Ultimate Coates Talent League guide: Every list, top draft prospects, father-sons, academy guns to watch in 2024
A number of promising talents are vying to prove the doubters wrong after missing out on last year’s draft. Find out the Coates League prospects in the mid-season draft mix.
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The Coates Talent League kicks off this weekend, with Victoria and Tasmania’s top young talent set to be on show.
Here at the players to keep an eye on from each club ahead of the AFL mid-season draft and the national draft in November.
KommunityTV will again live stream many of the biggest games from the Coates Talent League this year, so you can see all the stars in action.
BENDIGO PIONEERS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
Archer Day-Wicks and Jobe Shanahan spent the summer with the AFL Academy as well as the Vic Country training squad. Shanahan can play at either end at 194cm and has been rolled through the midfield at times. He reminds Pioneers coach Danny O’Bree of Jack Lukosius with his footskills and overhead marking. Day-Wicks provides plenty of highlights as a half-forward but he also works hard pushing up the ground. Hard-running midfielder Tobie Travaglia was also named in the Vic Country summer squad.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
No father-sons to look forward to this year, but Cody Walker, the son of Blues high-flyer Andrew, is one for Carlton fans to watch out for in the future. The Echuca product is currently part of the Pioneers’ U16 program.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Glen Gilbee is the brother of former GWS player Jason, who was best known for penchant for milk. From all reports the younger Gillbee is even more of a character than Jason.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
The pieces are falling into place for Dayten Uerata. The exciting forward is capable of winning a game off his own boot and the Pioneers are expecting big things from him in 2024. Versatile and athletic Charlton prospect Nick Thompson is another who could bob up.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Oliver Poole was on the radar of several clubs ahead of last year’s draft after impressing as a mid-forward for the Pioneers, also playing a game for Vic Country. Big man Taj Bond, who stands at 204cm, is another who has caught the eye this pre-season.
CALDER CANNONS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
The Cannons only have one player in the AFL Academy Squad, that being athletic key defender Harry O’Farrell who is shaping as a high pick in a draft pool otherwise dominated by midfielders.
Dynamic small forward Isaac Kako and inside midfielder Nash King were both picked as part of the initial Vic Metro training squad and are also considered a good chance to be selected at the end of the year.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
Isaac Kako – whose parents were both born in Iraq – is a member of Essendon’s Next Generation Academy, but the Bombers won’t be able to match a bid on him in November unless he slips past pick 40.
Jakden Nguyen – who has Vietnamese heritage – is also tied to Essendon’s NGA program and is a damaging small rebounding defender who tied for the Cannons’ best-and-fairest award as a bottom-age player last year.
Alex Alessio is the son of 2000 Essendon premiership player Steven and qualifies as a father-son for the Bombers, with the raw young ruckman or key forward developing nicely.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Captain Damon Hollow is one to watch for the Cannons this year and could come into consideration to be added to the Vic Metro squad if he gets away to a good start.
Hollow had a strong bottom-age season last year and is a dynamic midfielder who is strong in the air and can hit the scoreboard.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Ryan Eyre – the younger brother of Collingwood-listed Josh Eyre – is a player to watch for the Cannons early in the season.
