A run to the Talent League grand final has allowed several Dandenong Stingrays players to press their AFL Draft cases in September.
With only two first-choice players playing in the APS competition and two more from the AGSV competition, the Stingrays have had much greater squad stability than most of the competition.
The ability to play a consistent season of Talent League footy has allowed the squad to peak at the right time, with a big win over Eastern Ranges following a victory over GWV Rebels.
“I can say it now because we have got to here and the proof will be in the pudding on draft night as well, but we always knew this year was going to be a bit stronger than other years," coach Nick Cox told Zero Hanger.
"I thought it was going to be top-heavy, and the question on that will come on draft night, but there are players who are rising significantly."
There is a common belief in the talent pathway system that each post-season game a team plays gives an extra player a sniff of getting their name called out on draft night, and that appears befitting of a Stingrays side which has so many players brimming with confidence at the right time.
While there was broad confidence about the elite talent in the squad, headed by star small forward Marcus Prasad, AFL Academy defender Darcy Szerszyn, captain Gus Kennedy and midfielder Jackson Phillips, several more have announced themselves this season.
Wil Antrobus is firmly on the draft radar with a national combine invite in his first year at the Stingrays; big-bodied midfielder Clancy Stuart finished second in the Morrish Medal and defender Cooper White, forwards Mitch Toner and Dylan Linden, and midfielders Ben Carroll, Kaie Sullivan and Andrio Sousa have pushed their case for higher honours.
“There are so many players who are great stories for us, which means our program is working well to develop talent in the region and hopefully players get an opportunity,” Cox said.
Sullivan, in particular, has benefitted from the Stingrays' finals run, finding his best footy in September having previously struggled for continuity due to injury.
A quad injury significantly hampered Sullivan's pre-season, but he has arguably been Dandenong's best midfielder in each of their past two games.
Sullivan's Dad was born in Ireland, which would have meant that before this year he would be eligible as a Next Generation Academy prospect for St Kilda; however, he was never picked up by the club, and a change to the rules ahead of 2026 ruled players with parents of European descent ineligible to join NGAs.
“His last month has been very good, and it's on the back of being uninjured and very fit. The phone has rung hot in the last two weeks for him, so that's been nice,” Cox said.
“There's a lot of upside around what he can do. He's one who hasn't got the praise but has been very good.
“He's fearless, he kicks the ball well, and his running will be an upside off the back of a pre-season, but his inside-mid craft is really good. He follows instructions well.”
Like Sullivan and Antrobus, Linden has benefitted from a full season at the Stingrays after leading the APS goal-kicking last year but never quite putting that form forward in his opportunities at the Stingrays.
At his feet inside 50, Prasad shapes as a late-season bolter up draft boards, having taken no time to recover from the injury that sidelined him for four months. Despite mixed reports, he is not a Melbourne Next Generation Academy member.
“I don't think there's any player who I can remember since I've been coaching that has come in off a 15-week injury that has come in against the Northern Knights when they were flying and has stood out straight away,” Cox said.
“He's got energy, he's got pace, he hits the scoreboard, and he's come back bigger, and his kicking penetration has improved, and he's a real energiser-bunny for us.
“I think he's one of the best small forwards in the competition.”
Antrobus shapes as a potential point-of-difference in the grand final, with his form for Dandenong impeccable all season and his penetrating and incisive left boot and ability to get overlap possession a significant factor in the Dandenong backline.
“He's got a defend-first mentality which not many players have when they come into the system,” Cox said.
“He's got a good balance between offence and defence, and he's the best kick in the draft almost with what he can do, and there's a lot of upside with his conditioning.”
Another key part of 2026 has been the strength of the leadership, with Cox labelling Kennedy as the best leader to have come through the program since he took over as head coach ahead of the 2019 season.
Kennedy, alongside Sandringham's George Dimer, are two players frequently referenced as being among the best characters in the 2026 draft crop.
“There was question marks on his kicking ability and decision-making, but he's gone to work on that and found his niche off half-back and can go into the midfield and change the dynamics of a game, and he's just brave with his aerial stuff,” Cox said.
A natural leader who has captained junior footy and cricket sides, Kennedy, who models his game on Brisbane's Darcy Wilmot, has set excellent standards within the program.
“The boys need to see someone at training and games who is loud and present,” Kennedy told Zero Hanger.
“This last year especially, I've made sure I'm talking to everyone at the club.
“The leaders talk about making everyone feel connected and talking to the best and worst player the same way, so making it a tight community at Stingrays has been a focus.
“I think I've always been a good leader, but it's a new challenge every week, and I'll keep growing into leadership and myself as a person.
“I love being the person people look to in a game when we're down and the voice they hear.”
“The grand final is almost a big celebration of our three or four years in the system; there's no better feeling than winning a premiership, so it would be a great way to cap it off.”
Dandenong last made the Talent League grand final in 2022, going down to a Sandringham outfit which contained both Ashcroft brothers and Harry Sheezel.
The Stingrays' only premiership was in 2018, with that side containing Sam Fletcher, Hayden Young, Zac Foot, Toby Bedford, Will Hamill, Sam Sturt, Bailey Williams and Ned Cahill, who all went on to play AFL.
“We've got to here on the back of having a bit of talent and the boys developing all the way through the year and getting their skill sets and crafts, and then the synergy of the team has been really strong,” Cox said.
