The Coates Talent League kicks off at the weekend and two clubs stand out at this early stage of proceedings. The Sandringham Dragons are aiming for a third consecutive premiership and appear to have great all round strength and depth with three Australian Academy Squad members in father/son prospect Levi Ashcroft (brother of Will and also skilful midfielder, Brisbane Academy member Sam Marshall and Luke Trainor. The Dragons also have good numbers in the Vic Metro squad. They will be challenged strongly by the Oakleigh Chargers who boast the early favourite to go #1 in the National Draft in midfielder Finn O'Sullivan along with the highly rated Jagga Smith, Tom Gross and Charlie Richardson, the grandson of Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett. Melbourne father/son prospect Noah Yze is also in their squad.

There are a few Melbourne Next Generation Academy players in the mix as well. Ricky Mentha, who already has his own page on Demonland, is with the Gippsland Power. Another three Demon NGA’s are at the Dandenong Stingrays. Riak Andrew (192cm) spent time with Casey VFL over the off-season and made their development list, returns to the Stingrays as a 19-year-old and shares his brother's athleticism. Also at the Stingrays is indigenous prospect Coren Giliam, a crafty small forward who can impact up the ground while Tarion Ah-Mu, 198cm bottom aged tall from Berwick, is also tied to the Demons' NGA.

8 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The Coates Talent League kicks off at the weekend and two clubs stand out at this early stage of proceedings. The Sandringham Dragons are aiming for a third consecutive premiership and appear to have great all round strength and depth with three Australian Academy Squad members in father/son prospect Levi Ashcroft (brother of Will and also skilful midfielder, Brisbane Academy member Sam Marshall and Luke Trainor. The Dragons also have good numbers in the Vic Metro squad. They will be challenged strongly by the Oakleigh Chargers who boast the early favourite to go #1 in the National Draft in midfielder Finn O'Sullivan along with the highly rated Jagga Smith, Tom Gross and Charlie Richardson, the grandson of Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett. Melbourne father/son prospect Noah Yze is also in their squad.

There are a few Melbourne Next Generation Academy players in the mix as well. Ricky Mentha, who already has his own page on Demonland, is with the Gippsland Power. Another three Demon NGA’s are at the Dandenong Stingrays. Riak Andrew (192cm) spent time with Casey VFL over the off-season and made their development list, returns to the Stingrays as a 19-year-old and shares his brother's athleticism. Also at the Stingrays is indigenous prospect Coren Giliam, a crafty small forward who can impact up the ground while Tarion Ah-Mu, 198cm bottom aged tall from Berwick, is also tied to the Demons' NGA.

Bottom aged and 198cm.

Exciting.

how good are the academy kids we have with us?

what's the odds on those nga kids sliding past pick 40 and into our clutches?

Sorry if it's a stupid question, but how are two Brisbane academy members playing for Sandringham? How is that nurturing "local" talent and their pathways?

8 hours ago, Left Foot Snap said:

Sorry if it's a stupid question, but how are two Brisbane academy members playing for Sandringham? How is that nurturing "local" talent and their pathways?

Ashcroft is a father/son prospect and is here by virtue of the fact that the family moved here from Brisbane a few years ago. Marshall is a Queenslander who came to Melbourne to study at Melbourne Grammar but he remains a Lions Academy member and therefore tied to that club. I agree however, that it’s time to overhaul the NGA rules which provide very little incentive for southern clubs to nurture footballers if there’s open slather for those good enough to be picked in the first 40 in the national draft.

That said, watch out for one such player on the MFC list, Andy Moniz-Wakefield, to make his debut with Melbourne in the very near future.

 

Thanks Jack, wasn't questioning Ashcroft just the academy members; which I think I mis read as being Trainor as well as Marshall. One can be an outlier but if it was 2 then I would think the system was beginning to be played by them by shifting talent to stronger development areas, which defeats the academy purpose of growing the local pathways.

Agree, the advantages are just too huge and need to be rebalanced. (Still annoyed the Gold Coast were gifted Darwin as a zone)

I also hold hope for AMW. Was interesting being trialled off half back in the last practice match. 

Noah Yze looked great at training when i attended.

The first round of the Coates Talent League was played at the weekend with the Oakleigh Chargers and Eastern Ranges playing out the marquee game in terms of high end draft talent.

Snapshot: 2024 Coates Talent League – Round 1

Oakleigh take on the Sandringham Dragons in another big game on Saturday afternoon at RSEA Park.

