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Talent League

Under-18 Australian rules football competition


Summary

Under-18 Australian rules football competition

FieldValue
titleTalent League
imageAFL Talent League logo 2026.png
sportAustralian rules football
Formerly
inaugural1992
teams18
championEastern Ranges (3)
most_champsCalder Cannons &
Sandringham Dragons
(6)
regionVictoria
Tasmania
New South Wales
Queensland
Northern Territory
countryAustralia
websiteafl.com.au/talent-league

Sandringham Dragons (6) Tasmania New South Wales Queensland Northern Territory

The Talent League is an under-19 Australian rules football representative competition based in Melbourne and run by the Australian Football League (AFL). It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing one of twelve Victorian regions.

The competition is the primary sources of recruitment for the clubs of the AFL with around three quarters of all players selected from its ranks in each AFL draft. It provides an opportunity for talented young regional players to participate in a high standard competition without having to relocate too far from their place of origin. The competition has a very successful pathway with players missing AFL selection often being recruited by semi-professional state, country and regional leagues throughout Australia. An equivalent competition for female footballers, known as the Talent League Girls, is also contested on an annual basis.

The league has been known by various sponsored names since its inception in 1992 as the Victorian State Football League Under-18s (VSFL U18) in 1992. While the Transport Accident Commission's sponsorship commenced in the same year, the competition was not known as the TAC Cup until 1997. This sponsorship lasted two decades until the competition was renamed the NAB League (after the National Australia Bank) in 2019. Ahead of the 2023 season, the AFL returned a 'sponsorless' name to the competition with its new branding as the Talent League; albeit this was accompanied by naming rights from Coates Hire for seasons 2023 to 2025 inclusive, where it was known as the Coates Talent League. As of 14 January 2026, the league has no naming rights sponsor.

History

With the focus of the VFL/AFL moving rapidly toward a national competition, the former metropolitan and country zoning recruitment system for the Victorian VFL/AFL clubs was abolished, and the league's under-19 competition was shut down at the end of 1991.

A new competition, administered by the Victorian State Football League and sponsored by the Transport Accident Commission, was formed as an avenue for young Victorian under-18 players to make the transition to becoming senior League players. It commenced play on 10 April 1992, the competition consisted of five metropolitan teams and one country team: the Northern Knights, Eastern Ranges, Southern Stingrays (renamed the Dandenong Stingrays in 1995), Western Jets, Central Dragons (renamed the Prahran Dragons in 1995, then the Sandringham Dragons in 2000) and Geelong Falcons.

In 1993 an additional four country teams were included – the Murray Bushrangers, Bendigo Pioneers, Gippsland Power and Ballarat Rebels (renamed the North Ballarat Rebels in 1996, then the Greater Western Victoria Rebels in 2017). In 1995 two additional metropolitan regions were established, with the Oakleigh Chargers and Calder Cannons teams included in the competition.

In 1995, a Tasmanian-based team, the Tassie Mariners, commenced in the competition, becoming the league's first non-Victorian side. The following year, the NSW/ACT Rams were admitted. The Mariners and Rams both exited the competition as full-time members at the end of the 2002, returning the competition to twelve teams.

The Gold Coast Football Club recruited several under-18s players in the 2008/09 summer, and participated in the TAC Cup in 2009 (before playing in the VFL in 2010 and the AFL from 2011). Similarly, the Greater Western Sydney Giants fielded a TAC Cup team in 2010, two seasons prior to its introduction to the AFL in 2012.

Four interstate teams — the Tassie Mariners, NSW/ACT Rams, Queensland Scorpions and the Northern Territory Thunder — each play a handful of games each year against TAC Cup teams, particularly in the lead-up to the annual AFL Under 18 Championships; these games are counted as part of the TAC Cup premiership season, but the interstate clubs are not eligible for the premiership.

Between 1995 and 2008, the finals system was in a knock-out format. This reverted to a traditional finals system in 2009 with the introduction of the Gold Coast team. In 2010, this was extended to include 12 of the 13 clubs participating that season, with the extra matches forming an extended knockout format. In 2011 the finals system was reverted to the traditional eight-team AFL finals series. Prior to the 2014 season, the NSW/ACT Rams was reestablished as a TAC Cup team, with players from the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants young academy sides being picked for the NSW/ACT team.

