A Tasmanian topped 200 ranking points in a bumper start to the championships, while a South Australian defender and a Gold Coast Academy forward also starred.
Al Paton takes a look at some of the key performances from the first bye round of the season, including a shoutout to a forgotten man in KFC SuperCoach AFL.
The Allies overcame South Australia by 16 points in the first game of the championships at Thebarton Oval, in a match that had plenty of individual brilliance.
A smooth-moving midfielder, Ryley Sanders was dominant for the Allies, collecting a game-high 36 disposals (20 contested) along with seven marks, seven tackles and two goals.
Sanders grew up in Tasmania before moving to Melbourne last year to attend Melbourne Grammar.
Ryley Sanders was prolific through the midfield for the Allies. Picture: Getty Images
A member of the AFL Academy squad, he looks up to Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver and Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury and is playing with the Sandringham Dragons in the Coates Talent League this year.
South Australia key defender William McCabe was the top-ranked player for the home side, finishing with nine disposals, seven intercept possessions, seven spoils and five tackles.
McCabe – who plays for Central Districts in the SANFL – is a father-son prospect for Hawthorn this year, with his father Luke having played 138 games for the club between 1995 and 2004.
South Australian teammate Jack Delean was the leading goalkicker on the ground with four goals from just seven disposals.
Allies player and Gold Coast Academy member Jed Walter continued an impressive season to date with three goals from 17 disposals and nine marks.
Walter is a power key forward who stands 194cm and has averaged 17.3 disposals, 5.5 marks and 4.5 goals from four matches in the Coates Talent League this season.
Jack Delean kicked a game-high four goals for South Australia. Picture: Getty Images
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Gold Coast Academy member Jed Walter has had a huge start to the year. Picture: Getty Images
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