Coates Talent League live stream: Calder Cannons v Sandringham Dragons
He's 'an AFL player' in waiting, according to coach Rob Harding.
Sandringham Dragon Sacha Levine is catching the eye of recruiters this season, with the 188cm prospect drawing comparisons to existing top-level names.
Taking his game to another level this year as a tall, inside midfielder, he's featured in his side's best in seven of his nine Coates Talent League matches.
Levine will be in action when the Dragons take on the Calder Cannons in a double header on Saturday live streamed exclusively on KommunityTV.
The clubs will clash at Highgate Recreation Reserve in the girls at 10am followed by the boys at 12.10pm.
'He's getting a bit of AFL interest now which is fantastic,' Harding said of Levine, who trialled for Vic Metro earlier this year.
'He had 25 touches and four shots at goal on the weekend (against Tasmania), so his game's progressing really well … I think he's a draftable talent.'
Harding says the Ormond product's 'contest craft' had grown to bear all the tools needed at the top level.
'His ability to spread, transition and cover the ground is really good, and that was the bit of his game that he needed to build on,' he said.
'His endurance has improved a lot in the last 12 months – he's become a powerful, drive-legs-out-of-front stoppage player, and I think as a big midfielder at AFL level, that's what you need to be.
'He's an exciting prospect.'
Levine was 'developing along the same trajectory' as a pair of recent Dragons graduates according to Harding.
'I compare him, in talking to clubs, a lot to (Carlton's) Cooper Lord and (Western Bulldogs') Luke Kennedy – they played very similar roles for us and got drafted,' he said.
'He's an AFL player, I believe, I think he's got the attributes to play at the level and he's building a really good, consistent body of work and showing clubs what he can do.
'He'll win that real tough inside ball, and be able to release to players a step outside so they can get out into space.'
Meanwhile, fellow midfielder Bennett Martin was also garnering AFL interest amid a campaign yielding six nods in the best from eight appearances.
'He's playing a mix of half-back and midfield – he played midfield on the weekend and also had mid-20s touches,' Harding said.
'He's one of our leaders and heart-and-soul players – he's very vocal, energetic, gets around the boys, he's a competitor and he's a consistent player and that's why he's got a fair bit of interest as well.'
With no school footy this weekend, the Dragons are set to roll out a full complement of talent in Saturday's bout with the Calder Cannons – including seven Vic Metro-listed players.
Among them is Jack Dalton, who starred as Metro's under-16 MVP in 2023.
Recovering from two broken forearms earlier this year, the Dragons' vice-captain is touted as a 'high-level player'.
'He played with us on the King's Birthday Friday night, that weekend was his first game of the year,' Harding said.
'He played really well as an inside midfielder, and he's building towards playing nationals in a couple of weeks. He'll play a mix of wing and mid with us this week.'
Harding says there'll also be some 'pretty special talents for next year's draft' on show.
'Max Matthews, our under-16 metro captain last year, played his first game on the weekend - he's a rebounding defender and beautiful ball-user,' he said.
'Arki Butler, who's probably a top-10 talent for next year already, he'll play a bit more midfield for the first time.
'We'll put out a pretty strong team, which I'm excited to see.'
Also look out for: Dragons girls forward Maya Duane, with the East Malvern talent this season representing Vic Metro under-16s as well as kicking 14 goals from six matches (five named in the best) at under-18 level; Taj Robinson (U18 Boys Calder Cannons) with the Keilor product booting 15 goals from eight games including four nods in the best; and medium forward Shauna McElligott (U18 Girls Calder Cannons), who's averaging 17.5 disposals this season among seven mentions in the best – including 13 disposals, three marks, nine tackles, three clearances and two goals against Northern Territory last round.
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