The Coates Talent League 2026 is under way with the second round being played tomorrow.

Here are the Scouting Notes: 2026 Talent League - Round 1

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Scouting Notes: 2026 Talent League - Round 1

The 2026 Talent League season got underway over the weekend, as a bunch of top prospects showed out across the six games.

and the 2026 Talent League: Round 1 Team of the Week/

The top performers for this week are Arki Butler (Sandringham Dragons) and Wil Malady (Gippsland Power). We’re going to see a lot more of these lads in the coming weeks, months and years.

Talent League Player Focus: Wil Malady (Gippsland Power)

the two top kids are already accounted for and headed to the respective father's clubs - cody walker to the baggers and stuart cochrane's son, dougie, by some very convenient and spurious indigenous academy shenanigans, to the pear

it'll be interesting to see whoever finishes last this year - peptides? - has the good sense to call out their names and make their competitors pay up via their accumated draft picks and points

I believe it was dubbed to be a good drasft for talls Van Huttum, Miller, Armstrong althrough tied were the pick of the bunch, we will likely be in this market, but also in the midfield best available market too.

Gus Kennedy. Captain this year of the Dandenong Stingrays. Best on ground v Geelong last week. Kennedy is a classic ball running mid who can play inside or outside. Reminds me a little of Angus Brayshaw as a junior. He’d be perfect into our young midfield alongside Windsor, Langford & Kozzzzy.

Harry Van Hattum.

Aussie Rules Rookie Me Central

Scouting Notes: 2026 Talent League - Round 2

Round 2 of the Talent League saw prospects produce breakout games, and stand up in the absence of key personnel.

2026 Talent League: Round 2 Team of the Week

A few players of note there starting with grandfather/son Jett Flower (not tied to the MFC) and some Melbourne NGA prospects who may or may not be eligible for the Demons depending on how the rule changes pan out.

Managed to catch some minutes of the Stingrays v Dragons game today.

Corey Ah-my. #32-Stingrays. Dees NGA (??) Big lad for 16yo. He’s a good mark and is physically strong. Skills need work but potential definitely there.

Marcus Prasad #4 - Stingrays. Dees NGA. Smart goal sneak. Loves to get the crumbs and is dangerous around goal. Only question mark of course is his size but has talent no doubt.

Mitch Toner #6 Stingrays. Perhaps the most talented kid on the Stingers list. Half forward with pace, skill, loves a tackle and footy aggro. Just doesn’t get the footy enough but when he does, you see the talent. More time in the midfield might uncover him as a young gun.

Just now, spirit of norm smith said:

Managed to catch some minutes of the Stingrays v Dragons game today.

Corey Ah-my. #32-Stingrays. Dees NGA (??) Big lad for 16yo. He’s a good mark and is physically strong. Skills need work but potential definitely there.

Marcus Prasad #4 - Stingrays. Dees NGA. Smart goal sneak. Loves to get the crumbs and is dangerous around goal. Only question mark of course is his size but has talent no doubt.

you could almost swaps the (??) on those two players

no one is any the wiser

Stingrays v Dragons yesterday

Henry Thomas #20 Dragons. I was very impressed with this youngster. Played CHB and was strong at the footy, and took some excellent intercept marks. Was clean with the footy, used it to hit targets. One to watch as the year goes.

Albert MacGowan. #35 Dragons. Another young player who shone out through midfield. He’s run and link up work was good to see. Kept getting at the contest and winning the footy. Good pace too to burst away from the clearance. Dragons keep producing draftable talent and he’s another to pencil on to the list.

Best players for the Stingrays were:

Wil Antrobus, Corey Ah-Mu, Dylan Linden, Cooper White, Marcus Prasad, Orlando Clark

Prasad kicked 2 goals, Ah-Mu 1.

Hopefully, the club will clear up the issue of both players eligibility to be drafted for Melbourne as NGA players.

Jett Flower who is not tied to the Demons was again named in the Eastern Ranges best players.

@Whispering_Jack young Will Antrobus from the Stingrays was impressive too. Midfielder with excellent skills and run. Almost got them over the line. He’s from Edithvale footy club, of course the same club as the Healy brothers.

Scouting Notes: 2026 Talent League - Round 3 Fields

Corey Ah-Mu sounds exciting - a 196cm midfield beast.

Jeez he’s already a big lad if he keeps growing he might be more a ruck or key forward.

Hopefully we finally get our lick of the NGA ice cream and can pick him up next year.

Even with the new rules having access to an elite talent the year Tassie comes in would be awesome even if it changes what we can do this off season.

49 minutes ago, Colm said:

Jeez he’s already a big lad if he keeps growing he might be more a ruck or key forward.

Hopefully we finally get our lick of the NGA ice cream and can pick him up next year.

Even with the new rules having access to an elite talent the year Tassie comes in would be awesome even if it changes what we can do this off season.

if he's any good he's going to cost us to select him, and that's even if he's eligible to be in our nga

22 minutes ago, whatwhat say what said:

if he's any good he's going to cost us to select him, and that's even if he's eligible to be in our nga

Yes he will cost us but if we can play finals and still get access to an elite talent then it’s a win.

We don’t mind paying overs in draft trades to move up the order if there talent we like.

There’s no better recruitment team to navigate the new rules and Tassie coming in than ours.

On 09/04/2026 at 07:46, Whispering_Jack said:

Scouting Notes: 2026 Talent League - Round 3 Fields

Corey Ah-Mu sounds exciting - a 196cm midfield beast.

I watched quite a bit of this game. Ah-mu is not a big bodied mid like a Cripps or Bont. He played a key forward then ruck role for most of what I saw. He is a good mark. Ok kick without being too effective. Was smart in the way he used his size to outbody opponents. Could be a player but not imv as an AFL mid. Likely he’s a CHF type in my opinion.