The teams for the 2024 Coates Talent League Boys Grand Final between the Sandringham Dragons and GWV Rebels
Grand Final: Sandringham Dragons and GWV Rebels
Saturday, September 21
1:15pm AEST
IKON Park
The Sandringham Dragons will be chasing a third-consecutive premiership after winning last year’s Grand Final against the Eastern Ranges by 43 points and downing the Dandenong Stingrays by the identical margin in 2022.
The Northern Knights hold the record for the most consecutive premierships with four, which they achieved between 1993 to 1996.
A win to Sandringham on Saturday would give them a record-equalling sixth Coates Talent League Boys premiership, joining the Calder Cannons.
The Dragons finished the 2024 home and away season in fourth place on the ladder with a 10-5 record. They advanced to the Grand Final with big wins over the Western Jets in Wildcard Round, Calder Cannons in the quarter final and Dandenong Stingrays in the preliminary final.
GWV Rebels will be competing in just their second Coates Talent League Boys Grand Final and first since 1997, when a six-goal haul to Adam Goodes saw them defeat the Dandenong Stingrays by 35 points when competing as the North Ballarat Rebels.
The Rebels have made a meteoric rise to reach the 2024 premiership decider after an 11th-place finish on the ladder with five wins and 10 losses in the home and away season.
They defeated the Tasmania Devils by two points in Wildcard Round before upsetting first-placed Geelong Falcons by 13 points in the quarter final.
The Rebels advanced to the premiership decider with a thrilling four-point win over the Oakleigh Chargers at RSEA Park in the preliminary final, coming from 22 points behind late in the third term.
The Coates Talent League Girls Grand Final between Oakleigh Chargers and Eastern Range will also be played at IKON Park on Saturday 21 September, commencing at 10:45am.
ENTRY: Entry to the Coates Talent League Grand Finals is free. Patrons are advised to enter IKON Park via Gate 6.
BROADCAST: The 2024 Coates Talent League Grand Finals will be streamed live and free at AFL.com.au and the Coates Talent League App.
TEAMS
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
B: Owen Bater (8), Adrian Cole [vc] (20), Lennox Hofmann (15)
HB: Xavier Bamert (27), Harrison Oliver [dvc] (6), Mitchell Kirkwood-Scott (33)
C: Zach Travers (46), Murphy Reid (22), Aaron Taylor (52)
HF: Benjamin Seers (42), Nathaniel Sulzberger (11), Jack Surkitt (75)
F: Lachlan Voss (47), Harry Armstrong (12), Bailey McKenzie (31)
FOLL: Brodie Findlay [c] (24), Levi Ashcroft [c] (3), Samuel Marshall (36)
INT: Oliver Green (1), Jack Dalton (2), Luke Kennedy [dvc] (45), Sam Linder [vc] (59), Sam Buck (61)
EMG: Jack Cheep (44), Jess Mildenhall (70), Arki Butler (77)
GWV REBELS
B: Archie Taylor (1), Mitchell Lloyd (19), Nedd Bennett (41)
HB: Harry Charleson (2), Wil Rantall (5), Benjamin McGlade (18)
C: Fraser Molan (30), Rhys Unwin (3), Samuel Janetzki (34)
HF: Harry Lawson (10), Harley Hicks (16), Talor Byrne (31)
F: Jonty Faull (8), Ollie Hannaford (7), Floyd Burmeister (20)
FOLL: Flynn Penry (23), Jack Ough (6), Reggie Mast (21)
INT: Archie Caldow (12), Samuel McDonald (17), Jett Grayland (22), Hugh Toner (25), Dean Harten (40)
EMG: Sinclair Burmeister (27), Cooper Glenwright-McGuane (33), Brodie Phillips (36), Chad Finck (26), Nic Robinson (39)
PLAYER PROFILES
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
1. Oliver Green: Quick high half forward who has played senior football for Parkdale this year. Kicked two goals in the preliminary final against Dandenong. Community club: Parkdale Vultures
2. Jack Dalton: Bottom-age hard-running wingman who was Vic Metro’s MVP in their 2023 AFL National Development Championships U16 team. Uses his elite running power to work from contest to contest to support the ball. Community club: Camberwell
3. Levi Ashcroft: Co-captain who has elite level ball-winning and creativity. Played in the 2022 premiership as a 15-year-old and the 2023 premiership as a 16-year-old, as well as being a vice-captain of the 2024 Vic Metro Championships-winning team. Community club: Old Brighton Grammarians
6. Harrison Oliver: Hard-running high half back with a beautiful left foot kick. Has played a variety of roles between Dragons and school football but settled as a half back at both Dragons and Vic Metro this year. Community club: St Bedes/Mentone
8. Owen Bater: Third tall defender who debuted in 2022 as a 16-year-old before missing most of 2023 with injury. Reads the play and uses his body well to defend both tall and small opponents. Community club: St Bedes/Mentone
