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Ultimate Coates Talent League guide: Every list, top draft prospects, father-sons, academy guns to watch

A number of promising talents are vying to prove the doubters wrong after missing out on last year’s draft. Find out the prospects in the mid-season draft mix.

Pure Footy - episode 1 2023

The newly named Coates Talent League starts on Saturday and a prodigiously talented draft crop awaits in 2023.

You may have heard of Harley Reid, Nick Watson and Zane Duursma, but what about the surprise packets, and talents tied to each club as father-sons and Next Generation Academy prospects?

From the Bendigo Pioneers to the Western Jets, we have put every Victorian under-18 side under the miscroscope.

Check out full lists, father-sons, NGA talents, potential bolters and mid-season draft chances from every Coates Talent League club.

Harley Reid is the top prospect entering 2023. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Harley Reid is the top prospect entering 2023. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images

BENDIGO PIONEERS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

All eyes are on Harley Reid, who shapes as the No. 1 draft pick this year. The boy from Tongala can do it all and was a standout in his bottom-age season last year. He can play a range of positions, but prefers a midfield-forward role in a similar vein to Richmond’s Dustin Martin. Along with the Pioneers, he will also play some VFL football for Essendon and Carlton this year.

The Pioneers are also bullish about the prospects of Malik Gordon, an extremely talented forward with a basketball background who is also part of the initial Vic Country squad.

NGA Prospects and Father-Sons

Pala Kuma and Zaydyn Lockdown are both Richmond NGA prospects.

Kuma has speed to burn and is a beautiful kick, while Lockwood is an athletic big man who stands over 200cm.

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Ryan Watson is a nephew of former Collingwood forward Chris Tarrant and current Richmond defender Robbie Tarrant.

Jed Denahy is a cousin of Richmond’s Dustin Martin, but is a very different player who stands almost 200cm.

Jed Daniels is a cousin of GWS forward Brent Daniels and is a similarly speedy forward.

Glen Gilbee is considered a very similar player to his brother Jason, who was drafted to Greater Western Sydney last year.

However, he is a bottom-age player who still needs to add some size.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Mitch Doddos is an exciting prospect, to the Pioneers after missing last season with a series of injuries. The Kyabram product, who turns 19 in November, has previously been a key forward but will start the season in defence for the Pioneers.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

There was some AFL interest in Michael Kiraly and Charlie Barnett last year, who have returned as 19-year-old’s this season. Doddos did not nominate for last year’s national draft so won’t be eligible. Jacob Nihill is another one to watch.

CALDER CANNONS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

Calder has two prospects named in the Vic Metro hub in Bombers NGA prospect Mahmoud Taha and father-son Jordan Croft. Taha trained with the Bombers over the pre-season and his Muslim faith has seen him nurtured through the Bachar Houli Academy. The small forward is creative in the front half, as he showed in the U17 All Stars clash on grand final day where he slotted a goal and set up other scoring opportunities.

Croft, an athletic 199cm forward who runs 2km in an elite time of 6:17, is the son of 186-game Bulldog Matthew.

Mahmoud Taha. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Mahmoud Taha. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Jordan Croft. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Jordan Croft. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Along with Taha (Essendon NGA) and Croft (Bulldogs father-son), there are two other Cannons prospects tied to the Bombers. Ryan Eyre is the younger brother of ex-Bomber Josh, who trained with the Saints in pursuit of a list spot over the summer.

Luca Alessio – the son of Bombers premiership ruckman Stephen – is back at the Cannons as an over-age player.

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Elliot Mahoney is the son of current Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney, who played 97 games for Collingwood, the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

The Cannons haven’t got too many other players in the draft frame at this stage, but Eyre shapes as a player to watch for the Cannons this season. He is athletic, good in the air and can play on all lines, with aspirations to play as a taller midfielder this year after missing a lot of junior footy due to a foot injury.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

High-leaping defender Rye Penny trained with Collingwood over the summer during the supplemental selection period and is set to play the first month of the season as he eyes the mid-season draft. Penny showcased his stunning athleticism at the 2022 state combine with a record-equalling 89cm standing vertical jump and a 104cm running vertical jump.