From 2019, the newly named NAB League introduced six new teams: the AFL Academy sides of Gold Coast, GWS Giants, Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions; the Northern Territory; and the returning Tassie Mariners, who were later renamed the Tasmania Devils. Additionally, teams were able to include more 19-year-olds – previously only three could be selected. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and in 2021 the competition fully transitioned from under-18s to under-19s – although the draft age to senior football remained at 18. Since 2023 the league has been primarily by under-18 players, with a selection of under-19 players also listed.

Age eligibility

For many years the league was primarily a competition for 18-year-olds, though exceptions were made for bottom-aged players—16- or 17-year-olds—and since 2007, over-age players—19-year-olds—to participate in the competition. In 2021 the league shifted to an under-19 level, though the entry age for the AFL draft remains 18.

Since the beginning of the 2007 TAC Cup season, clubs have been granted permission to select up to five over-age players permitted on their lists.

Nonetheless, age eligibility requirements remain for the AFL draft, where players must have turned seventeen years of age by 30 April of that draft year to be eligible for selection by an AFL club.

Awards

Morrish Medal

The Morrish Medal is awarded to the best player in the competition each year. The same medal was previously awarded to the best player in the Victorian Football League Thirds/Under-19s competition, which the TAC Cup superseded.

TAC Cup Coaches Award

The TAC Cup Coaches Award is voted on by both coaches in a 5–4–3–2–1 format at the end of each game. At the end of the 2015 season, the award was discontinued.

1992Brad SmithNorthern Knights

Coverage

All matches are live streamed on the AFL app.

Former coverage included:

  • The Match of the Round being broadcast live on Rumble 103, an internet radio station based in Melbourne.
  • A TAC Cup show screening on Channel 9 in Melbourne and across Victoria and Inland NSW border regions on WIN TV from 1 p.m. every Sunday from late March until the end of September.
  • TAC Cup news and results being seen on C31's Local Footy Show and heard on the ABC's Triple J radio station.
  • TAC Cup matches were broadcast live on C31 in Melbourne, Geelong & regional Victoria in 2010.
  • Radio stations SYN FM & RRR FM broadcast coverage of TAC Cup football matches every weekend during the season.

Clubs

Current clubs

ClubColoursStateHome venueEst.SeasonsPremiershipsFirstTotalTotalRecentBendigo PioneersBrisbane Lions (A)Calder CannonsDandenong Stingrays (Southern Stingrays 1992-95)Eastern RangesGeelong FalconsGippsland PowerGold Coast Suns (A)Greater Western Sydney Giants (A)Greater Western Victoria Rebels (Ballarat 1992-95, North Ballarat 1996-2016)Murray BushrangersNorthern Knights (Preston 1996-99)Northern Territory ThunderOakleigh ChargersSandringham Dragons (Central Dragons 1992-95, Prahran 1996-99)Sydney Swans (A)Tasmania DevilsWestern Jets
[[File:Bendigo Pioneers Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICQueen Elizabeth Oval19931993320
[[File:Brisbane_Lions_Football_Club_colours.svgcenter40x40px]]QLDBrighton Homes Arena201020196Not eligible
[[File:Calder Cannons Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICHighgate Recreation Reserve199519953062010
[[File:Dandenong Stingrays Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICShepley Oval199219923312018
[[File:Eastern Ranges Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICKilsyth Recreation Reserve199219923332025
[[File:Geelong Falcons Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICChirnside Park199219923332017
[[File:Gippsland Power Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICMorwell Recreation Reserve199319933212005
[[File:Gold Coast Suns colours.svgcenter40x40px]]QLDCarrara Stadium201020196Not eligible
[[File:GWS_Football_Club_colours.svgcenter40x40px[[File:GWS_Football_Club_colours_(2012-2020).svgcenter40x40px]]]]NSWSydney Showground Stadium201020196Not eligible
[[File:Greater Western Victoria Rebels Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICEureka Stadium199319933211997
[[File:Murray Bushrangers Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICNorm Minns Oval, Wangaratta199319933222008
[[File:Northern Knights Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICPreston City Oval199219923341996
[[File:Northern Territory Academy colours.svgcenter40x40px]]NTMarrara Oval1979200022Not eligible
[[File:Port_Melbourne_Football_Club_colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICWarrawee Park199519953052019
[[File:Sandringham Dragons Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICTrevor Barker Beach Oval199219923362024
[[File:Sydney Football Club colours.svgcenter40x40px]]NSWSydney Cricket Ground201020196Not eligible
[[File:Tasmania Football Club colours (2026).svgcenter40x40px]]TASBellerive Oval; York Park2019201960
[[File:Western Jets Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]VICWilliamstown Cricket Ground19921992330
  • (A) Denotes that the club is the academy team of a senior club of the Australian Football League

