Draft Watch: Richmond NGA prospect racks them up... against the Tigers

Only three games in the Talent League on the weekend with the four Northern Academies on show across two matches.

The Chargers also took on the Tassie Devils while the AFL Academy played Richmond's VFL side.

Tigers NGA prospect Tanner Armstrong impressed for the Academy outfit, while Cooper Hodge had another strong showing for the Lions Academy.

See below for the wrap of the weekend’s Talent League matches:

Oakleigh Chargers (84) v (65) Tasmania Devils

The Chargers led all day in their 19-point victory over the Devils in Dingley, the home of the Hawks. Despite the result, it was the Devils who topped the rankings with four of the best individual performances. Hugh McCallum blitzed for Tassie with four goals from 23 disposals plus 12 marks, eight inside 50s and five tackles. Archie Devine also put up excellent numbers with a game-high 37 touches which included six inside 50s, while Jake Beams had 29 touches (24 kicks), five rebound 50s and kicked two goals, and Lucas Wootton had 23 touches and seven tackles. For the winning team, Jack Condello was again the Chargers’ best with a team-high 30 disposals and six inside 50s. Condello has had the most (or equal most) touches in the past three Chargers games. Josh Destefanis had 29 touches and five inside 50s, while Archie Dollman had the ball on 23 occasions. Ashton Sellers booted three goals for Oakleigh.

1 - Hugh McCallum (TD) - 144
2 - Archie Devine (TD) - 134
3 - Jake Beams (TD) - 131
4 - Lucas Wootton (TD) - 96
5 - Joshua Destefanis (OC) - 93

Gold Coast Academy (62) v (45) GWS Giants Academy

The Suns Academy held off the Giants by 17 points at Carrara. Isaac Mayne was the most prolific player on the ground with a game-high 29 touches plus seven marks and six inside 50s. Leroy Kaesler was busy in all facets, winning 24 touches, kicking 2.2, taking seven marks and laying four tackles. Jake Callinan was close to an enormous game but was inaccurate with 1.3 among 25 disposals and five inside 50s. Lachlan Cramp (21 disposals, eight marks) and Harrison Gray (24 disposals) were both busy, while 16-year-old Oliver Bennett kicked 2.1 from 18 touches. For the Giants, Jim Houston again put up impressive numbers with 24 possessions, nine rebound 50s and eight marks. Cooper French had 24 disposals and six inside 50s, Brody Kane picked up 21 touches, five inside 50s and a goal, and Tallis McMillan had 17 disposals.

1 - Leroy Kaesler (GCS) - 105
2 - Isaac Mayne (GCS) - 101
3 - Jake Callinan (GCS) - 94
4 - Lachlan Cramp (GCS) - 88
5 - Jim Houston (GWS) - 87

Brisbane Lions Academy (72) v (80) Sydney Swans Academy

The Swans got it done by eight points against the Lions at Brighton Homes Arena. Henry Meaney was arguably best on ground with a game-high 28 disposals, seven tackles and a goal. He was joined by William Jenkin who had 26 touches and six rebound 50s while Oliver Griffiths kicked two goals from 16 touches with six hit-outs. Cooper Hodge was again impressive with another 21 disposals with seven inside 50s, six tackles and a goal. The Hawthorn father-son prospect is yet to decide on which path he’ll take to the 2026 draft given he’s also tied to the Lions Academy. Hodge’s teammate Harrison Bridge, who is a mid-season draft prospect, picked up 24 touches, while his younger brother Jackson Bridge had 17 disposals and kicked two goals. Archie Smith was influential with 22 possessions, eight inside 50s and two majors, and Matthew Owen picked up 23 touches.

1 - Henry Meaney (SS) - 118
2 - William Jenkin (SS) - 102
3 - Harrison Bridge (BL) - 93
4 - Oliver Griffiths (SS) - 93
5 - Cooper Hodge (BL) - 92

AFL Academy (58) v (107) Richmond VFL

The AFL Academy side took on Richmond’s VFL team at IKON Park on Saturday. The Tigers came away with a 49-point win but there were plenty of strong performances form the Academy kids. Gippsland Power defender Xavier Ladbrook won the Academy’s best on ground honours with 13 disposals and six marks. Richmond NGA prospect Tanner Armstrong, from the Murray Bushrangers, had 27 disposals (an Academy team-high) in an impressive showing. He put on another solid display in front of the Tigers after some strong form for the Bushrangers. He's a tough nut in and around stoppage. Carlton father/son prospect Cody Walker had 22 touches on the home ground of his old man Andrew. West Perth’s Koby LeCras, nephew of former West Coast star Mark, kicked three goals from 18 touches, and talented Gipplsand Power small forward Marlon Neocleous picked up 19 touches, took nine marks and kicked a goal. Tigers draftee Sam Cumming was prolific with 30 touches and a goal and would be close to an AFL debut. Sam Toner, who the Tigers should be looking at in the mid-season draft, booted another three goals.

Calder Cannons will meet the Northern Territory Academy at Craigieburn on Thursday night from 6:15pm AEST.