dragons’ contest training and improved enormously in this area over pre-season.
67. Harry Armstrong (Ormond Football Club)
Developing key forward hits up at the ball and has strong hands. Impressed in Dragons training and will be an exciting prospect in his top age year next year.
68. Dexter Prime (St Kilda City)
Third tall defender reads the play well to intercept and is a nice ball user out of defence. Will keep adding layers to his game through his bottom age year.
69. Darcy Gilbert (Frankston Dolphins)
Key defender returned as a 19-year-old and split his training between Dragons and Frankston VFL. Is an excellent ball user by foot and reads the play well to intercept. Will play higher up the ground as a key back in the early rounds.
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