Former clubs

ClubColoursState & TerritoryHome venueEst.SeasonsPremiershipsYearsTotalGold Coast Suns (S)Greater Western Sydney (S)NSW/ACT RamsQueensland ScorpionsTassie Mariners
[[File:Gold Coast Suns Football Club Colours - TAC Cup.svgcenter40x40px]]QLDCarrara Stadium20092009200910
[[File:Greater Western Sydney Football Club Colours - TAC Cup.svgcenter41x41px]]NSWSydney Showground Stadium20102010201010
[[File:NSW ACT Rams Football Club Colours.svgcenter40x40px]]NSW & ACTVarious199619962009;
20112011;
20132016140
[[File:Queensland State of Origin colours (Australian Rules).svgcenter40x40px]]QLDGabba Ground195320002008;
2010201616Not eligible
[[File:Tasmania Football Club colours (2026).svgcenter40x40px]]TASBellerive Oval,
York Park197619952016220
  • (S) − Senior side of a club that later joined the AFL

Timeline

ImageSize = width:1200 height:580 PlotArea = width:800 height:500 left:130 bottom:50 AlignBars = late

BarData= bar:NT text:Northern Territory bar:NS text:NSW/ACT Rams bar:SS text:Sydney Swans Academy bar:BL text:Brisbane Lions Academy bar:WS text:GWS/Academy bar:GC text:Gold Coast Suns/Academy bar:TM text:Tassie Mariners/Devils bar:OC text:Oakleigh Chargers bar:CC text:Calder Cannons bar:GW text:GW Victoria Rebels bar:MB text:Murray Bushrangers bar:GP text:Gippsland Power bar:BP text:Bendigo Pioneers bar:WJ text:Western Jets bar:SD text:Sandringham Dragons bar:NK text:Northern Knights bar:GF text:Geelong Falcons bar:ER text:Eastern Ranges bar:DS text:Dandenong Stingrays

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DateFormat = yyyy Period = from:1992 till:2026 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = unit:year increment:1 start:1992 gridcolor:lgrey ScaleMinor = unit:year increment:1 start:1992 gridcolor:vlgrey

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color:premier width:12 bar:GF from:1992 till:1993 bar:NK from:1993 till:1997 bar:GW from:1997 till:1998 bar:MB from:1998 till:1999 bar:SD from:1999 till:2000 bar:GF from:2000 till:2001 bar:CC from:2001 till:2002 bar:ER from:2002 till:2003 bar:CC from:2003 till:2005 bar:GP from:2005 till:2006 bar:OC from:2006 till:2007 bar:CC from:2007 till:2008 bar:MB from:2008 till:2009 bar:CC from:2009 till:2010 bar:CC from:2010 till:2011 bar:SD from:2011 till:2012 bar:OC from:2012 till:2013 bar:ER from:2013 till:2014 bar:OC from:2014 till:2015 bar:OC from:2015 till:2016 bar:SD from:2016 till:2017 bar:GF from:2017 till:2018 bar:DS from:2018 till:2019 bar:OC from:2019 till:2020 bar:SD from:2022 till:2025 bar:ER from:2025 till:2026