Last year’s best-and-fairest winner Declan Willmore will also return to the Cannons as a 19-year-old after an impressive finish to last season as a midfielder. His vertical leap and contested marking are his standout attributes.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

Exciting midfielder Cooper Simpson is Dandenong’s top prospect entering 2023 and the sole Stingray in the AFL Academy. Simpsons brings power, a strong running capacity and clever decision making to the table, and is also a goalkicking threat as a midfielder. He averaged 18.6 disposals and booted eight goals in his final five Coates Talent League games in a sign of what’s to come.

Like Simpson, Koby Shipp and Sam Frangalas also featured in the NAB AFL All Stars game last year. Shipp was particularly impressive with his intercept marking – which is his major strength – while Frangalas is a powerful forward-midfielder with a long kick.

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Melbourne missed out on Next Generation Academy graduate Mac Andrew in 2021 after he was plucked well inside the top 20 exclusion zone of that year, but they now could have the chance to snare his brother, Riak Andrew. He isn’t as tall and his fundamentals aren’t quite at the level of Mac’s, but he does have the same athleticism, regarded as the most athletic player on their list.

Coren Giliam is another NGA product tied to the Demons.

Mac Andrew’s brother, Riak, is a player to watch. Picture: Mark Stewart
Mac Andrew’s brother, Riak, is a player to watch. Picture: Mark Stewart
Riak Andrew at the pre-season testing day. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos
Riak Andrew at the pre-season testing day. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Frangalas’ is the son of former Swan and Tiger Gary, but doesn’t qualify as a father-son at either of those clubs, while Shipp’s father Andrew played 35 matches for Fremantle. Riak Andrew is the brother of 2021 top five pick, Mac.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Despite missing out on the Vic Country hub, Billy Wilson has been flying this pre-season. The defender Wilson always has time with ball in hand and may be used up on a wing this year.

Harry De Mattia has got his full focus on footy over cricket this pre-season and is another who has had a strong pre-season, while Kade De La Rue enjoyed a promising bottom-age season.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

Tall Ziggy Toledo-Glassman attracted late interest last year from clubs before receiving a state combine invite and shapes as a genuine mid-season draft chance, with the athletic key forward also training with Casey VFL.

Indigenous prospect Joziah Nannup, a new addition to the Rays program who only played his first season of footy last year, stamped himself as a player to watch at pre-season testing day, showing off his electric speed and vertical leap.

EASTERN RANGES

THE TOP PROSPECTS

Don’t let his size fool you — Nick Watson is the excitement machine of this year’s draft pool. At a mere 170cm, Watson is capable of standing on heads with his incredible vertical leap and is quick and evasive at ground level, making him a nightmare match-up for defenders.

He wowed recruiters for the Ranges last year when he burst onto the scene with bags of goals at the beginning of the season, and managed to hit the scoreboard for Vic Metro.

Cam Nyko, a skilful player who is also a great competitor, got good exposure for the Ranges last year. Nyko will split his time between the coalface and halfback this year after doing his apprenticeship as a wingman last year.

Kaleb Windsor is another the Ranges have high hopes for in 2023. The 183cm prospect showcased his silky skills at Coates Talent League level last year and his line-breaking speed and defensive traits will be used out of defence and on a wing this season.

NGA Prospects and Father-Sons

Ruckman Illiro Smit is part of Hawthorn’s Next Generation Academy. On his way back from knee surgery, Smit, who was named in the Vic Metro hub, is expected to miss the first four games of the season but he should be ready to go after the early season break in May.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Riley Weatherill and Brayden LaPlanche were also named in the initial Vic Metro squad.

Weatherill is a 195cm key forward with nice footskills and a strong set of hands, while LePlanche is one of the Ranges’ co-captains. The 188cm prospect will likely play as a second or third forward where his explosive power and strength will come to the fore, and will also be given exposure through the midfield

Ry Cantwell is another to watch as a late addition to the Ranges program.

Looking ahead to 2024, 194cm inside bull Josh Smillie has drawn comparisons to Patrick Cripps as a tall midfielder who thrives on the inside.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

Clay Tucker attracted club interest as a rookie pick last year and will feature for the Ranges as a 19-year-old.

The 204cm ruckman has also signed with Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.

