Ultimate Coates Talent League guide: Every list, top draft prospects, father-sons, academy guns to watch in 2025
The Coates Talent League begins this weekend, with plenty of players linked to AFL clubs set to showcase their abilities. Get your ultimate guide to every list, top draft prospects and more.
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The Coates Talent League begins this weekend, with Victoria and Tasmania’s top young talent to be put 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.
BENDIGO PIONEERS
TOP PROSPECTS
Hunter Wright is the early pick as the Pioneers’ best prospect and is one of two top-age players from the club in the Vic Country squad.
Wright is a clean midfielder with a good balance between his inside and outside game and featured in 14 matches for Bendigo as a bottom-age player last year.
Fellow midfielder Shaun Watson is another name to watch, having relocated from Mildura to Bendigo this year to try and elevate his footy.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
There are huge wraps on bottom-age player Cody Walker, who is a father-son prospect for Carlton in 2026 as the son of former Blues high-flyer Andrew.
Described as a true professional, Walker continues to build his body and his game and has been included as a bottom-age player in the under-18 Vic Country squad this year after starring at the under-16 national championships in 2024.
Fellow midfielder Russell Clark is another bottom-age player who is part of Richmond’s NGA program.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Shaun Watson has some famous names in the family tree, as the nephew of former AFL brothers Chris and Robbie Tarrant.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Jaidi Jackson-Leahy shapes as a potential bolter after a strong pre-season.
Played as a defender last year, he has grown significantly over the past 12 months and has also added some size to his frame as he looks to take on a midfield role this season.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
The Pioneers have five returning 19-year-olds, who have also had the opportunity to train with VFL sides over pre-season.
Tom Evans, Zaydyn Lockwood, Nick Thompson, Connor Evans are all mid-season draft eligible, while defender Angus Scoble is also back.
CALDER CANNONS
TOP PROSPECTS
The standout for the Cannons is ruckman-forward Cooper Duff-Tytler, who shapes as a potential top-10 draft prospect. An elite junior basketball player, the 200cm tall possesses exceptional athletic traits and strong ball-handling skills which allow him to act as an extra midfielder around the ground after being involved in ruck contests.
Hussien El Achkar and Felix Kneipp are also in the Vic Metro squad alongside Duff-Tytler.
El Achkar is a 171cm dynamic small forward who can also have a run through the midfield, while Kneipp is a ball-winning left-foot midfielder.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
El Achkar is an Essendon NGA prospect, a program which had fellow small forward Isaac Kako come through last year.
From a bottom-age perspective, Adam Sweid and Tristan Leeds are two names to watch for 2026.
Both are returning from ACL injuries this season and are part of Essendon’s NGA program.
Alex Alessio – the son of premiership Bomber Steven – has returned to the Cannons as a 19-year-old this year after being overlooked as a father-son prospect in last year’s draft.
There are a trio of bottom-age father-son prospects on the horizon for 2026 as well.
Levi West (Western Bulldogs – son of Scott), Sam Harris (North Melbourne – son of Daniel) and Jack Rutten (Adelaide – son of Ben) will all be a close watch over the next two years.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Bottom-age players Coen McGrath (son of Cory – former Carlton/Essendon midfielder), Tex Longmire (nephew of John), Charlie Robbins (son of Ben – former Brisbane/North Melbourne player) also have some famous surnames but are not tied to clubs.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
The Cannons’ two co-captains in Jackson Barber and Hamish Bird look capable of taking their games to another level this year.
Barber is a 197cm key defender, while Bird is a 184cm hardworking midfielder.
Another left-field smoky is 195cm key forward Taj Robinson, who only joined the Cannons program for the first time this year.
The Broadford product is a top-age player who works hard, has great hands and has shown plenty across the pre-season.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Cooper Herbert had some AFL interest in the back end of last season as a 188cm forward and returns as a 19-year-old this year.
He is eligible for the mid-season draft and will be a watch in the early part of the season.
Other 19-year-olds who are mid-season draft eligible are defenders Gus Papal and Jack Ryan, forward Carled El Khodr and ruckman Alex Alessio.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
TOP PROSPECTS
AFL Academy member Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves debuted at the national championships last year of the back of strong Talent League form. Hibbins-Hargreaves is a goalkicking outside midfielder who oozes class and he will lead the Stingrays as co-captain after a strong summer.
Both Hibbins-Hargreaves and key forward-ruck Tairon Ah-Mu played in the U17 futures game last year.
Ah-Mu will split his time between Haileybury and the Stingrays, but he is expected to build on his promising bottom-age year where he kicked 22 goals in 11 games.
