Geelong Falcons Boys coach Paul Corrigan has paid tribute to the work of a trio of Bannockburn youngsters following the release of the squad for this year’s Coates Talent League season.
Leigham Elzinga, James Hose and Ryan Perkins have earned a spot on the 49-strong primary list after missing out as 17-year-olds.
Hose, the GDFNL’s Rookie of the Year in 2023, and Perkins both played all 19 games for the Tigers, with Elzinga kicking 22 goals from 18 appearances.
All three featured in the Tigers’ four-point elimination final loss to East Geelong, with Hose and Elzinga named among their best players.
“When they might not make it in their bottom-age year, but you see them go back to local or school footy and really develop, and then speak to their coaches and talk about the year that they had, and they come into your pre-season, and you see a real change in what they’ve been able to do, that’s really pleasing,” Corrigan said.
“The three Bannockburn boys … Perkins, Elzinga and Hose all trained with us last year and, unfortunately, didn’t make the list as bottom-agers.
“But they’ve all come back and made the list this year.”
The Falcons will again have a strong contingent of father-son prospects on both their primary and development lists.
Noah Caracella (son of Blake, Essendon), River Stevens (Anthony, North Melbourne) and Alfie Wojcinski (David, Geelong) all return in the hope of attracting the eye of their dads’ respective clubs.
Jagger Mooney (Cam, Geelong), Boston Riccardi (Peter, Geelong) and James Robbins (Matt, Western Bulldogs) have earned a spot on the Falcons’ development list.
“I’m looking forward to seeing those bottom-agers develop in their 17th year and come on in their 18th year,” Corrigan said.
“And guys like ‘Cara’ (Caracella), River, and Alfie, they’ll be looking to cement themselves and play some good Coates League footy.”
FALCONS: DREVER TAKES DRIVER’S SEAT
There are also several other sons of former AFL players who aren’t father-son eligible, including primary list duo Mackenzie Butcher (Kent, Collingwood) and Lachlan Gilligan (Tom, Adelaide) and development lister Liam Biddiscombe (Craig, Geelong and Richmond).
Butcher is among five 19-year-olds on the list, joining Liam Kershaw, Will McLachlan, Joel Cooper, and Joe Pike, who played in Geelong’s VFL practice match against Carlton last month.
“From talking to (AFL) recruiters, they’re happy to see them go around as 19-year-olds,” he said.
Eighteen clubs will be represented across the primary, development and future lists, including seven in the Bellarine.
“We want to see a lot of boys and girls come from a range of clubs within our region and not have just a few clubs have the majority of players,” Corrigan said.
“I think it’s starting to look that way, which is really good.
“I think it gives a bit of hope that the clubs that are struggling to retain their players, they don’t have to play at certain clubs to get noticed, and we are getting out and talent IDing these clubs.”
Also on the list is Archer Hanegraaf, the son of Falcons’ games record holder Glenn. Glenn is the only Falcon to have reached 50 games, spending three years on the list from 1994-96.
A majority of the squad will take part in combine-style testing this weekend before facing the GWV Rebels in a practice match at Deakin University on Sunday, 17 March.
The Falcons start their campaign at the same venue the following Sunday, 24 March, against the Dandenong Stingrays.
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2024 GEELONG FALCONS SQUAD
PRIMARY LIST
| Mackenzie | Butcher | St Mary’s |
| Noah | Caracella | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Joel | Cooper | Torquay |
| Ben | Coote | Ocean Grove |
| Marley | Cornell | Ocean Grove |
| Leigham | Elzinga | Bannockburn |
| Kobe | George | Bell Park |
| Lachlan | Gilligan | St Mary’s |
| Thomas | Gorell | Geelong Amateur |
| Brady | Hall | Colac |
| Archer | Hanegraaf | Geelong Amateur |
| Angus | Hanley | Torquay |
| Jack | Henderson | Barwon Heads |
| James | Hose | Bannockburn |
| Edan | Ibbetson | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Xavier | Ivisic | Bell Park |
| Lachie | Jaques | St Mary’s |
| Spencer | Jones | Geelong Amateur |
| Liam | Kershaw | St Joseph’s |
| Josh | Lindsay | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Daniel | Lowther | Lara |
| Fred | Lucas | Bell Park |
| Marley | McCombe | St Mary’s |
| Hamish | McGowan | Torquay |
| Zac | McInnes | Bell Park |
| Will | McLachlan | Colac |
| Lachlan | McLean | Leopold |
| Jesse | Mellor | Geelong West Giants |
| Hugo | Mikunda | Bell Park |
| Will | Mithen | Geelong Amateurs |
| Will | Montebello | Torquay |
| Harry | Morphet | Leopold |
| Gus | Morrison | St Joseph’s |
| Cooper | Patton | Torquay |
| Ben | Pennisi | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Ryan | Perkins | Bannockburn |
| Joe | Pike | Barwon Heads |
| Giuseppe | Posterino | St Joseph’s |
| Geordie | Richardson | Geelong Amateurs |
| Ben | Rongdit | Colac |
| Josh | Sanders | Lara |
| Sam | Sinnott | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Jack | Skinner | Colac Imperials |
| Will | Smith | Leopold |
| River | Stevens | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Noah | Tullio | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Max | Waight | Queenscliff |
| Cooper | Ward | St Joseph’s |
| Alfie | Wojcinski | Newtown & Chilwell |
DEVELOPMENT LIST
| Lenny | Allen | Ocean Grove |
| Liam | Biddiscombe | South Barwon |
| Angus | Ford | Barwon Heads |
| Jai | Hobson | Geelong Amateur |
| Oliver | Johnston | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Charlie | Lawless | Anglesea |
| Mitchell | Lindsey | St Mary’s |
| Jagger | Mooney | Newtown & Chilwell |
| Jai | Natonewski | South Barwon |
| Boston | Riccardi | Newtown & Chilwell |
| James | Robbins | Ocean Grove |
| Tyson | Roberts | St Albans |
| Gus | Uytdehaag | Colac |
| Lucius | White | Torquay |
| Mason | Williams | Leopold |
FUTURES LIST
| Will | Lane | Leopold |
| Aime | Nshimiyimana | Geelong West Giants |
| Wichay | Paul | Geelong West Giants |
