Na TBH its all very confusing with their pre-listing, mini draft and trading pick concessions. Im from Tassie, and I honestly don’t see how they would attract any kids to move there long-term.
Darwish played real well in the Multicultural v Indigenous Academy game. 21 disposals, 3 marks, and 2 goals. Just looked real clean with his ball use at his age. Rodan also with 28 disposals himself and co-captain for the side.
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If Essendon win the wooden spoon in 2027 we could miss out on a Harley Reid or Nick Daicos type thanks to Tassie getting the number 1 pick what a bloody joke
did you watch it? how did olu olalekan play ?
Cannons under 16s squad released and has a few names (I think) are in our NGA.
Maikeli Rodan
Ollie Chatfield
Lachlan Barley
Alli Kassab
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Maybe Tassie should focus on country kids, rather than city kids at first. If you come from Warrnambool or something, maybe Hobart would seem exciting.
*Apologies to anyone from Warrnambool.
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There were some late changes to the side with Dougie Cochrane and Jermaine Miller out for the Indigenous Academy. Zemes Pilot was a late call up to the side after he was supposed to be ruled out himself. The conditions were somewhat muggy throughout the four 20 minute quarters. Slow start for the Multicultural side who ended up taking the win.
Calder Cannons really stood out in the Multicultural side, in Tevita Rodan, Mousty Darwish, Slayde Law, and Olu Olalekan. Other for the Multicultural side like Sachin Tyrrell (Norwood) and Eli Kravic (Oakleigh Chargers) also stood out for me.
Rodan acted like a real playmaker for the side. Playing mostly midfield, he intercepted the ball when creating turnovers, but also when he had the ball just looked more composed when under pressure. Rodan took a couple of shots to targets inside 50 real well, but I enjoyed watching some of the plays he had in winning the ball with Tyrrell to set up plays from the wing. Rodan just looked a class above honestly and will be a great draft prospect for Essendon/Port Adelaide.
I think Slayde Law was underrated. For me, I think he performed very well in the ruck and had some smart plays in the first half. Law was moved around to the backline, and is just that big bodied option for them.
Olalekan was another who was one of the best on the day. Four goals for his side, mostly from 20-30 metres out front of goal. Olalekan was winning contests though and breaking away from his man to win the ball. Olalekan took a really impressive contested mark from a pack in the second quarter. He only played four games for Calder Cannons in 2025 I’m pretty sure and will definitely be one to watch this year. Olalekan played mostly up forward.
Darwish again, played well. Played more forward but did a lot of his work under pressure and keeping the ball inside 50. Darwish honestly could’ve scored four goals himself, with a close behind, and another soccer kick that bounced wrong, but he still managed two goals himself. Darwish was also one that set up some plays forward, linking with Charlie Fischer (Gippsland Power). Darwish looks to have improved in his ball use.
There were others in Mason Tambe (Norwood) played well off half-back, Kobe Lam (East Perth) took an impressive goal on the run from 50 out, and Arti Sairat (Western Jets) was a small forward who was very raw but eye-catching in just see ball, get ball and had this gut-running. Not very accurate with his kick but good to watch.
Just on the Indigenous side, the standouts were Zemes Pilot (South Adelaide), Thomas Bearman (Tasmania Devils), Xavier Little (Peel Thunder), Owen Campbell-Shields (Northern Territory Academy), and Russell Pickett-Carbine (South Adelaide). A lot of talent showcased mainly from Tasmania Devils and South Adelaide in the side. Without Dougie Cochrane, they lost a lot of the midfield and weren’t as clean with the ball. The Multicultural side put them under a lot of pressure for sure. Pilot only had about 10-11 disposals, but he is this 190+cm forward, who took some contested and clean marks, and had a lot of swagger about himself.
Sorry for the essay. Will try to get to some more of these games this year that our boys are playing in.
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Look at where most pundits think the interstate clubs will finish this year, and even if one half of its correct, we’re headed for a new world order, where Victorian clubs whither, and interstate clubs get cash and concessions tossed at them. Bottom club lose vice captain to two times premiers etc. Brisbane has at least a dozen players who’d be the first pick for us.
If you come from Warrnambool, an empty paddock seems exciting.
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With the way things look to be going with bid matching, this could be our only shot at landing Bewick, Darwish, and Rodan if we really want all 3.
Trade off some players like Langford, Redman, 2MP, or Parish for a pick. We just need to hope they can carry some form to retain any value at all, while being their usual middling selves to keep our natural selection early (no issues for them I’d imagine).
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Oscar Allen was co-captain
Olulekan is an overeager but still eligible through our NGA allegiance. despite not being Cannons tied, he is playing club footy for Gisborne Giants this year and one would hope gets invited onto a VFL list and shows his wares.
Just on Cannons, they are arranging an under 17 showcase game against AFL Cairns for April sometime, one would think a large chunk would have some affiliation to us. Will get more info when it comes to light
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Should have traded a bunch of them last year.
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I wanted a few of them gone in years previous.
But if they can do nothing more than be fodder to protect the kids for this year and next so be it, we can’t live in disappointment of regimes past forever.
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I love the fact that all these young NGA players talk about the influence SEH has had on them, i really hope we keep him around to help nurture them through and build that culture
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ew he goes for the blues.
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