Eastern also has defender-midfielder Harry Flynn, who sat out most of his draft year with an ACL injury he suffered in his Ranges debut back in 2021.

Key forward Matthew Aldous is another over-age prospect who will stake his claim for mid-season draft selection in the first month of the season.

GEELONG FALCONS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

The Falcons didn’t have any players picked in the initial AFL Academy squad but did have three top-age players in the Vic Country squad in Michael Rudd, Joe Pike and Patrick Hughes.

Rudd is a lead-up forward who plays in a similar way to Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron with his ability to run all day and get up the ground to provide an option.

He also has a nice left-foot kick.

Pike, who will serve as the Falcons’ main ruckman this year, stands 204cm tall and also possesses a sizeable leap.

Hughes finished second in the Falcons’ best and fairest last season behind Jhye Clark and is an inside midfield bull with enormous power and strength who is expected to catch the eye this season.

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

The Falcons don’t have any father-son prospects for this year, but do have a couple coming through in coming seasons, including David Wojcinski’s son, Blake Caracella’s son and Anthony Stevens’ son.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Angus Hanley is a wingman or half-back who is a good size at 192cm and is a strong intercepting mark in the air.

He has impressed over pre-season, with hopes that he could be a player who jumps up this year.

Thomas Burke is a forward or midfielder who is considered to be the best kick at the club and also has elite endurance and speed.

Thomas Burke at pre-season testing day. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Thomas Burke at pre-season testing day. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

Archie Sinnott has returned to the Falcons’ as a 19-year-old and spent some of the summer training with VFL side Werribee.

The left-footer can play half-back or on a wing and impressed in the early part of last year.

GIPPSLAND POWER

THE TOP PROSPECTS

Zane Duursma and Archer Reid are both members of the AFL Academy squad and shape as possible top-20 draft prospects this year. Duursma is the younger brother of Port Adelaide’s Xavier, while Reid is the younger brother of Essendon’s Zach. Duursma is a creative goalkicking forward who will look to push into the midfield more this season, while Reid is a key forward who measures 203cm and will also spend some time in the ruck this season.

Zane Duursma is the brother of Port’s Xavier. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Zane Duursma is the brother of Port’s Xavier. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Tew Jiath is the younger brother of Hawthorn defender Changkuoth and part of the Hawks’ academy but is new to the Gippsland Power program this year as a top-age player and will need some time to develop.

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Liam Serong – the younger brother of Fremantle midfielder Caleb – has returned as a 19-year-old after training with the Dockers over summer in search of a list spot through the pre-season supplemental selection period. Serong has signed with VFL side Box Hill Hawks, but will also spend time with the Power this season.

Potential Surprise Packets

Tom Stern has returned as a 19-year-old after electing to focus on his Year 12 studies last year and looks a likely type who is ready to play some good footy.

Wil Dawson has shot up in height over the past 18 months to go from a skinny onballer to a 199cm forward.

Dawson has been one of the standouts on the track summer.

Mid-Season Draft Watch

Tom Stern is eligible for the mid-season draft, as is Liam Serong.

GWV REBELS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

The standout prospect for the Rebels is George Stevens, who is part of the AFL Academy squad.

Stevens is a powerful inside midfielder from Warrnambool but missed last season after rupturing his ACL in late 2021.

He will start this year at halfback, but is expected to transition back into the midfield as the season goes on and he grows confidence back in his body.

Joel Freijah is part of the Vic Country squad and is an outside midfielder with strong running ability and a good overhead mark.

Freijah is improving with each game, with the Rebels excited by his trajectory.

George Stevens. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
George Stevens. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Luamon Lual and Deng Lual are both Western Bulldogs NGA prospects.

Luamon is developing particularly well as a small defender with good composure.

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Nick Cadman is the younger brother of last year’s No. 1 draft pick, Aaron Cadman, but is new to the Rebels’ program and has some learning ahead of him.

Potential Surprise Packets

Alex Molan is the younger brother of Sturt midfielder and former Rebels graduate Charlie Molan.

Alex is a high-end athlete with good speed and looks like being one to watch.

Mid-Season Draft Watch

Felix Fogarty and Brady Wright have both returned to the Rebels as 19-year-old’s and are eligible for the mid-season draft.