An intercepting defender, he has returned as a 19-year-old this season along with signing for Essendon’s VFL side.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
Key defender Noah Mraz has had a strong pre-season and the Collingwood fan spent a week learning off his idol Darcy Moore over the summer. The Stingrays believe he has the potential to turn into a promising player at the next level. Harvey Langford is also part of the AFL Academy, a big-bodied mdfielder who can push forward and hit the scorebaord. Langford is coming off a strong bottom-age season where he averaged 121 SuperCoach ranking points, 22 disposals and a tick under a goal per game.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
Elwood Peckett, the son of 252-game St Kilda player Justin, spent a week with the Saints over the summer and he has improved his training intensity since his bottom-age year. The Stingrays also have Collingwood father-son prospect Oscar Lonie entering the program. The bottom-ager has great skills just like his father Ryan, who played 123 games for Collingwood. Riak Andrew, a Melbourne NGA prospect like his brother, Gold Coast top-10 draft pick Mac, spent time with Casey VFL over the off-season where they were impressed with his development. Andrew returns to the Stingrays as a 19-year-old and shares his brother’s athleticism. Indigenous prospect Coren Giliam, a crafty small forward who can impact up the ground and 198cm tall Tarion Ah-Mu are also tied to the Demons’ NGA.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Henry Hayes has shown some top-end traits during match simulation and at training for the Stingrays this pre-season. Described as a “tougher version of Bayley Fritsch” by coach Nick Cox, Hayes was hampered by a serious illness last year but the Stingrays have high hopes for him Harry Doughton is viewed as one of the most talented players on the Stingrays’ list and is another to keep tabs on.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Ben Hopkins generated some interest from AFL clubs last year and will play for the Stingrays early in the piece, having also earned a spot on North Melbourne’s list after training with the Roos over the summer. A 190cm prospect who runs well and makes good decisions, Hopkins shapes as a possible mid-season draft chance after getting better as the season went on in his first year at the Stingrays in 2023. Andrew is another who could push but he might be a greater chance at the end of the year.
EASTERN RANGES
THE TOP PROSPECTS
There is plenty of excitement building around Josh Smillie, who is a tall and big-bodied midfield playmaker with a good balance between his inside and outside game.
Ranges teammate Christian Moraes is also part of the AFL Academy squad and is another attacking midfielder who excels in clearances and groundball wins.
Midfielders Lachy Dovaston and Oliver Greeves were both included as part of the initial Vic Metro squad this year, but are not draft eligible until 2025.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
Iliro Smit is a developing ruckman who is linked to Hawthorn’s Next Generation Academy and has returned to the Ranges as a 19-year-old this year.
Smit has not played a game for the Ranges since mid-2022, having had a rough injury run ever since.
However, he has got himself fit once again and has linked up with both the Ranges and VFL club Box Hill this year.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Seth Macdonald caught the eye for the Ranges as a bottom-age player in the second half of last year as a good-sized wingman who is strong overhead and composed with ball in hand.
Macdonald kicked two goals from 15 disposals in the losing Grand Final last year.
Tough inside midfielder Cody Anderson and key defender Riley White are also worth keeping an eye on.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Iliro Smit will look to push his case for mid-season draft selection early in the year if he can have an injury-free run.
Key defender Cooper Trembath attracted a little AFL interest last year and is also back as a 19-year-old for the Ranges, along with linking up with North Melbourne’s VFL side.
Fellow tall defender Remy MacLean is another 19-year-old who has returned and is also tied to VFL club Box Hill.
GEELONG FALCONS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
Key forward Zac McInnes and midfielder Xavier Ivisic shape as the Falcons’ top prospects entering the season after being picked in the Vic Country summer training squad. McInnes would have likely been playing in the U17 Futures game last year if not for ankle issues in both feet that sidelined him for the back-half of the season. Ivisic was a ball-magnet at APS level for Geelong Grammar and also impressed for the Falcons.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
It is fair to say the bloodlines are strong down the highway. The Falcons have five father-sons among their primary and development lists and all five are renowned football surnames: Stevens, Wojcinski, Caracella, Riccardi and Mooney. River Stevens is a small forward who is the son of North Melbourne legend Anthony and has trained with the Roos’ VFL side over the summer, while Alfie Wojcinski (son of Cats three-time premiership star David) and Noah Caracella (son of former Brisbane, Essendon and Collingwood player Blake) played alongside Stevens in an under-18 premiership for Newtown & Chillwell last year. Caracella is only tied to Essendon given it was the only AFL club he played more than 100 games with. Bottom-agers Jegger Mooney (son of Cameron) and Boston Riccardi (son of Peter and brother of Osca) have trained with Geelong’s father-son academy and Cats fans will be tracking their progress over the next 18 months. Perhaps the most talented of their father-sons and NGA prospects is bottom-ager Ben Rongdit, who recorded the second highest running vertical jump (98cm) at the CTL pre-season testing day. The Cats next generation academy talent starred at last year’s U16 national carnival for Vic Country. Jesse Mellor is another bottom-age NGA prospect tied to the Cats.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Gus Morrison is one who has shone over the pre-season after playing a couple of games last year and should receive more time as an on-baller in 2024. Jack Henderson has also caught the eye.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Vic Country ruckman Joe Pike returns to the Falcons after in the draft mix last year, while playmaker Liam Kershaw and forward Will McLachlan are also back at the Falcons as over-agers. Pike was interviewed by Geelong ahead of the draft last year and has earned a spot on the Cats’ VFL list.