11. Nathaniel Sulzberger: From North Hobart but boarding at school in Melbourne. Strongly built and powerful inside midfielder that was best on ground in the Wildcard game against Western with 29 disposals and three goals. Community club: North Hobart
12. Harry Armstrong: Strong marking key forward who kicked five goals for Vic Metro in the deciding game of the National Championships against Vic Country. Great set shot at goal and has speed to follow up at ground level for his size. Community club: Ormond
15. Lenny Hofmann: Third tall defender with elite speed and a strong intercept mark. Is a member of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy and played for Vic Metro in the National Championships. Community club: Old Brighton Grammarians
20. Adrian Cole: Key defender with exceptional athleticism for his size. Is a member of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy and has shown enormous growth in his game in the last 18 months. Defends well and has added offensive run to his game this year. Community club: St Bedes/Mentone
22. Murphy Reid: Vic Metro’s MVP in the National Championships. Is a creative inside midfielder that can push forward and hit the scoreboard. Has clean hands and great vision to release teammates into space. Played in the Dragons’ 2023 premiership as a bottom-ager. Community club: South Melbourne Districts
24. Brodie Findlay: Co-captain who has improved his endurance and ground coverage as a ruck in the last 12 months to make more use of his aerial strength and kicking skill for his size. Community club: Parkdale Vultures
27. Xavier Bamert: Bottom-age versatile utility who in play in any position on the field but most recently as a half back. Strong in ground level and aerial contests, he was a member of the Victoria Metro National Development Championships U16 team. Community club: Collegians
31. Bailey McKenzie: Creative third tall forward has great footy smarts and game understanding, which puts him in position to hit the scoreboard or set up teammates to score. Kicked six goals in the preliminary final against Dandenong. Community club: Old Brighton Grammarians
33. Mitch Kirkwood-Scott: High half back with a penetrating kick and strong defensive ability. Helps direct the defenders with his voice and leadership. Community club: Old Haileybury
36. Samuel Marshall: Hard-running midfielder is a member of the Brisbane Lions Academy while boarding at school in Melbourne. Represented the Allies and the Lions VFL team in both 2023 and 2024 and was a member of the AFL National Academy Boys program. Community club: Old Melburnians
42. Ben Seers: High half forward with elite speed and endurance uses his running power to work up and down the ground to support the contest and push forward to attack. Community club: Beaumaris
44. Jack Cheep: Third tall defender who missed most of 2023 with a knee injury before debuting as a Dragon in 2024. Reads the play well to intercept mark and has good speed for his size. Community club: Parkdale Vultures
45. Luke Kennedy: Versatile utility who won Ormond’s senior best and fairest as a bottom-ager in 2023 and was a member of the Victoria Metro U18 squad in 2024. Strong in the contest with clean hands and a high work rate across the ground. Community club: Ormond
46. Zach Travers: Consistent wingman who works hard up and down the ground to be a connecting player in attack and defence. A good kick and has shown good aerial play this year. Community club: Old Brighton Grammarians
47. Lachlan Voss: Versatile tall who played in the Dragons 2023 premiership as a key defender. Spent time in that role this year before moving to a key forward and second ruck role in recent weeks. Has great speed and endurance for his size, allowing him to follow up around the ground. Community club: Port Melbourne Colts
52. Aaron Taylor: Wingman/half back with a powerful kick. Is strong in one-on-one contests and has played senior football with Ormond in the VAFA. Community club: Ormond
59. Sam Linder: High half back who is ultra consistent with his defensive work, ball use and leadership. Able to play on the best opposition small forwards. A member of St Kilda’s Next Generation Academy. Community club: Old Brighton Grammarians
61. Sam Buck: Versatile tall who can play forward, ruck or back and has played most of his football this year as a hit up key forward, showing his athleticism and marking ability. Community club: St Bedes/Mentone
68. Archie Ludowyke: High level bottom-age tall who represented Vic Metro in the U18 National Championships as a key forward, showing his aerial power and athleticism. Community club: East Sandringham
