The future stars of AFL and AFLW are set to be on display in the Coates Talent League this season and you can watch every game live.
Thanks to a partnership between AFL and News Corp, one boys and one girls game will be live streamed on KommunityTV each week. All remaining games will be live streamed on the Coates Talent League app, thanks to Telstra.
The action on KommunityTV is set to kick off on Saturday, March 18 in the girls competition when Geelong Falcons play host to the Greater Western Victoria Rebels at Deakin University.
AFL Head of Talent Pathways Grant Williams said: “The Coates Talent League is an integral part of the Australian football pathway system and has produced more than 1500 AFL and more than 130 AFLW players over the past three decades.
“We are pleased to continue our streaming partnership with News Corp Australia to showcase one game from each of the Coates Talent League Boys and Girls competitions every round, via the KommunityTV platform, which is a fantastic result for players, families, fans and AFL and AFLW recruiters.
“On behalf of the Coates Talent League programs and everyone involved, we thank News Corp for their continued support and for helping to take the competition to broader audiences.”
News Sport Network managing director Michael Wilkins said the Coates Talent League had a proven record as a breeding ground for the game’s elite levels.
“This league is the premier pathway for young Aussie rules stars to make it to the top of the AFL and AFLW,” he said.
“The talent level and competition between these teams is of the highest level, which makes it must-watch viewing.
“KommunityTV is excited to partner with the AFL for a second-straight season to bring an exclusive match of the round to our readers, wherever they are in the country.
“We will cross plenty of borders during this season, with a focus on interstate clubs Sydney Swans, GWS Giants and Northern Territory Thunder in the early rounds of the competition.”
Formerly the NAB League, the Coates Talent League is Australia’s premier underage football pathway competition for boys and girls in the eastern states with teams comprised mostly of under 18 players.
The Coates Talent League features 12 boys and girls programs from Victoria and one from Tasmania for the full season, while academy programs from New South Wales (GWS GIANTS and Sydney Swans), Queensland (Gold Coast SUNS and Brisbane Lions) and Northern Territory (NT Academy) compete in a selection of games mostly early in the season.
Teams from Victoria and Tasmania will each play 13 matches during the home-and-away season, while the five academy programs from New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory will feature in up to five matches.
Continue below to see the matches that will be played this weekend in Round 1 of the 2023 Coates Talent League Girls season. The 2023 Coates Talent League Boys season will begin on March 25.
Saturday, March 18
Tasmania Devils vs. GWS Giants Academy - University of Tasmania Stadium, 10:00am
Dandenong Stingrays vs. Sydney Swans Academy - Bluescope Recreation Reserve Hastings, 12:00pm
Geelong Falcons vs. GWV Rebels - Deakin University Waurn Ponds, 12:30pm
Sunday, March 19
Murray Bushrangers vs. Bendigo Pioneers - Rumbalara Recreation Reserve, 12:00pm