Melbourne NGA prospect Toby Sinnema trained with the Demons — alongside potential father-son and Gold Coast Academy talent Kalani White (son of Jeff) — over the summer and has been a pre-season standout at the Stingrays.
The half-back-wingman is tipped to rise in estimations.
Key position player Josh Granger was also part of the Vic Country training hub along with U16 All-Australian goalsneak Marcus Prasad, who is eligible for the 2026 draft.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
Oscar Lonie, the son of ex-Magpie Ryan, has shown significant improvement this pre-season. The Collingwood father-son prospect has a raking kick like his dad and should spend time all over the ground this season.
Toby Sinemma and bottom-ager Prasad are both tied to Melbourne. Adrian Cole has joined the Stingrays after being overlooked at Sandringham Dragons last season but remains tied to St Kilda’s NGA, as is bottom-ager Kaie Sullivan.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Callum Smith is the grandson of Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett. The 189cm midfielder has high-end speed and endurance and his clearance work has stood out over the pre-season.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Stingrays co-captain Max Lee was unable to showcase his exciting traits last season due to a shoulder injury, but the halfback speedster recorded a blistering 20m sprint time at Talent League pre-season testing day. That and his eye-catching pre-season suggest he can rise up draft boards. His eye-catching practice game and caught the eye in their practice games. One of the best names in the talent league, JayDe Varlet also has speed to burn as an outside player, while big-bodied inside midfielder Sam Lewis is coming on nicely.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
There are a few ‘Rays who can contend for the mid-season draft, headlined by Saints NGA prospect Adrian Cole.
The athletic key defender was arguably one of the most unlucky prospects to miss out, with rivals assuming he would at least be taken as a Category B rookie by St Kilda. Cole has crossed from the Sandringham Dragons to the Stingrays and an impressive pre-season at North Melbourne VFL will hold him in good stead ahead of the mid-season intake.
Running defender Charlie Orchard and midfielder Henry Hayes are also returning as 19-year-olds.
EASTERN RANGES
TOP PROSPECTS
Big-bodied midfielder Oliver Greeves will lead the charge for the Ranges this season as a first-round draft prospect likened to Richmond draftee Josh Smillie.
Greeves had an impressive pre-season and has been named a co-captain for Eastern this year.
Fellow co-captain Andrew Barker is also part of the Vic Metro squad and is a promising key defender, while forward-midfielder Lachy Dovaston and key defender Xavier Taylor are other top prospects.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
Oliver Greeves had applied to be part of Hawthorn’s NGA program, but was knocked back by the AFL earlier this year which means he will instead enter the open draft pool.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Oliver Greeves is a grand-nephew of Geelong’s Edward ‘Carji’ Greeves, the man that the Cats’ best-and-fairest award is named after.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
There will be a watch on Rod Ali this season, a 19-year-old from Mitcham who has come into the Ranges’ program for the first time this season after previously focusing on basketball.
At athletic medium-sized player, Ali possesses a huge leap, good speed and uses the ball well.
Small-forward and midfielder Bailey Lloyd and halfback Blake Chambers are other names to watch.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
There are two 19-year-olds who have come back in Zac McGown and Seth Macdonald.
McGowan is a defender or midfielder who is contracted to Box Hill and has spent some training with Hawthorn, while Macdonald is a forward who has linked up with Richmond’s VFL side.
GEELONG FALCONS
TOP PROSPECTS
Josh Lindsay finished his bottom-age campaign as Team Heppell’s best player in the U17 Futures grand final day curtain raiser.
The smooth-moving playmaker has a lethal left boot and he enters the year as one of Vic Country’s top prospects. His Geelong Grammar teammate Ben Rongdit joins Lindsay in the AFL Academy.
The 184cm Sudanese defender’s leap is off the charts and he regularly produces moments of brilliance with his athleticism.
Vic Country summer hub member Hugo Mikunda has had an interrupted pre-season, but was the Falcons’ rookie of the year in 2024 and is tipped to press his claims on a wing and through the midfield.
Jack Pickett was one of four bottom-agers in the Vic Country summer hub and headlines their 17-year-old group.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
It isn’t just Rongdit who is tied to the Cats. Hybrid marking forward Jesse Mellor, who was born in Thailand, also trained with Geelong over the summer. He is the son of former Richmond assistant coach Greg Mellor.
Then there is father-sons Jagger Mooney, the son of Geelong goalkicking great Cam, and Boston Riccardi, the son of ex-Geelong star Peter and former Cats listed player Osca.