Fogaty has shown big improvement, is a good size at 198cm and a beautiful kick.

Wright is currently battling a back injury but could also come into the frame if he can get his body right and play some good footy in the first half of the season.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

Connor O’Sullivan and Darcy Wilson were both named in the AFL Academy squad of 30. O’Sullivan is a 198cm swingman who takes contested marks and possesses explosive speed and a good tank. He even turned heads in a recent practice game against the Giants playing as an inside midfielder.

Wilson is the son of Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson. He has added five kilograms over the off-season and is set to be used more as an inside midfielder after impressing as a forward last year. The Wangaratta product showed his class with a cracking goal in the U17 All Stars game last year and booted three goals in just his second Coates Talent League game. Wilson ran at nationals for 800m and 200m and has a rare speed-endurance mix.

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Nil

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Another Rachele is on the way with Lucas Rachele, brother of No.4 pick Josh, in action for the Bushrangers this year. Parnell is the brother of Adelaide’s Patrick, while Jedd Longmire is the nephew of Sydney coach, John.

Coby James. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Coby James. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Dynamic small Coby James was looking like the Bushies’ top prospect for 2023 before a shoulder injury saw him miss the second half of his bottom-age year. His explosive speed and endurance makes him an ideal match-up for a dangerous forward like Ranges livewire Nick Watson, and he can be used in defence, up forward or through the midfield.

Strong-bodied prospect Harry Hewitt has a similar athletic profile to powerful Bushrangers draftee Brayden George, and is the quickest player on their list.

Athletic 194cm key forward Xavier Laverty is another who could surprise in 2023. He has a great tank and is ultra-competitive, to the point of white-line fever at times. Intercept defender Oscar Ryan has similarities to former Bushranger Lachie Ash and was the Bushrangers’ best in their practice game against the Giants Academy.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

Jedd Longmire has enjoyed an impressive pre-season with Collingwood’s VFL side and was among a handful of non-AFL listed players to take part in the Magpies intra-club clash. The Bushrangers don’t expect to see a lot of him this season, though.

Josh Tweedale, a lightly build 201cm key defender, is another the Bushrangers are hopeful can have a good start to the season.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

The Knights have two players in the AFL Academy squad in Nate Caddy and William Green.

Caddy is the nephew of Richmond premiership player Josh Caddy but is a different player as a 193cm key forward with a good leap and strong marking ability.

Caddy fractured his leg during pre-season but is expected back in Round 3.

Green has a high-level cricket background but has developed into a promising footballer over the past two years.

He is a co-captain of the Knights this year and will be the main man in the ruck given he stands 204cm.

Nate Caddy is one of the top prospects in 2023. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Nate Caddy is one of the top prospects in 2023. Picture: Martin Keep/AFL Photos via Getty Images

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

There is another Naish at the Knights.

Charlie Naish is the younger brother of former Richmond and West Coast midfielder Patrick Naish and the son of former Richmond and Port Adelaide wingman Chris Naish.

Charlie, who is eligible as a father-son for the Tigers, has a high footy IQ and good skills.

He played on a wing and across half-forward last year but could push into the onball brigade this season.

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Parker Heatley is the son of former West Coast and St Kilda forward Jason Heatley, but is not eligible to join either club under AFL father-son rules.

Jason played three games for the Eagles and 60 games for the Saints.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Christian Mardini will co-captain the Knights alongside Green this year and shapes as an intriguing prospect after missing last season with an ACL injury.

Mardini is a 197cm key position player who has spent most of his juniors playing forward but is set to take up a new role as a key defender this season.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

Flynn Riley is a towering 206cm ruckman who attracted a little bit of AFL interest at the back end of last year before returning to the Knights as a 19-year-old.

Riley has had a slightly interrupted pre-season but is one to watch if he has a big start to the year.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

Some recruiters rated Will Lorenz as the best player on the ground in the under-17 futures game at the MCG on AFL Grand Final Day last year.

The classy left-footed midfielder has good speed and agility and can kick a goal and has drawn comparisons to Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli.

Nathan Philactides is also part of the AFL Academy squad and is an athletic rebounding defender who generates plenty of drive off halfback.