GIPPSLAND POWER
THE TOP PROSPECTS
Xavier Lindsay and Ricky Mentha were both named in AFL Academy. Lindsay is a clean utility with a tidy left foot who can play all over the ground, while Alice Springs product Mentha is a pressure forward with elite skills and plenty of speed. Moving down to Morwell to live with his father last year, the Power will look to develop his midfield craft this year.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
Indigenous talent Mentha is tied to Melbourne’s Next Generation Academy given his links to their Alice Springs zone.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
The fourth and final Duursma, Willem, already got a taste of Coates Talent League footy last year as a double bottom-ager and will get more action this season. He is tracking well to be one of top prospects in the 2025 draft after finishing Vic Country’s MVP at last year’s U16 carnival.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
The Power expects Alixander Tauru’s highlights package to be quite the watch by year’s end. Tauru is a hybrid 191cm forward who is competitive in the air and at ground level. Max Donahue is another to watch out for, a small forward or wingman who provides good pressure.
MID-SEASON DRAFT PROSPECT
Tom Hanily was on the radar last year before injuries and shapes as the Power’s best mid-season draft chance. Jesse Craven is another they will look to get exposure in the Young Guns match in the lead-up to the intake.
GWV REBELS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
The Rebels have two AFL Academy players in inside midfielder Sam Lalor and key forward Jonty Faull, but both face delayed starts to their drat year. Lalor, a bullocking ball-winner who earned a Vic Country birth as a bottom-ager, will be sidelined for up to two months, while Faull is set to be sidelined for the first half of the season. The same goes for ruckman Flynn Penry, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury.
FAMILIAR NAMES
Will Rantall is a completely different player to former Collingwood running machine Jay Rantall, the draft combine 2km time-trial record holDer who spent two years on the Pies’ list. The younger Rantall is a key defender with great closing speed and long arms. Lachie Charleson was taken late in the piece by Port Adelaide in the 2023 draft and his younger brother, Harry, enters his draft year in 2024.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Talented dual sportsman Ned Renfree is away for the first six weeks of the season with the Australian basketball side and will be one to keep an eye on if he chooses to go down the football path. Ollie Hannaford and Connor Weidemann have had big pre-seasons and are set to get more midfield time this year, while Rhys Unwin had a purple patch as a small forward during the middle of last year and is crafty.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
The Rebels have gone into the year without any 19-year-old prospects.
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
The Bushrangers don’t have any AFL Academy members but they do have a couple of promising twin talls who were named in the Vic Country summer training squad. Key forward Jack Whitlock had a solid bottom-age year highlighted by a match-winning goal in the state futures clash, with the 199cm tall possessing great power and moving well for his size. Meanwhile, his brother Matt plays at the other end as a rebounding defender and has similar athletic traits.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
The son of two-time Carlton premiership player Peter Dean has entered the Bushrangers program as a bottom ager. At 190cm as a 16-year-old, Harry Dean has trained well over the summer and he is tipped to get a good run at it this season. Rumbalara product Brogan McGee has some tricks and is tied to Richmond’s NGA program, as is Kade Dwyer. GWS Academy prospect Jack Glanvill will play for the Bushrangers as an over-ager after playing two games for the Allies and making his VFL debut for the Giants last year.