Noah Caracella returns as an 19-year-old player (son of ex-Essendon, Brisbane and Collingwood star Blake) and is eligible to join Essendon, while Jax Cooney (son of Adam, Western Bulldogs) and Archie Daffy (son of Nick, Richmond) enter the program as bottom-agers.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Athletic 200cm prospect Jett Elek joined the Geelong Falcons program at the back-end of last season after his local club Lara recommended the Falcons come down and have a look at him. He has continued to impress since that audition and is one who could bob up after not being part of the talent pathway throughout his junior years.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Dan Lowther was interviewed by several clubs ahead of the national draft and returns as an over-age player.
Kobe George, a 188cm forward, made his debut for Geelong’s VFL team over the weekend, while Cooper Leach shapes as one of one of the Falcons more intriguing prospects.
A similar case to Elek, Leach was parachuted into the program late last pre-season after shining as a ruckman for Grovedale’s senior side, before suffering an ACL rupture on the eve of the season.
GIPPSLAND POWER
TOP PROSPECTS
Willem Duursma is the final Duursma sibling off the production line – brother of Xavier (Essendon) and Zane (North Melbourne) and sister of Yasmin (Carlton) – and he might just be the most talented of the lot.
The U16 Vic Country MVP will spend more time in the midfield this year and is a great size at 191cm, an elite kick and has great lateral movement.
The Power had another five players in the Vic Country summer hub.
Adelaide father-son Mitch Stevens, son of Mark, is a defender-wingman, Jobe Scapin has speed, a pinpoint kick and can play at either end, while small utility Zach O’Keefe has great game sense and has been likened to Melbourne distributor Jake Bowey.
Bottom-ager talls Wil Malady and Xavier Ladbrook are players to watch ahead of the 2026 draft, with Malady kicking the title-winning behind for Vic Country at last year’s U16 championships.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
Mark Stevens played 101 games for Adelaide after 21 games for North Melbourne, which means Mitch is only eligible as a father-son with the Crows. Changkuoth and Tew Jiath both burst onto the scene in their top-age year and Hawthorn will be keeping tabs on their younger brother Goy, who is also tied to the Hawks’ NGA.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Brodie Atkins had some big games as an inside midfielder last year and the tackling machine offers plenty defensively.
Jonah Walker is a combative key forward with strong hands is expected to have some exciting moments across the year, and same goes for 180cm defender-wingman Harry Tatterson with his game-breaking speed.
Small forward Tom Matthews provides great energy and defensive pressure and is expected to push into the midfield this season.
GWV REBELS
TOP PROSPECTS
The Rebels only have two players in the initial Vic Country squad this year in Archie Taylor and Harley Hicks.
Hicks was used as a small forward last year but will be given opportunities in a midfield and forward role in the early part of this season.
Archie has previously played as a defender but will also be trialled in a new role through the midfield in the early rounds, where the Rebels hope that he will be able to better show off his line-breaking speed.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Defender Wil Rantall is the younger brother of Jay Rantall, who was selected at pick 40 in the 2019 national draft and spent two years on Collingwood’s list.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
The Rebels have three returning 19-year-olds who are all mid-season draft eligible in Wil Rantall, Flynn Penry and Floyd Burmeister.
Rantall is a tall defender who missed a chunk of last year with a shoulder injury, while Penry is a developing ruckman who has done a pre-season with VFL club Port Melbourne and Burmeister is an incredibly athletic tall who had AFL interest in the back half of last year.
MURRAY BUSHRANGERS
TOP PROSPECTS
Big-bodied midfielder Riley Onley and key forward Liam Hetherton are both members of the AFL Academy squad and lead the Bushrangers’ draft hopes.
Onley is boarding at Scotch College in Melbourne but is expected to still play a few games for the Bushrangers and is described as a typical “modern-day midfielder” who has size as well as good speed and endurance.
Hetherton is a mobile tall with strong marking ability.
Hailing from North Albury, he is set to feature for the Allies at the under-18 national championships.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
Harry Dean is a Carlton father-son prospect this year, with the Blues’ father-son Academy having been named after his father – two-time premiership player Peter Dean.
Harry only played 10 minutes of Coates Talent League football as a bottom-age player before breaking his arm last year, but has continued to show improvement over the off-season and is part of the Vic Country squad this year.
Tanner Armstrong is also part of the Vic Country squad but is a bottom-age prospect who will be draft eligible in 2026.
An All-Australian at under-16 level last year, Armstrong is part of Richmond’s NGA program.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Ryan Ash is the younger brother of GWS defender Lachie Ash and is a similar type of player.
Ryder Stevens is the son of former Port Adelaide and North Melbourne wingman Michael Stevens but is not father-son eligible for either club given he only played 61 AFL games across the two clubs.
