Famous name kicks four on debut
Dynamic Glenelg forward Latrelle Sumner-Pickett kicked four goals from 16 disposals on SANFL debut on Saturday in an exciting performance which showcased his speed and goal sense.
Now 20, he was eligible to be part of Port Adelaide’s Next Generation Academy as a junior, but the Power overlooked him.
After spending 2024 away from the SANFL, he has dominated reserves all season, kicking 28 goals from 17 games, and finally got a look in on Saturday, proving why he has a number of clubs monitoring him.
The cousin of Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett, Latrelle also impressed by kicking three goals as the standout player in a South Australia U18s versus U20s match earlier this year.
He received a State Combine invite and is gaining traction quickly as a legitimate AFL Draft prospect.
Willem wizardry
“Kick it to Willem” was the call from a member of the Gippsland coaching staff coming from the coaches’ box as the Power looked to exit the defensive 50 with 20 seconds left in the quarter.
The player duly obliged, despite Duursma being outnumbered, and he took a big contested mark.
Of course he did.
Despite his side’s surprise loss, Duursma looked a class above against Dandenong at Shepley Oval on Saturday night, spending time forward and through the midfield to finish with a game-high 24 disposals and seven tackles.
Dalton dominant
Jack Dalton is custom-made for the modern game – and he continues to churn out best afield performances for Sandringham.
Tough, silky-skilled and with enormous running power, Dalton averaged 27 disposals and six tackles in four outings for Sandringham prior to Saturday, thriving with the midfield responsibility.
Throw in some good performances for Vic Metro, and with the context that he played no footy in the first half of 2025 due to an arm injury, and you appreciate just how well Dalton is tracking.
Against a strong Oakleigh midfield, Dalton had a staggering 37 disposals and kicked 2.2 to cap off his enormous home and away season.
The Dragons don’t bat as deep as in past years, so if they’re to make it four flags in a row, expect Dalton to have a big say.
Fincher the midfielder
Fresh off winning player of the day for Sandringham last weekend, playing in the midfield, St Kilda Next Generation Academy prospect Kye Fincher again played in the middle – and again looked right at home.Â
A natural ball-finder and able to find targets going forward, he had 24 disposals, as well as showing his trademark leap to take a mark inside 50 and kick a goal.
Rory’s reminder
Sandringham midfielder Rory Wright was all the rage early in the 2025 Coates League season, bursting onto the Talent League scene, averaging 24 disposals in the first month of the season as an aggressive, clearance-winning midfielder.
It led to selection for Vic Metro, but a quiet National Championships and question marks around his athleticism pushed him down draft boards.
But he provided a stern reminder of his talent on Saturday, finding the ball 26 times, dangerous in the contest and on the spread.
It followed 29 disposals for the Dragons last week as he continued on his early-season Coates League form and gave a clear showcase of his attributes.
Wright has averaged 26 disposals and three tackles across the season.
Felix returns
Calder Cannons AFL Draft prospect Felix Kneipp played his first game in 16 weeks on Saturday, having been sidelined with a back injury.
The running halfback/midfielder had 20 disposals from just 50 per cent game time in an impressive first-up outing, improving as the game progressed.
While he didn’t play a game, Kneipp was part of the Vic Metro squad, having averaged 23 disposals in the Coates League before getting injured, and got a State Combine invite, highlighting AFL interest.
Calder’s high finish in the Coates League likely means he’ll get at least two games in the postseason to show his capabilities.
Fine Finn
Another Western Jets player to emerge Mid-Season is Finnegan Davis, and the running defender continued his strong form on Saturday.
Davis amassed 37 disposals off halfback, intercepting well, looking to take the game on through the corridor and use his efficient kicking and run to advance the game forward boldly.
A train-on player for Vic Metro, he was added to the squad proper in the second half of the carnival after scintillating Coates League form, despite having a limited pre-season due to injury.
He has averaged 28 disposals and six marks in 2025, only once dropping below 24 disposals through 11 games, highlighting his consistency.
Ali v Miller
It was a case of old versus young in Western Jets’ forward line on Saturday – and the pair shared the points.
Overaged player Eastern Ranges player Rod Ali had the matchup on Jake Miller, Vic Metro’s U16s captain and a key forward who has already established himself as his side’s spearhead despite not being draft eligible until 2027.
Miller was targeted all day, and while he took seven marks and kicked three goals, it was a highly entertaining battle, with Ali able to win some crucial one-on-ones and take five marks of his own, bringing his trademark athleticism and tenacity.
Having been viewed as a bolter for the Mid-Season Draft with limited footy background, Ali has had a quieter patch in recent times, but will hope to use the game as a launchpad into what should be a deep finals run for Eastern.
