Northern Knights ball magnet Harvie Cooke has been crowned the 2026 Talent League best and fairest.

Cooke became the first Northern Knights player since Anton Woods in 2009 to win the Morrish Medal as the best and fairest player in the Talent League Boys competition.

In doing so, he became the sixth Knights player in history to win the award.

Cooke polled 23 votes from 14 games to finish two votes ahead of the Dandenong Stingrays’ Clancy Stuart, with Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power) and Angus Tippett (Western Jets) equal-third on 17 votes.

A regular in the Knights' team as a bottom-ager last year, Cooke elevated his game further this season, averaging 24.7 disposals per game, along with 5.9 clearances, 4.9 tackles and four inside-50s.

He featured in the umpires’ votes in nine matches, which included receiving three votes on six occasions.

Cooke was also a key performer in Victoria Metro’s title-winning side at this year’s Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Boys, where he averaged 17.5 disposals and seven marks across Metro's four games.

His performance earned him selection in the U18 Boys All Australian team and he finished fifth in the Larke Medal voting for the best and fairest player in the Championships.

TALENT LEAGUE BOYS BEST AND FAIREST (MORRISH MEDAL)

Harvie Cooke (Northern Knights) – 23 votes
Clancy Stuart (Dandenong Stingrays) – 21 votes
Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power) – 17 votes
Angus Tippett (Western Jets) – 17 votes
Khaled El Souki (Western Jets) – 14 votes

TALENT LEAGUE GRAND FINALS

The 2026 Talent League Grand Finals will be played at Mission Whitten Oval this Saturday, September 19.

Oakleigh Chargers and Dandenong Stingrays will feature in the Girls Grand Final from 10:45am, while Gippsland Power and Dandenong Stingrays will play in the Boys Grand Final from 1:15pm.

Entry is free, with both games available to stream live and free at AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.