FAMILIAR NAMES
Developing speedster Ryder Stevens is the son of 66-game North Melbourne and Port Adelaide footballer Mick.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
At 190cm, Josh Murphy has good speed and power and the Bushrangers believe he has great scope for improvement.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Murray Bushrangers are hopeful ruck-forward Indhi Kotzur can push for a Young Guns opportunity, while Glanville is their other returning over-ager.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
Talented midfielder-forward Jesse Dattoli leads the Knights’ draft hopes on the back of a big pre-season which has seen him get fitter, stronger and stay injury-free.
Dattoli is an elite decision maker who also uses the ball incredibly well and can be a game-changer when he is on.
Zak Johnson is another Knights players who is part of the Vic Metro squad.
Possessing great leadership attributes, Johnson has primarily played as a midfielder in the past but looks set to feature in some other roles as well this year.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Liam Farrar caught the eye in the Yo-Yo test during pre-season testing, putting his endurance and repeat running on display as he finished in the top-10 with a level of 21.8.
The 189cm forward covers the ground well, has nice hands and is generally a reliable shot on goal – attributes which make him a player to watch this year.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Christian Mardini has returned as a 19-year-old this year, after serving as the Knights’ co-captain last season and featuring in three matches for Vic Metro at the under-18 national championships.
However, the defender underwent a shoulder reconstruction in January and is set to be sidelined until mid-season, meaning he will have little — if any — time to show recruiters what he has got to offer before the mid-season draft.
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
Ball-winning midfielder Finn O’Sullivan has been touted as a possible No.1 draft pick this year and is an explosive player who is also strong overhead and can be a game-changer.
O’Sullivan hails from the town of Koroit in western Victoria, but is boarding at Xavier College and has therefore linked up with the Chargers.
Jagga Smith is another highly-touted prospect and AFL Academy member from the Chargers, who has primarily played midfield in the past but will also spend some time forward this year where he can be creative around goals.
Tom Gross is a powerful midfielder-forward with burst speed from stoppages and a strong overhead mark, while Charlie Richardson is a high half-forward who has great hands and is a lovely kick.
Richardson is the grandson of Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett.
Athletic tall Louis Emmett has been included in the initial Vic Metro squad this year, but is not draft eligible until 2025.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
Luke Quaynor is the younger brother of Collingwood premiership player Isaac and is a competitive small defender who is also part of the Magpies’ Next Generation Academy.
Quaynor is strong in one-on-one contests and makes good decisions when he wins it back.
Key defender Tadhg McCarthy and inside midfielder Douglas Kerr are also linked to the Magpies’ NGA program and have shown promising signs.
Forward Noah Yze is the son of Richmond coach and former Melbourne champion Adem Yze and is eligible as a father-son for the Demons this year.
Adem played 271 AFL games for the club.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
After rupturing his ACL in his under-16 season, Patrick Retschko’s recovery meant he didn’t get a look-in for the Chargers until the middle of last season.
However, the athletic midfielder – who has good speed and class – made the most of those chances and logged 41 disposals in one game against Gippsland Power to stamp himself as a player to watch this season.
Zane Cochrane has also jumped up after a massive pre-season and looms as an exciting midfield-forward prospect who can kick goals.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Towering 205cm ruckman Boston Dowling has returned to the Chargers as a 19-year-old, while also signing with Collingwood’s VFL side where he completed most of the pre-season.
Halfback Oliver Badr has also linked up with a VFL side – Carlton – over pre-season and returns to the Chargers as a 19-year-old searching for opportunities.
A rebounding halfback with speed and power, Badr’s top-age season last year was cut short by hamstring issues.
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
Levi Ashcroft is one of the standout prospects in this year’s draft pool and is expected to attract a very high father-son bid like his older brother Will did when he joined Brisbane at pick 2 in 2022.
A similar type of player to Will, Levi is a clean and skilful midfielder who can also go forward and kick goals.