Miller now has 12.3 from just five Coates League games and has plenty of development left.
Terrific Taylor
Eastern Ranges halfback Oskar Taylor was a standout for his side in its victory over Western Jets.
He has been one of the most promising Coates League performers through the middle of 2025, with his sizzling, precise kick and willingness to take the game on standing out.
The State Combine invitee finished with 21 disposals and has averaged that number through 2025.
All Australian ruck adds string to bow
South Australian U18s All Australian member Sam Ainsworth has quietly hit some nice form in the SANFL Reserves competition in recent weeks.
Ainsworth has kicked three goals in each of his past three weeks and averaged four marks for Norwood to prove his forward craft.
It’s an important showcase for Ainsworth, who, despite having some excellent moments in a consistent National Championships, is viewed as undersized as a primary ruck at AFL level.
Sensational Sully
Sullivan Robey’s story of persistence has earned him a spot on the Eastern Ranges list, and he’s now garnering interest from AFL clubs.
Robey was cut from Dandenong Stingrays’ program in pre-season before dominating at local level for Rowville in the strong Eastern Football Netball League, kicking eight goals in five senior games.
It led to a call-up for Eastern Ranges, and he kicked two goals in each of his first three games at the level as a strong and powerful forward, and impressed with his clearance-winning in the middle.
A trap injury sidelined him for a month, and after a quieter return last week, he arguably played his best game for the Ranges on Saturday, taking a game-high 10 marks to go with 2.1 as he thrived with his leading and ability to win one-on-ones.
Has a great size and athletic profile, which lends itself well to the modern game, so shapes as a player to watch.
Ainsworth hamstrung
Western Jets’ powerful forward Oskar Ainsworth missed the game with a minor hamstring tear.
It’s a frustrating setback for Ainsworth, who announced himself as a difficult one-on-one matchup with strength and dynamism through the middle of the Coates League season, having kicked 21.21 so far this season.
It led to a late call-up for Vic Metro, further strengthening his draft case, highlighted by a National Combine invite.
He’s hopeful of returning for the Jets’ repeat clash against the Ranges, but his absence allowed the Jets to play touted bottom-ager Billy Wigmore forward, and he showed plenty, kicking 2.1.
Bottom-ager plays VFL final
GWS fans got a glimpse into the future in its VFL wildcard round loss to Richmond VFL, with 2026 AFL Draft prospect Ethan Matthews taking part and showing plenty of potential in the shootout.
His numbers – 12 disposals and one goal – aren’t flattering, but his piercing left foot was dangerous, and he had some important moments in the loss.
He got five games of VFL exposure in 2025 as well as a game for the Allies, providing him with an ideal launchpad into 2026.
Coates League wildcard matchups locked in
The first week of Coates League finals has been locked in following the conclusion of the home and away season.
Every team plays at least one game in the post-season, aligning with the league’s development focus and accounting for the fact that several teams field weakened squads throughout the year due to school and representative footy.
The sides are separated into the Vic Metro and the Vic Country conferences.
The first-placed Vic Metro side takes on the sixth-placed Vic Metro side, second playing fifth and third taking on fourth.
The winners all progress, as well as the highest-ranked losing side.
In the Vic Country conference, the top-placed side gets a bye, with the second-placed side playing seventh, third playing sixth and fourth playing fifth.
Eastern Ranges will play Western Jets, Calder Cannons clash with Oakleigh, and Sandringham has Northern Knights, while on the Vic Country side of the draw, Gippsland has the bye, Dandenong takes on Murray Bushrangers, GWV plays Tasmania, and Geelong has Bendigo.
Fixture:
Saturday 30 August, 10.30am, Mars Stadium, Ballarat: GWV Rebels v Tasmania Devils
Saturday 30 August, 11.45am, Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn: Dandenong Stingrays v Murray Bushrangers
Saturday 30 August, 1pm, Mars Stadium, Ballarat: Geelong Falcons v Bendigo Pioneers
Saturday 30 August, 2.15pm, Highgate Recreation Reserve: Eastern Ranges v Western Jets
Sunday 31 August, 11am, Mars Stadium, Ballarat: Calder Cannons v Oakleigh Chargers
Sunday 31 August, 1.30pm, Mars Stadium, Ballarat: Sandringham v Northern Knights
Stingrays sidelined
Vic Country representatives Jasper Russell and Darcy Szerszyn both missed Dandenong’s upset win over Gippsland on Saturday night.
Russell is sidelined with a broken collarbone, while Szerszyn missed with a minor injury but is set to return for Dandenong’s next match.
Bottom-ager Gus Kennedy, Vic Country forward Jay-De Varlet and Haileybury College’s Jack Lawrence were among Dandenong’s best.
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