The Sandringham Dragons clinched back-to-back Talent League premierships at Princes Park on Sunday with a 43-point victory over Eastern Ranges.
The win came in front of a strong attendance and under perfect conditions in Carlton, with the Dragons' 10-goal second half sealing their second successive flag and fifth ever in the Under-18s competition.
The contest would remain tight until midway through the third term when the Dragons would pile on four unanswered goals to lead by 26 points at the final break, with another strong start from the Ranges in the fourth quickly snapped by a pair of majors from bottom-age Dragon Murphy Reid.
Reid would be among the Dragons' best performers thanks to his two goals, 19 possessions, six clearances and five inside 50s in an impressive outing for the 2024 draft prospect.
Sandringham captain Will Brown would win best-afield honours for his game-high three goals, leading by example with 18 disposals and four inside 50s.
Midfielder pair Cooper Lord and Ryley Sanders were emphatic, with the former notching up 31 touches, seven marks, five clearances, seven inside 50s and six won free kicks in what was a season-best outing for the teenager.
Sanders had 25 disposals to go with four clearances and four inside 50s, working in tandem with Lord and 2024 prospect Levi Ashcroft in the centre of the field.
The Dragons duo were among the five players who had also featured in last year's Talent League grand final side that defeated Dandenong, with Brown, Archie Roberts and Vigo Visentini also making it back-to-back premiership wins.
Hawthorn father-son prospect Calsher Dear, son of the late Hawks champion Paul, added to a strong end to his draft season with 13 disposals, 14 hitouts, four inside 50s and two goals in the win, showing off his aerial dominance and long-range kicking at Ikon Park.
Dear could be part of an exciting draft crop for the Hawks in 2023, with fellow father-son talent Will McCabe (son of Luke) and Next Generation talent Tew Jiath both linked to the Waverley club.
Luke Lloyd and Archie May would also kick multiple goals to contribute to the 17.10.112 - 10.9.69 scoreline.
Eastern star Nick Watson would amass 20 disposals, seven clearances, five inside 50s and a goal in the heart-breaking defeat, but it was Lysterfield talent Ty Sruk who would stand out on the big stage despite the loss.
The Ranges midfielder would collect a game-high 37 disposals, eight clearances, nine inside 50s, six rebounds 50s and a goal to send a late reminder to AFL scouts watching on.
Fellow onballer Christian Moraes would help fill the absence of the absent Josh Smillie in midfield with 24 touches of his own, working well through the centre to feed key forward Riley Weatherill.
Weatherill would manage two goals for the day in an enticing matchup with Sandringham defender and looking first-round prospect Ollie Murphy, with the pair of majors taking his season tally to 37 for 2023 to lead all players.
Eastern wingman Caleb Windsor would flex his pace and ball smarts with 14 disposals and a goal, putting forward a strong opening half before the Dragons turned the game in their favour.
The Coates Talent League Grand Final will be the last showing for the local prospects before the draft, with those invited to the National Combie to show their worth under the watch of recruiters and list managers on October 6-8 in Melbourne.
The 2023 AFL National Draft will take place on November 20-21.