Nathan Philactides shrugs a tackle. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
Nathan Philactides shrugs a tackle. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Kynan Brown is a father-son prospect for Melbourne, as the son of Nathan Brown who played 146 games for the Demons.

Kynan is a ball-winning midfielder who can also go forward and impact the scoreboard.

Isaac Barry is father-son eligible for Sydney, as the son of premiership hero and 237-game Swan Leo Barry

Aiden Johnson is another father-son prospect, as the son of former Brisbane champion Chris Johnson.

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Luke Quaynor is the younger brother of Collingwood defender Isaac, but is a bottom-age player who is not draft eligible until next year.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Bottom-age prospects Jagga Smith and Tadhg McCarthy have both been included in the initial Vic Metro squad and are ones to watch this year.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

Tom Bower and Angus Perry have returned to the Chargers as 19-year-old’s and are both eligible for the mid-season draft.

Bower is the son of former Richmond player Nathan Bower and is a small forward or wingman with pace and craft.

Overlooked AFL Academy graduate Luke Teal, who trained with Richmond over the summer, will also be trying to put his name forward for mid-season honours.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

The Sandringham Dragons may not produce three top-10 picks as they did last year, but Archie Roberts, Ryley Sanders and Will Brown and loom as their leading talents for 2023. The Dragons view Roberts as a high draft chance, with the dashin defender showing promise in the under-17 All Stars match and finished with 20 disposals and 103 SuperCoach points in their Coates Talent League grand final win.

Fellow AFL Academy member Ryley Sanders showed he has no trouble finding the footy in the All Stars clash, racking up 18 disposals to halftime and scoring a team-high 135 SuperCoach points for the match. The Tasmanian also shone for the Allies with 21 touches against Vic Metro in the national championships last year and is set for an inside midfield role this season after trimming down over the off-season.
Dragons captain Will Brown’s impressive grand final as a bottom-ager – tallying 19 disposals, five tackles, a goal and 125 SuperCoach points – was a sign of things to come. He has been among the Dragon’s standouts this pre-season and has grown three centimetres to measure at 195cm as a mobile key forward.

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Hawthorn will be keeping a close eye on the progress of potential father-sons Calsher Dear and Ned Maginness this year.

Dear is the son of 1991 Norm Smith Paul Dear, who tragically passed away in July last year after a battle with pancreatic cancer. The 196cm prospect is back in the Dragons program after taking last year off, and shapes as a player to watch after booting three goals in their practice game last week.

Maginness, the brother of Hawks tagger Finn and son of 131-game Hawk Scott, has had a massive 15cm growth spurt over the past two years.

Meanwhile, Nicky Christian, the son of Collingwood premiership player and Match Review Officer Michael, has returned as an over-age prospect.

And while he isn’t draft eligible until 2024, expect Levi Ashcroft – the son of Marcus and brother of No. 2 pick Will – to make waves in 2023. Ashcroft dominated at the U16 carnival last year and had some eye-catching performances for the Dragons as a 16-year-old last year alongside brother Will.

The Saints also have strong midfielder Will Nish tied to the club as a Next Generation Academy prospect.

Levi Ashcroft is the brother of Brisbane’s Will. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images
Levi Ashcroft is the brother of Brisbane’s Will. Picture: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

The Dragons also the brothers of two recent draftees on their list in ruckman Vigo Visentini – brother of Port Adelaide’s Dante – and forward Taj Hotton – brother of 2022 St Kilda draftee Olli.

Visentini is set to be Sandringham’s and Vic Metro’s No. 1 ruckman this season, while Hotton put his name up in lights with three goals in their recent practice game. Hotton is seen as a better athlete than Olli – which is saying something.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Track watchers believe vice-captain Harvey Johnston capable of bursting onto the scene this year after a standout off-season, with his agility in traffic his bread and butter.

The Dragons have plenty of talls who could bob up in 2023, including key forward Luke Lloyd, who has big wraps and showed plenty of potential with three goals in his Coates Talent League debut last season.

Talls Lachie Voss and Ollie Murphy stood out in their recent practice match, with Voss running a blistering 6:15 2km time trial. Hotton is a player who fits into this bracket, too.