Riley Onley is a cousin of Richmond coach Adem Yze.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Jack Marks received some attention after breaking the all-time agility record during pre-season testing in March.
Marks recorded a blistering time of 7.652 seconds in the agility test and is a nimble midfielder who has impressed with his ability to take the footy from inside to outside by stepping out of traffic.
Rebounding halfback Toby Hunt is another one to watch and is both quick and good overhead.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
The Bushrangers have three 19-year-olds who are all mid-season draft eligible in Zac Harding, Ben Kennedy and Coen Ainsworth.
Harding (Carlton) and Kennedy (Williamstown) have both done full VFL pre-seasons, while Ainsworth is progressing well but missed pre-season testing with an ankle issue.
NORTHERN KNIGHTS
TOP PROSPECTS
Knights co-captain Tyson Gresham is the only top-age player from the Knights who has been included in the Vic Metro squad this year.
The forward-midfielder is part of Carlton’s NGA program and has been likened to his older brother, Essendon’s Jade Gresham.
Bottom-age players Tate Hodgson and Harry Van Hattum are also in the Vic Metro squad, but Hodgson is not expected to play this season after being diagnosed with stress fractures in his back.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
Tyson Gresham is an NGA prospect for Carlton and spent time training with the Blues over pre-season.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
The Knights’ other co-captain – Sebastian Murphy – is the younger brother of Adelaide forward Lachie Murphy.
Sam Gayfer is the nephew of former Collingwood defender and 1990 premiership player Mick Gayfer.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
There’s a watch on a few Knights players entering the year, including midfielder-forward Seb Murphy, halfback Roman Moxon, forward Mitchell Moate and midfielder James Allison.
Moate missed most of his bottom-age campaign with an ACL but is expected to return in the early part of the season.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
The Knights have four returning 19-year-olds, headlined by athletic tall Gabriel Stumpf.
A key forward, Stumpf has some AFL interest last year and recorded the fifth-best 20m sprint of all time at the national draft combine last October.
Liam Farrar featured as a half-forward last year but will be trialled in a new role on the wing this season, while Tommy Vrkic and Hugh White have also returned for another year.
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS
TOP PROSPECTS
The Chargers have four players in the Vic Metro squad, headlined by AFL Academy member Louis Emmett.
A 199cm ruckman or key forward, Emmett is an incredibly athletic tall who is also a strong mark overhead and a nice left-foot kick.
Midfielder Sam Allan, defender or midfielder Sam Grlj and midfielder-forward Jack Ison are also part of the Vic Metro squad.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
Alijah Davey is a father-son prospect for Essendon as the youngest son of Alwyn and the brother of twins Alwyn Jnr and Jayden, who were drafted by the Bombers in 2022.
Jack Graham is a father-son option for Geelong as the son of former Cats captain Ben.
Jack Ison is part of Carlton’s NGA program, as is Mingara Clark, while key forward Zac McCarthy is linked to Collingwood as an NGA player.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Hunter Holmes is the younger brother of Geelong young gun Max.
Holmes was not on a Coates League list last year but impressed for Melbourne Grammar in the APS competition.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Zac McCarthy has had a big summer and featured in a recent VFL intraclub for Collingwood.
Midfielder Aaron Sharkie has also had a big pre-season and has strong endurance and agility.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Key defender Lucas Tovey has returned to the Chargers as a 19-year-old, as has midfielder Douglas Kerr who is coming back from an ACL injury.
Jez Rigoni – who was part of the Murray Bushrangers program last year – has relocated to Melbourne and has linked up with Oakleigh as well as VFL club Sandringham.
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
TOP PROSPECTS
Key forward Archie Ludowyke looks to be the Dragons’ leading prospect this year, with the left-footer being spectacular overhead and possessing a nice natural leap and clean hands.
He missed the club’s Coates Talent League grand final with a corkie last September, but returned to feature in the under-17 Futures game the following week.
Midfielder-forward and vice-captain Jack Dalton is another leading contender who is also part of the Vic Metro squad, while there are also high hopes for captain and powerful inside midfielder Xavier Bamert.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
Another father-son prospect is coming through Sandringham this year in Archer Grant.
The midfielder or half-forward is eligible to join North Melbourne at year’s end as the son of 1999 premiership player and Norm Smith Medal winner Shannon Grant.
There are also a stack of St Kilda NGA prospects on the Dragons’ list, headlined by Vic Metro member Kye Fincher.