70. Jess Mildenhall: Has played a variety of roles this year, including half back, wing and inside midfielder. Has a quick burst of speed to provide overlap run from the back half or burst out of contest. Community club: South Melbourne District
75. Jack Surkitt: 16-year-old who debuted in the under-18s late in the season and impressed with his defensive pressure, contest work and vision with ball in hand. Finished runner up in the Vic Metro U16 best and fairest in 2024. Community club: East Sandringham
77. Arki Butler: 16-year-old who debuted in the last home and away game of the season and kicked three goals in his first Coates Talent League game, showing his creativity and finishing in front of goal. Winner of the Vic Metro U16 best and fairest in 2024. Community club: Beaumaris
GWV REBELS
1. Archie Taylor: Quick running defender with good kicking skills. Plays on the best small forwards. Community club: Cobden
2. Harry Charleson: Hard running rebound defender who is having a fantastic season. Capable of playing high or deep on talls and smalls. Community club: East Point
3. Rhys Unwin: Super clever forward with high speed that has gone into the midfield in recent weeks. Terrific through traffic and can hit the scoreboard. Community club: Cobden
4. Sam Lalor: Powerful inside midfielder that is really clean with ball in hand and makes great decisions. Can play forward and is strong overhead. Community club: Bacchus Marsh
5. Will Rantall: 194 tall defender with good athletic ability and high closing speed. Can play on both talls and smalls. Community club: South Warrnambool
6. Jack Ough: 193cm inside mid with clean hands and strong in the contest. A great decision maker in traffic and has the ability to go forward and hit the scoreboard. Community club: East Point
7. Ollie Hannaford: Power forward that is good overhead, aggressive at the contest and can play all areas of the ground. Community club: Sandhurst
8. Jonty Faull: 197cm power forward who is aggressive and loves the contest. Also shows great power on ground balls and regularly hits the scoreboard. Community club: Redan
10. Harry Lawson: Genuine inside midfielder. Powerfully built player that does a lot of contested work at stoppages. Can go forward as well. Community club: Redan
12. Archie Caldow: The running man. 192cm inside midfielder that is a high end runner and can play both behind and in front of the ball. Community club: East Point
16: Harley Hicks: High speed creative small forward that can play through the midfield. Is very clean below his knees. Community club: Lake Wendouree
17. Sam McDonald: Small forward that covers a lot of ground and regularly hits the scoreboard. Community club: Ballarat
18: Ben McGlade: 193cm intercept defender who has great closing speed and agility on the ground. An aggressive running backman. Community club: Cobden
19. Mitch Lloyd: 194cm key defender who is strong in the air when spoiling or intercept marking. Has had a terrific season. Community club: Koroit
20. Floyd Burmeister: 199cm tall forward/ruck who is super athletic tall and can play anywhere. Looks really comfortable at ground level. Community club: Redan
21. Reggie Mast: Strongly built inside midfielder that can play forward. Strong in the contest and reliable overhead for his size. Community club: Warrnambool
22. Jett Grayland: Hard running pressure forward that can play all areas of the ground. Community club: Koroit
23. Flynn Penry: 201cm ruckman that started back with the Rebels late in the season. A genuine strong tap ruckman that is improving each week. Community club: Cobden
25. Hugh Toner: Athletic 188cm defender that can play on talls or smalls. Has had some big roles this season so far. Community club: Ararat
30. Fraser Molan: Rangy half forward/wing with good foot skills and a strong overhead mark. Community club: Mount Clear
31. Talor Byrne: Powerful small forward that applies great pressure on the opposition and has a damaging left foot kick. Community club: Koroit
33. Cooper Glenwright-McGuane: A young 190cm wing/half forward that can play a range of roles. Has kicked multiple goals this season. Community club: East Point
34. Sam Janetski: Hard running defender with a fearless attitude to the contest. Has played some great football this season. Community club: Horsham
40. Dean Harten: Lightly-built power runner that is comfortable on a wing or at half back. Terrific endurance. Community club: Redan
41. Nedd Bennett: Small aggressive defender that has great running power. Plays deep in defence on quick small forwards. Community club: East Point
42. Riley Holloway: Outside midfielder that can also play in defence. A clean well balanced player that makes good decisions. Community club: Warrnambool