Draft Watch: Tigers F/S's best outing; Dons NGA stars; son of ex-Eagle blitzes

There was a National Championships double header on Friday as the kids strutted their stuff at Marvel Stadium.

Vic Metro easily beat SA while WA edged Vic Country which included some brilliant individual performances.

In the Talent League, there was a season-best outing from a Richmond father/son prospect, an Essendon NGA talent dominated for Bachar Houli's Academy side and the son of a dual premiership Eagle blitzed for WA.

See the best performances below along with the top five Fantasy Points ratings:

National Championships

Victoria Metro (111) v (65) South Australia

The Vics were far too good for the South Aussies at Marvel Stadium, winning by 46 points in the first of Friday double header. Northern Knights star Harvie Cooke did maximum damage with three goals from 18 disposals plus nine score involvements, six inside 50s and five clearances. His Knights teammate Sam Gayfer excelled as a key forward with four goals (two behinds) from 14 touches which included 11 score involvements and six marks. Fellow key forward Jake Miller, of the Western Jets, also returned four goals from 11 possessions with seven score involvements and seven marks. The 2027 draft prospect has taken 27 marks in three games for Vic Metro. Eastern Ranges star Jordan Knapp continued his impressive National Champs form, leading the way for his side with 22 disposals, eight score involvements, six inside 50s and five clearances. Jets gun Angus Tippett had 20 touches as well as five clearances. Tyson Bradley, from the Dragons, took 12 marks and had 17 touches including seven rebound 50s while his Sandy teammate Gus Teixeira was busy again with 2.2 from 15 touches, nine score involvements and five tackles. For the Croweaters, South Adelaide star and captain Kodah Edwards was among their very best with 26 disposals and a game-high nine inside 50s. Woodville goal machine Jack Slattery played a lone hand up forward with a match-high five goals adding to the six he bagged against the Allies last month. Central District's Jake Eime had it 27 times, and North Adelaide's Memphis Webb was again solid with 23 possessions, five inside 50s and four clearances. 

Eq.1 - Harvie Cooke (VM) & Kodah Edwards (SA) - 102
3 - Tyson Bradley (VM) - 87
Eq.4 - Jack Gordon (SA) & Sam Gayfer (VM) - 84
6 - Jake Eime (SA) - 83

Victoria Country (60) v (76) Western Australia

Western Australia knocked off Vic Country in the second of the Marvel fixtures, coming from 27 points down at half-time to get up by 16 points. Claremont's Heath Mellody was prolific with a game-high 32 disposals with an equal game-high 10 score involvements. His partner in crime was club mate and co-captain George Gale who was busy amassing 30 possessions with 10 score involvements, five rebound 50s and three inside 50s. West Coast father/son Harper Banfield was influential with 25 touches, a game-high nine tackles and six inside 50s. He is the son of dual Eagles premiership player Drew and younger brother of St Kilda's Charlie. Joint WA skipper Leo Steed, from Swan Districts, had 24 disposals with seven score involvements, six clearances and four inside 50s. Lachlan McGlade led the way with three goals. For the Vic Country side, Richmond NGA prospect and Murray Bushrangers jet Tanner Armstrong was again excellent with a team-high 29 touches, six rebound 50s and four clearances. His numbers have been remarkable in 2026. Noah Williams, from Geelong Falcons, played well with 19 disposals, nine marks and a team-best seven tackles. Gippsland's Oscar Henwood was very good again with 20 possessions and seven inside 50s, Power colleague Cody Templeton booted three goals, and Stingrays star Wil Antrobus had it 20 times with six rebound 50s.

1 - Heath Mellody (WA) - 108
2 - Tanner Armstrong (VC) - 106
3 - Harper Banfield (WA) - 102
4 - Noah Williams (VC) - 101
5 - George Gale (WA) - 95

The next National Championships fixtures take place in Ballarat on Wednesday when Vic Country meet SA, and Allies take on WA.

Talent League

Bendigo Pioneers (71) v (62) Geelong Falcons

The Pioneers narrowly beat the Falcons in Bendigo. Sonny Beasy led the way with 24 disposals and a goal, Billy Buhagiar had it 21 times, 16-year-old Max Connick had 18 and a goal, and Eamon Austin kicked three. Geelong’s best was Richmond father/son Archie Daffy who had a game-high 26 touches, seven inside 50s and 1.2. Daffy's old man is Nick who played 165 games for the Tigers and one for Sydney in the 1990s and 2000s. He was supported by Fletcher Pulleine who had 24 disposals and eight inside 50s. Nate Mensch, nephew of former Cat David, could have had a solid day but finished with 0.3 from his 17 touches and six marks, while bottom ager Kai Charman kicked three majors.  

1 - Archie Daffy (GF) - 108
2 - Sonny Beasy (BP) - 98
3 - Fletcher Pulleine (GF) - 87
4 - Jordan Penrice (GF) - 83
5 - Nate Mensch (GF) - 82

Gippsland Power (72) v (64) GWV Rebels

The Power edged the Rebels by eight points at La Trobe Uni in Bundoora. Judd Burgiel was dominant with an equal game-high 32 touches plus seven rebound 50s, four inside 50s and five tackles. Connor Macmillan had it 26 times with six rebound 50s and six tackles, Cooper Rand kicked three goals from 14 disposals, and Archie Stobie had 20 touches, 17 hitouts and a goal. For the Rebels, it was Finn Russell (38 hitouts, 20 disposals), Michael Hughes (32 disposals), Mitch Ward (20 disposals, 10 tackles) and Hudson Green (three goals) who stood out.

1 - Judd Burgiel (GP) - 127
2 - Finn Russell (GWV) - 103
Eq.3 - Archie Stobie & Connor Macmillan (GP) - 97
5 - Mitch Ward (GWV) - 96

Tasmania Devils (143) v (56) Bachar Houli Academy

The Tassie Devils had a massive 87-point win over the Bachar Houli Academy at North Hobart Oval. Jack Morrison was massive with 28 disposals, a game-high nine tackles and two goals, while Max Gulliver had it 27 times with seven inside 50s. Lucas Heazlewood was dominant inside forward 50 with six goals from 14 touches while Mason Brown and Van Johnson each booted three goals. Bachar’s best was Essendon NGA prospect Moustafa Darwish with a game-high 32 possessions and seven tackles. 15-year-old Ali Merhi’s full potential was on show again, finishing with 15 disposals and two goals, while Adam Kandil had 20 touches and a goal.

1 - Jack Morrison (TD) - 143
2 - Moustafa Darwish (BH) - 122
3 - Lucas Heazlewood (TD) - 98
4 - Max Gulliver (TD) - 96
5 - Sam Husband (TD) - 92