Fellow top-age players James Mikhael, Rio Barry and Keanu Nadji are also linked to the Saints, along with bottom-age prospects Rowan Mackenzie and Quentin Hofmann.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Bottom-age halfback Rowan Mackenzie is the younger brother of Hawthorn midfielder Cam Mackenzie, who was a No. 7 draft pick from the Dragons in 2022.
Fellow halfback Fletch Johnston is the younger brother of West Coast defender Harvey Johnston, who was drafted to the Eagles in 2023.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Sacha Levine is one to watch this year.
After playing six games on a wing and across halfback in his bottom-age year, Levine will have his chance to shine as an inside midfielder this season after a strong summer.
Creative small forward Ricky Theodoropoulos is also expected to get some attention given he can stand out during matches.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
The Dragons have four returning 19-year-olds, headlined by Jhett Haeata who was in the mix to be drafted late last year and recently made his VFL debut for Richmond.
Sam Buck – who missed much of last year with a shoulder injury – is also mid-season draft eligible, as are half-forward Charlie Rozenes and ruckman Julian Galbally.
TASMANIA DEVILS
TOP PROSPECTS
A developing 199cm tall, Jasper Hay is a member of the AFL Academy and is tipped to play in a variety of roles this year.
Hay and versatile small Lucas Wootton took part in the U17 Futures game, with Wootton’s decision making and work in traffic standing out.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
The Devils have several NGA prospects eligible to join North Melbourne in the 2025 draft, including Tayne Thomas – the brother of sacked ex-Roo Tarryn.
Thomas is a lively small forward with speed to burn. Archie Devine and Jess Bula are also tied to the Roos.
OTHER FAMILIAR NAMES
Toby Callow is the brother of former Hawthorn forward Jackson. The 188cm prospect has an impressive athletic profile, strong hands and can play as a third tall at either end.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
North Hobart small forward Jack Miller’s bottom-age year was hampered by a stress fracture at the beginning of the season, but his innate goal sense and endurance could see him rise in estimations.
Avery Thomas can be used as a marking target at either end, while Rylee McHenry is a 179cm inside midfielder with versatility.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Nathaniel Sulzberger was highly-touted entering the 2024 season for the Sandringham Dragons, but was one of the unlucky prospects left on the board.
With less mouths to feed at the Devils, the powerful 187cm midfielder will be eager to impress ahead of the mid-season intake after returning to the Apple Isle.
Oliver Dean, a 202cm ruck, was part of the AFL Academy last year and is another overlooked Tasmanian returning to the Devils as a 19-year-old.
Fellow Allies representative Oliver Depaoli-Kubank and halfback Max Roney, who suffered an injury blow before the national champs last season, will also get another opportunity as over-agers.
WESTERN JETS
TOP PROSPECTS
Explosive midfielder-half back Tom Burton earnt a spot in the AFL Academy after an eye-catching performance in the U17 Futures match on the MCG.
Burton will play a full season at the Jets after graduating from Caulfield Grammar, but another Tom – Tom McGuane – will dominate the headlines and be watched closely by Collingwood fans across the season.
McGuane, the son of Collingwood best and fairest and News Corp football analyst Mick, is an accumulating and clever midfielder who racked up some big disposal tallies for the Jets in 2024.
He averaged 26 disposals and 18 uncontested possessions for the Jets last season and played six senior games at Keilor, where his dad is senior coach.
Defender Finn Davis joined McGuane and Burton in the Vic Metro summer hub. The Williamstown CYMS product is a noted interceptor and can play taller than his 179cm stature suggests.
NGA & FATHER-SONS
McGuane isn’t the only father-son prospects at the Jets – but there is a catch. Kobe Williams, the son of former Hawthorn and Essendon sharpshooter Mark, is tied to Hawthorn but also the Western Bulldogs’ NGA program. Williams has had a strong pre-season and both the Hawks and Dogs will follow his progress with interest.
POTENTIAL SURPRISE PACKETS
Davis’ CYMS teammate Oskar Ainsworth has had a big pre-season and has arguably as much potential as any player on the Jets list. Ainsworth has athleticism and strength at 186cm and played mostly as a flanker last year, but will likely spend more time in the midfield in his draft year. Noah McMenamin caught the eye in the Jets’ practice game and is another to keep an eye on.
MID-SEASON DRAFT WATCH
Ayden McCarroll enters the Talent League season as the tallest player in the competition, measuring a whopping 209.4 centimetres. Relatively new to the talent pathway, the raw big man played four games last year at the end of last season and booted four goals in his first match for the Jets.
Originally published as Ultimate Coates Talent League guide: Every list, top draft prospects, father-sons, academy guns to watch in 2025
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