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color:spoon width:12 bar:SD from:1992 till:1993 bar:BP from:1993 till:1994 bar:BP from:1994 till:1995 bar:TM from:1995 till:1996 bar:SD from:1996 till:1997 bar:WJ from:1997 till:1998 bar:WJ from:1998 till:1999 bar:NS from:1999 till:2000 bar:NK from:2000 till:2001 bar:TM from:2001 till:2002 bar:WJ from:2002 till:2003 bar:GP from:2003 till:2004 bar:NK from:2004 till:2005 bar:BP from:2005 till:2006 bar:BP from:2006 till:2007 bar:SD from:2007 till:2008 bar:NK from:2008 till:2009 bar:SD from:2009 till:2010 bar:BP from:2010 till:2011 bar:BP from:2011 till:2012 bar:ER from:2012 till:2013 bar:GW from:2013 till:2014 bar:BP from:2014 till:2015 bar:BP from:2015 till:2016 bar:NK from:2016 till:2017 bar:BP from:2017 till:2018 bar:BP from:2018 till:2019 bar:GF from:2019 till:2020 bar:NK from:2022 till:2023 bar:MB from:2023 till:2024 bar:OC from:2024 till:2025 bar:WJ from:2025 till:2026

Legend = left:50 top:20 columnwidth:90

VFL affiliations

Nine of the 12 Victorian-based Talent League clubs are affiliated with a Victorian Football League (VFL) club. This allows for a development pathway between under-18s football and state-level senior football, with top-age players permitted to play senior VFL games under the 23rd man rule:

  • Calder Cannons - Coburg
  • Dandenong Stingrays - Frankston
  • Eastern Ranges - Box Hill
  • Geelong Falcons - Werribee
  • Gippsland Power - Casey Demons
  • Northern Knights - Northern Bullants
  • Oakleigh Chargers - Port Melbourne
  • Sandringham Dragons - Sandringham
  • Western Jets - Williamstown

