The teams for the 2025 Coates Talent League Boys Grand Final between the Eastern Ranges and Sandringham Dragons.
Grand Final: Eastern Ranges vs Sandringham Dragons
Saturday, September 20
1:00pm AEST
IKON Park
The 2025 Coates Talent League Boys Grand Final will feature the Eastern Ranges and Sandringham Dragons.
Sandringham will be chasing history as it hunts a fourth-consecutive premiership, which would emulate the Northern Knights’ four-peat from 1993 to 1996.
Victory would also see the Dragons become the outright leader in the Coates Talent League premiership standings after last year equalling the Calder Cannons on six premierships.
Sandringham defeated the GWV Rebels by 37 points in last year’s Grand Final to claim its third-consecutive premiership after winning the 2023 decider against the Eastern Ranges by 43 points and beating the Dandenong Stingrays by the same margin in 2022.
Eastern will be chasing its third flag to add to its triumphs in 2013 and 2002.
The Ranges have finished runner-up three times since their last premiership win, losing Grand Finals in 2023, 2019 and 2015.
Eastern finished the 2025 home and away season in second spot on the ladder with an 11-4 record, just percentage behind the Gippsland Power, and has since produced three commanding performances to advance to the Grand Final.
The Ranges defeated the Western Jets by 89 points in Wildcard Round, before beating the Calder Cannons by 48 points in the quarter final and the GWV Rebels by 51 points in the preliminary final.
Sandringham has reached the Grand Final from sixth spot on the ladder after finishing the home and away season with an 8-7 record.
The Dragons accounted for the Northern Knights by 53 points during Wildcard Round. They then scored an 18-point win over the Oakleigh Chargers in the quarter final before overcoming the Gippsland Power by 10 points in the preliminary final.
The Coates Talent League Girls Grand Final between the Eastern Ranges and Dandenong Stingrays will follow at 10:30am.
ENTRY: Entry to the Coates Talent League Grand Finals is free. Patrons are advised to enter IKON Park via Gate 6.
BROADCAST: The 2025 Coates Talent League Grand Finals will be streamed live and free via the AFL Live Official App and the Coates Talent League App.
TEAMS
EASTERN RANGES
B: Andrew Barker (31), Xavier Taylor (25), Rod Ali (37)
HB: Mitchell Gillan (11), Lachy Dovaston (8),
C: Blake Chambers (1), Jordan Knapp (7), Harrison Chapman (38)
HF: Zac Antonellos (14), Oliver McKenzie (42), Sullivan Robey (55)
F: Bailey Lloyd (4), Thomas Swainston (16), Ryan McConnell (29)
R: Marcus Krasnadamskis (59), Jos Landy (9), Oliver Greeves (26)
INT: Mitchell Buckland (15), Archie Spencer (34), Jaden Lawrence (36), Sam Devers (41), Charlie Nash (51)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
B: Henry Thomas (20), Tyson Bradley (16), Jasper Noorbergen (56)
HB: Rory Wright (9), Bennett Martin (41), Darby Heelis (30)
C: Phoenix Janover (29), Sacha Levine (60), Jack Hayter (49)
HF: George Dimer (33), Kye Fincher (34), Willis Reidy (75)
F: Arki Butler (6), Oliver Griffin (15), Miles Tyrer (32)
R: Julian Galbally (4), Xavier Bamert (27), Jack Dalton (2)
INT: Sam Buck (8), Gus Teixeira (10), Keanu Naji (12), Alfie Lambert (13), Frederick Brayshaw (63)
PLAYER PROFILES
EASTERN RANGES
1. Blake Chambers: A true winger and neat kick who is consistent each week. Will also set up forward nicely with his neat entries.
4. Bailey Lloyd: Has speed and athleticism. Clever with the footy and pressures well when playing mid.
7. Jordy Knapp: Great endurance midfielder than spreads well from contest and is smart with his ball use. Often kicks goals too.
8. Lachy Dovaston: Nifty pressure small forward who thrives on the big stage. Loves to celebrate a goal and help the team get the win.
9. Jos Landy: Contested ball winner, strong at stoppage and will run all day. Often taking the role on opposition mids to nullify
11. Mitch Gillan: Bottom ager who plays on small forwards and always gets the job done. Neat skills and very evasive.
14. Zac Antonellos: Cleaver wing forward player, who often kicks goals and sets others up well. Bottom ager.
15. Mitch Buckland: Coming off three ACL injuries, he has come in to impact at half back and wing. Smart footballer, uses the ball well and has a team-first attitude.
16. Tom Swainston: Played key back for the majority of the year, before moving forward in the finals and has found the goals. Sets others up and has great endurance as a high forward.
22. Xavier Taylor: Intercepting running back who plays on talls and smalls. Has taken many scalps at both CTL and National Champs level. Kickstarts Eastern's offence
25. Oskar Taylor: Elite speed and damaging left foot, plays a high rebounding role near stoppage and never loses a 1v1
26. Ollie Greeves: Inside mid whose strong contest work brings others into the game. Can do damage in midfield and attack as his forward craft has evolved.
29. Ryan McConnell: Inside contested player that can play mid and forward. A great ground level player who put his head over the ball to win it for the team.