On 19/03/2024 at 22:59, Timothy Reddan-A'Blew said:

Bottom aged and 198cm.

Exciting.

This, from Rookie Draft Central

Tairon Ah-Mu

Ruck/Forward | 198cm | 06/06/2007
Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
Ah-Mu started the game in strong form, booting the game’s first two goals with towering marks inside 50. Whether holding his ground under a high ball, owning front position, or going back with the flight, the bottom-ager proved difficult to handle aerially. That translated to his ruck craft, pinch-hitting to win a team-high 12 hitouts.

This is my oldest sons year and he plays SMJFL; played against Ashcroft and Trainor in final in 2023. Guns.

Keep an eye on Murphy Reid at Dragons; love to get him.

Coming up - the Sandringham Dragons vs Oakleigh Chargers game should be a ripper. Match of the round.

In the Gippsland Power vs Dandenong Stingrays game the main event will be National Academy stars Xavier Lindsay and Demon NGA, Ricky Mentha. The former is described by central.rookieme.com as “a polished left-footed midfielder” while the latter “is a small forward with match-winning capabilities.”

The Dandenong Stingrays’ 198 bottom aged Melbourne NGA prospect, Tarion Ah-Mu had another good day kicking three goals in a 14 disposal, 5 marks game. He also had 9 hit outs in the team’s loss to the Gippsland Power. Their other Demon NGA member Corey Giliam kicked two goals in an otherwise quiet performance. For the winners, Ricky Mentha had a quiet day, failing to bother the scorers and picking up 11 touches.

The Sandringham Dragons vs Oakleigh Chargers match up at RSEA Park yesterday turned out to be a fizzer with the Dragons winning 15.13.103 to 7.9.51. Best for the winners were Hotton, Ashcroft and Marshall while Jagga Smith was good for Oakleigh. Noah Yze was quiet.

This Jagga Smith bloke plays well every week! Averaged 30 as an underager last season. 

On 29/03/2024 at 22:46, Whispering_Jack said:

The Dandenong Stingrays’ 198 bottom aged Melbourne NGA prospect, Tarion Ah-Mu had another good day kicking three goals in a 14 disposal, 5 marks game. He also had 9 hit outs in the team’s loss to the Gippsland Power. Their other Demon NGA member Corey Giliam kicked two goals in an otherwise quiet performance. For the winners, Ricky Mentha had a quiet day, failing to bother the scorers and picking up 11 touches.

Ah-Mu is a talent but likely will go in the top 40 or indeed top 20 in 2025 draft. He has the talent.  Another lost NGA opportunity for the Dees most likely. 

5 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

The Sandringham Dragons vs Oakleigh Chargers match up at RSEA Park yesterday turned out to be a fizzer with the Dragons winning 15.13.103 to 7.9.51. Best for the winners were Hotton, Ashcroft and Marshall while Jagga Smith was good for Oakleigh. Noah Yze was quiet.

So many stars at the Dragons again. 6-7 players are certainly to be drafted this year. Can see them winning the comp again this year.  Stacked midfield stars.  One to watch was Taj Hotton who has developed and one for JT to add to the list.  Got footy smarts and added more running power to push into the midfield. 

Another big win to the Sandringham Dragons, this time over the Eastern Ranges in the rematch of last year’s Grand Final. 

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 3.1 8.5 10.11 12.14 (86)

EASTERN RANGES 3.1 4.3 7.4 10.7 (67)

Goals: Sandringham Dragons: A Ludowyke 2 J Dolan 2 H Armstrong 2 B McKenzie M Reid L Kennedy L Ashcroft B Seers T Hotton. 

Eastern Ranges: C Moraes 3 C Anderson 2 R Maclean 2 J Galstians J Smillie J Hider

Best: Sandringham Dragons: H Oliver S Linder N Sulzberger L Ashcroft L Kennedy C Rozenes.

Eastern Ranges: C Anderson C Moraes L Dovaston J Baldwin J Smillie I Smit

CALDER CANNONS 3.3 4.3 7.6 12.9 (81)

NTHN KNIGHTS 1.3 3.3 6.7 7.9 (51)

Goals: Calder Cannons: D lacovone 2 P Said 2 1 Kako 2 H Ryan 2 R Leedham T Legudi. 
Northern Knights: G Stumpf 2 S Murphy T Sims W Dean 

Best: Calder Cannons: T Barnett D Hollow P Said D lacovone I Kako R Eyre. 