Sam Marshall is also linked to the Lions through their Academy, but is boarding at Melbourne Grammar and playing for the Sandringham again this year.
Marshall is a wingman or onballer who is an elite runner and gets from contest to contest.
Luke Trainor is a promising halfback or third-tall defender, who is a member of the AFL Academy squad alongside Ashcroft and Marshall.
Other top prospects who have been included in the initial Vic Metro squad are gun midfielder or half-forward Murphy Reid, powerful goalkicking key forward Harry Armstrong, midfielder or half-forward Taj Hotton and speedy halfback Harrison Oliver.
Jack Dalton and Archie Ludowyke are also part of the Vic Metro squad but are not draft eligible until 2025.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
Levi Ashcroft and Sam Marshall are both linked to the Brisbane Lions as father-son and Academy prospects respectively.
Third-tall defender Lennox Hoffman missed some footy with a shoulder injury last year but is an exciting prospect who is linked to St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy.
Adrian Cole is also part of the Saints’ NGA program and is an athletic tall utility who has been appointed a vice-captain of the Dragons this year.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Taj Hotton is the son of former Collingwood and Carlton tall Trent Hotton, but is not father-son eligible for either club.
Taj’s older brother, Olli, was drafted to St Kilda at pick 35 in the 2022 national draft.
The Dragons also have some familiar names among their bottom-age players, who are not eligible to be drafted until 2025.
These include Harvey Allan (son of former Carlton ruckman Matthew), Archer Grant (son of North Melbourne premiership player Shannon), Archie Edwards (brother of Adelaide’s Charlie) and Freddie Brayshaw (cousin of Fremantle midfielder Andrew).
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Nathaniel Sulzberger is a big and powerful inside midfielder of half-forward who can drive through traffic and is a strong runner.
A Tasmanian, Sulzberger is boarding at Caulfield Grammar and has linked up with the Dragons.
Another player to watch is Josh Dolan, who was a premiership player as a bottom-age prospect across half-forward last year but is set to spend more time through the midfield this season.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Lachlan Voss had some interest ahead of the national draft last year, before foot surgery derailed those hopes for the key defender.
He has returned to push his case as a 19-year-old, but will miss the start of the season as he continues his recovery.
Ned Maginness – who was overlooked by Hawthorn as a father-son last year – has also returned, as has co-captain and ruckman Brodie Findlay.
WESTERN JETS
THE TOP PROSPECTS
The Jets had only one player included in the initial Vic Metro squad, that being Lucca Grego.
The midfielder impressed for the Jets in 13 games as a bottom-age player last year, as well as featuring in one match for Vic Metro at the under-18 national championships.
Grego is a versatile all-rounder who is defensively accountable and will also spend some time across halfback this season.
NGA PROSPECTS & FATHER-SONS
There are two father-son prospects coming through who are entering their bottom-age campaigns this season.
Thomas McGuane is a clever midfielder who is the son of 1990 Collingwood premiership player Mick McGuane.
Kobe Williams is the son of 2008 Hawthorn premiership forward Mark Williams and is a mid-sized forward.
Both players are draft eligible in 2025.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Daniel Snell is an athletic midfielder or high half-forward who is the son of former Geelong forward Jason Snell, but is not father-son eligible for the Cats given his father managed just 68 AFL games before a career-ending ankle injury.
Daniel has great power and speed and is a tough match-up for opponents given his abilities both in the air and at ground level.
Keighton Matofai-Forbes is another player to watch, given his booming and accurate kick which is likely to attract some AFL attention.
As well as featuring for the Jets as a bottom-age player last season, Matofai-Forbes kicked 16 goals from six senior games for Keilor in the Essendon District Football League.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Lachlan McArthur has returned to the Jets as a 19-year-old and will be a watch for clubs after he attended the Victorian State Draft Combine last October.
The athletic 188cm utility featured at both ends of the ground last season, starting the year forward before showing plenty as down back in his final four games as an interceptor and rebounding player.
McArthur is also on Footscray’s VFL list this year.
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