31. Andrew Barker: Co-captain and key defender, often taking key forwards and resting rucks. With speed and power and a nice kick. Great overhead marking.
34. Archie Spencer: Great contested player who is hard over the football and plays his role at stoppage well. Versatile and can play all parts of the ground.
36. Jaden Lawrence: Bottom age ruck who plays his role well against older bodies. Has a strong mark and often impacts with goals when forward.
37. Rod Ali: Athletic key defender. Has played on talls and mediums this season and successfully beaten them with 1v1 skills and athleticism.
38. Harry Chapman: Bottom age winger than can play all parts of the ground. Covers the ground beautifully with a mix of speed and endurance.
41. Sam Devers: Bottom ager with speed to bun. No-fuss player that plays his half back role to a tee.
42. Ollie McKenzie: Strong role player who plays his role for the team and guides the backs with good leadership and talk.
51. Charlie Nash: Bottom ager tall forward. Plays structure so well and is the ultimate team player. Will find the goals and take a huge grab.
55. Sullivan Robey: Came into the program in May as a forward who can also play mid with his strong contest game and burst from stoppage. Neat around goals and a strong overhead mark.
59. Marcus Krasnadamskis: Has a basketball background and returned to the program from May after playing 16s at Eastern. Key ruck with great mobility, follow up and athleticism.
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
2. Jack Dalton (VC): Hard running midfielder-forward who suffered two broken arms during pre-season, delaying his season until mid year. Played for Vic Metro and is a vice captain of the Dragons this year. Played in the 2024 premiership as a bottom ager.
4. Julian Galbally: 19 year old athletic ruck who came to us as a top ager last year and has developed enormously. Covers the ground well as a ruck and can spend time forward.
6. Arki Butler: Talent bottom age forward who was part of the Vic Metro squad and will play in the Grand Final Day Futures game on the MCG. Smart around goals, strong overhead and has a high football IQ.
8. Sam Buck: 19 year old key forward who is one of three returning premiership players from 2024. Hits up strongly at the ball as a mobile agile forward.
9. Rory Wright: Versatile and combative half back has spent time as a midfielder this year with Dragons and Vic Metro. Excellent left foot kick and courageous in the air.
10. Gus Teixeira: Bottom age midfielder has great contest play and transition running. Has shown an ability to push forward and hit the scoreboard in his Coates Talent League games.
12. Keanu Nadji: Third tall defender who reads the play well in the air, tackles strongly in the contest and is a nice kick off half back. Member of St Kilda’s NGA.
13. Alfie Lambert: Hard running wing can play midfield and forward but has settled on the wing in recent weeks. Strong contest player who shows good composure with ball in hand.
15. Oliver Griffin: Versatile marking forward only joined our program this year as a top ager and impressed with his strong hands and accurate goal kicking.
16. Tyson Bradley: Bottom age key defender is strong in one-on-one contests and reads the play well to intercept mark. Will be part of the National Futures Boys game on the MCG next weekend.
17. Lochie Burrows: Bottom age small forward debuted mid season and impressed with his finishing in front of goal and defensive pressure.
20. Henry Thomas: Athletic key defender has good speed and ability to read the play to intercept and get involved in attack.
27. Xavier Bamert (C): Dragons Captain who played in the 2024 premiership as a bottom ager at half back. This year has played midfield and forward, as a strong contest winning midfielder who runs a sub-6 minute 2km, showing his running power contest to contest.
29. Phoenix Janover: Versatile wing is a neat ball user by foot, strong over the contest and a member of our leadership group.
30. Darby Heelis: Aggressive hard running rebounding defender has played every role on the ground this year before settling at half back.
32. Miles Tyrer: Ruck and key forward splits time between the two roles and uses his physicality to impact in the air and on the ground. Has hit the scoreboard in recent weeks while playing forward.
33. George Dimer: Hard working high half forward who has great agility and ability to step in and out of traffic. As a bottom ager he has performed strongly in each of his Coates Talent League games.
34. Kye Fincher: Vic Metro representative at half back spent time training as a midfielder in pre-season and has returned to that spot late in the season. Quick, agile and strong in the contest, kicked two goals in the prelim final against Gippsland.
41. Bennett Martin (VC): Vice captain in 2025 and spent time as a midfielder and half back this year. In recent weeks has played lockdown defensive roles on the oppositions best small forward and consistently won contests.
49. Jack Hayter: Combative wing spends time at half back as well, where he has impressed with his reading of the play and composed ball use.
Jasper Noorbergen: Athletic bottom age Key Defender has impressed with his ability to support teammates in the air and on the ground, and his ability to play on talls and smalls.
56. Sacha Levine: Tall midfielder has been one of our most consistent players this year, playing every game and showing his strong contest and tackling, and ability to drive his legs out of traffic.
60. Freddy Brayshaw: Hard running half forward and wing has played selfless team roles at different times this year, using his high work rate to get up and down the ground and put on pressure in our forward half.
63. Kayne Watt: Key Forward joined us as a top ager this year and impressed with his marking ability.
73. Jack Davies: Bottom age versatile midfield, wing or half back joined us from Sturt’s under 16s in the SANFL, where he was second in their best and fairest. Composed ball user
75. Willis Reidy: Quick and agile small forward puts on pressure at ground level, is capable of flying for a high mark, and consistently hits the scoreboard.