Northern Knights: Details N/A.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 3.2 8.4 11.5 15.7 (97) 

TASSIE DEVILS 2.2 4.7 9.9 13.10 (88)

Goals: Oakleigh Chargers: K Emery 3 C Richardson 2 K Askew 2 N Yze 2 D 
Kerr B Fergusson N Betts Q McKay T Gross. 

Tassie Devils: L Douglas 3 G Payne 3 L Ling 2 L Wootton O Depaoli-Kubank H Brereton D Cooney M Mapley

Best: Oakleigh Chargers: J Smith L Quaynor Q McKay P Retschko N Yze K Emery. 

Tassie Devils: L Douglas D Pitt M Roney M Brereton C Ling H Elmer

It’s good to see Noah Yze among the goals and named in the best players for Oakleigh!

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2024/04/09/2024-coates-talent-league-round-3-totw/?fbclid=IwAR0Gl030lxs6Y6T0edYme-_NZzBWvt6fqUq33dX7_zd1jdrsfH4txttC6Yk

https://central.rookieme.com/afl/2024/04/08/2024-coates-talent-league-round-3-potw/

 

Edited April 9, 20241 yr by Demon Dynasty

On 27/03/2024 at 13:42, Whispering_Jack said:

This, from Rookie Draft Central

Tairon Ah-Mu

Ruck/Forward | 198cm | 06/06/2007
Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals
Ah-Mu started the game in strong form, booting the game’s first two goals with towering marks inside 50. Whether holding his ground under a high ball, owning front position, or going back with the flight, the bottom-ager proved difficult to handle aerially. That translated to his ruck craft, pinch-hitting to win a team-high 12 hitouts.

Our bottom age NGA prospect for 2025 Tairon Ah-Mu is kicking on playing APS footy for Haileybury. This is from an online Herald Sun article on the APS standouts from last week:-

“Ah-Mu, a Year 11 student, was among Haileybury College's best performers in its win over Caulfield Grammar. Already standing over 200cm, there's still plenty of room for the ruck-key forward to develop.”

With the APS season under way, some of the stars of the Coates League will be missing over a number of rounds because they have to give priority to their schools. This gives others the opportunity to make their names at this level.

The way things are going, Ah-Mu is a potential “Mac Andrew” so here’s hoping that the promised review of the NGA rules allows the non Northern states some scope in nominating for players they nurtured over the years through the system.

20 hours ago, Whispering_Jack said:

Our bottom age NGA prospect for 2025 Tairon Ah-Mu is kicking on playing APS footy for Haileybury. This is from an online Herald Sun article on the APS standouts from last week:-

“Ah-Mu, a Year 11 student, was among Haileybury College's best performers in its win over Caulfield Grammar. Already standing over 200cm, there's still plenty of room for the ruck-key forward to develop.”

With the APS season under way, some of the stars of the Coates League will be missing over a number of rounds because they have to give priority to their schools. This gives others the opportunity to make their names at this level.

The way things are going, Ah-Mu is a potential “Mac Andrew” so here’s hoping that the promised review of the NGA rules allows the non Northern states some scope in nominating for players they nurtured over the years through the system.

Agree. Hes a big talent.  Ah-mu is already noted as a top 25 prospect in the 2025 cohort.  Another likely miss for the Dees NGA program. 

1 hour ago, spirit of norm smith said:

Agree. Hes a big talent.  Ah-mu is already noted as a top 25 prospect in the 2025 cohort.  Another likely miss for the Dees NGA program. 

NGA doesn't work for Vic clubs, AFL make it too hard.

@Whispering_Jack or someone else, can someone tell me why Noah Yze is not lacing up for the chargers? I haven’t seen him on the stats sheets since is couple of goals

On 31/03/2024 at 14:45, spirit of norm smith said:

Ah-Mu is a talent but likely will go in the top 40 or indeed top 20 in 2025 draft. He has the talent.  Another lost NGA opportunity for the Dees most likely. 

Lucky for the AFL changed the rules. Another season at Coates and he may well go top 20 or 30.

The AFL owes us. With White in 2025 as well i expect we will go hard for mids this draft.

The finals are approaching.

2024 Coates Talent League: Round 18 TOTW

Early crow but how good is Cooper Duff-Tytler.  Very much in the mode of Luke Jackson. Duff-Tytler is a fantastic young basketballer who happens to also be a star ruckman in AFL. 200cms.  Weight unknown.  Competes in ruck and works as a ruck rover all over the field.  Dees might just have to keep the future 1st round draft pick for 2025 for him.