Mid-Season Draft Watch

Key back Darcy Gilbert, who received a state combine invite last year, looks to be the Dragons’ top mid-season draft chance despite an interrupted pre-season. Gilbert is a stirling 1-on-1 defender but will be looking to improve his athleticism to catch the eye of club recruiters.

TASMANIA DEVILS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

Tasmania is coming off its biggest haul in years with four players taken during in the November draft period, and the Devils now boast two prospects in the AFL Academy Academy – with talented midfielder Colby McKercher in the top-10 mix. The smooth-mover has drawn comparisons to Zach Merrett and scored more than 100 SuperCoach points in his last 11 Coates Talent League, including a polished 23 disposals at 87 per cent efficiency in their nailbiting preliminary final loss. McKercher, who possesses damaging legspeed, a pinpoint left boot and his agility in traffic, was among the leading ball-winners in the U17 All Stars match and is raring to go after a strong pre-season.

Colby McKercher shone for the Devils last year. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images
Colby McKercher shone for the Devils last year. Picture: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Dangerous forward-midfielder Jack Callinan, the son of former Crows forward Ian, showed good signs in the same side as McKercher in the futures clash on grand final day and booted eight goals in his final four matches for the Devils. A talented cricketer, Callinan has put his full focus into footy this year and expect him to spend more time as an inside midfielder in 2023.

Tall defender Arie Schoenmaker wasn’t named in the AFL Academy but isn’t far behind the other two, with his elite kicking his major strength. Schoenmaker took over 40 seconds off his 2km time trial and has added size to his frame after a big off-season.

NGA Prospects and Father-Sons

Nil

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Former Crows goalsneak Ian Callinan played 32 games at West Lakes, which means his son Jack doesn’t qualify as a father-son. Devils coach Jeromey Webberley says Callinan is a very similar type of player to his father and expects to see some spectacular finishes from him this year.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Oscar Van Dam got good exposure in the Devils program last year and addressed his running capacity over the off-season, running an impressive 6:12 in their pre-season testing. Van Dam can play on the inside or the outside and is a good size at 188cm.

Two of Tom Beamount’s best games in 2022 came in the Devils’ finals series and he looms as another Devil who can strengthen his claims this year.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

The Devils have two players they believe can press their claims for the mid-season draft in Heath Ollington and Mitch Nicholas after both have shown improvement over the off-season. Ollington has added five kilograms of muscle to his frame and will spend more time up forward after spending time as an inside midfielder last year – his standout game of 34 disposals, 22 contested possessions and 198 SuperCoach points showing his potential. An outstanding pre-season for Nicholas has seen him shave time 30 seconds off his 2km time trial and he is tipped to spend more time through the midfield in 2023.

WESTERN JETS

THE TOP PROSPECTS

The Jets only have one player in the initial Vic Metro squad in marking key forward Logan Morris.

Morris is not overly tall at 191cm but has good athleticism and a big vertical leap.

Given his mid-size height and marking ability, Morris has drawn some comparisons to St Kilda forward Tim Membrey.

Logan Morris celebrates a goal. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos
Logan Morris celebrates a goal. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos

NGA PROSPECTS AND FATHER-SONS

Jets co-captain Alex Tsia is part of the Western Bulldogs’ Next Generation Academy, given his father was born in East Timor.

He is a midfielder-forward who is quite lively and elusive.

OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES

Daniel Snell is a bottom-age player who is the son of former Geelong forward Jason Snell.

However, Daniel is not father-son eligible for the Cats next year given his dad played only 68 AFL games.

POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS

Darcy Weeks is a good ball user off halfback who has caught the eye over pre-season, while Jake Smith is an inside midfielder who AFL clubs have shown some interest in.

MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH

The Jets celebrated a major success story last year, producing Massimo D’Ambrosio who was picked up by Essendon in the mid-season draft.

While not quite in the same bracket at D’Ambrosio, Jovan Petric is the eligible for the mid-season draft and is hopeful of attracting some interest.

He is also on Collingwood’s VFL list this year.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/draft/ultimate-coates-talent-league-guide-top-draft-prospects-fathersons-academy-guns-to-watch-in-2023/news-story/3137cce4c1b6e35161e5190d12cdde83