Premiers

SeasonPremiersGF ScoreRunner-upVenueBest-on-ground
1992Geelong Falcons18.16 (124) – 12.10 (82)Western JetsMelbourne Cricket GroundDaniel Fletcher
1993Northern Knights32.10 (202) – 18.11 (119)Western JetsMelbourne Cricket GroundShannon Gibson
1994Northern Knights16.21 (117) – 15.17 (107)Geelong FalconsMelbourne Cricket GroundAnthony Rocca
1995Northern Knights12.20 (92) – 7.21 (63)Eastern RangesMelbourne Cricket GroundBrent Harvey
1996Northern Knights15.15 (105) – 14.6 (90)NSW/ACT RamsMelbourne Cricket GroundMatthew Harrison
1997North Ballarat Rebels16.15 (111) – 10.16 (76)Dandenong StingraysMelbourne Cricket GroundAdam Goodes
1998Murray Bushrangers17.18 (120) – 12.12 (84)Geelong FalconsMelbourne Cricket GroundMichael Stevens
1999Sandringham Dragons16.8 (104) – 8.6 (54)Gippsland PowerMelbourne Cricket GroundDylan Smith
2000Geelong Falcons18.16 (124) – 15.12 (102)Eastern RangesMelbourne Cricket GroundAmon Buchanan
2001Calder Cannons16.14 (110) – 10.13 (73)Bendigo PioneersMelbourne Cricket GroundJordan Barham
2002Eastern Ranges10.5 (65) – 9.10 (64)Calder CannonsMelbourne Cricket GroundStephen Dinnell
2003Calder Cannons16.14 (110) – 2.6 (18)Murray BushrangersMelbourne Cricket GroundBrock McLean
2004Calder Cannons19.20 (134) – 9.10 (64)Eastern RangesMelbourne Cricket GroundJesse D. Smith
2005Gippsland Power12.9 (81) – 10.6 (66)Dandenong StingraysMelbourne Cricket GroundDale Thomas
2006Oakleigh Chargers19.16 (130) – 16.7 (103)Calder CannonsMelbourne Cricket GroundDean Kelly
2007Calder Cannons14.20 (104) – 7.12 (54)Murray BushrangersMelbourne Cricket GroundAshley Arrowsmith
2008Murray Bushrangers21.16 (142) – 9.7 (61)Dandenong StingraysDocklands Stadium/Telstra DomeSteele Sidebottom
2009Calder Cannons17.10 (112) – 14.14 (98)Dandenong StingraysDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumJake Melksham
2010Calder Cannons17.14 (116) – 8.10 (58)Gippsland PowerDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumMitch Wallis
2011Sandringham Dragons17.11 (113) – 16.9 (105)Oakleigh ChargersDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumJack Viney
2012Oakleigh Chargers12.10 (82) – 12.9 (81)Gippsland PowerDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumJackson Macrae
2013Eastern Ranges24.8 (152) – 5.10 (40)Dandenong StingraysDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumBen Cavarra
2014Oakleigh Chargers17.15 (117) – 11.4 (70)Calder CannonsDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumToby McLean
2015Oakleigh Chargers10.13 (73) – 9.7 (61)Eastern RangesDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumKade Answerth
2016Sandringham Dragons12.13 (85) – 9.14 (68)Murray BushrangersDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumAndrew McGrath
2017Geelong Falcons13.11 (89) – 13.9 (87)Sandringham DragonsDocklands Stadium/Etihad StadiumGryan Miers
2018Dandenong Stingrays12.8 (80) - 11.8 (74)Oakleigh ChargersPrinces Park/Ikon ParkMatthew Rowell
2019Oakleigh Chargers12.17 (89) - 5.6 (36)Eastern RangesPrinces Park/Ikon ParkMatthew Rowell
2020No premiership awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021No premiership awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2022Sandringham Dragons14.10 (94) – 7.9 (51)Dandenong StingraysPrinces Park/Ikon ParkWill Ashcroft
2023Sandringham Dragons17.10 (112) - 10.9 (69)Eastern RangesPrinces Park/Ikon ParkWill Brown
2024Sandringham Dragons16.7 (103) - 10.6 (66)Greater Western Victoria RebelsPrinces Park/Ikon ParkSam Marshall
2025Eastern Ranges13.5 (83) - 10.8 (68)Sandringham DragonsPrinces Park/Ikon ParkXavier Taylor

Total premierships by club

  • 6 – Calder Cannons, Sandringham Dragons
  • 5 – Oakleigh Chargers
  • 4 – Northern Knights
  • 3 – Geelong Falcons, Eastern Ranges
  • 2 – Murray Bushrangers
  • 1 – Dandenong Stingrays, Gippsland Power, Greater Western Victoria Rebels
  • 0 – Bendigo Pioneers, Western Jets

NSW/ACT Rams, as of 2015, do not play a full season, and therefore cannot compete for the premiership.

Total runner-up placements by club

  • 6 – Dandenong Stingrays, Eastern Ranges
  • 5 -
  • 4 -
  • 3 – Murray Bushrangers, Calder Cannons, Gippsland Power
  • 2 – Oakleigh Chargers, Geelong Falcons, Western Jets, Sandringham Dragons
  • 1 – Greater Western Victoria Rebels, Bendigo Pioneers, NSW/ACT Rams
  • 0 – Northern Knights

Talent League Girls

Main article: Talent League Girls

A female youth competition, the Talent League Girls, equivalent to the Talent League, was inaugurated in 2017.

References

References

  1. [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-17/afl-national-draft-private-school-representation-langford-hynes/104611300 Dominance of private school prospects in AFL draft expected to continue in 2024] By Erin Marsicovetere for ABC News 17 November 2024
  2. (2023-02-06). "Coates Talent League to take off in 2023".
  3. "Our History". Sandringham Dragons Football Club.
  4. (12 December 2013). "2014 TAC Cup fixture released". Sportingpulse.
  5. "Journey back in time for TAC Cup - Australian Rules/Footy - Sport {{!}} Moreland Leader".
  6. [http://www.aflnswact.com.au/index.php?id=5&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2487&cHash=7729ba1ba3 Rams to travel to Melbourne for first TAC Cup game in 12 years]
  7. (17 August 2018). "TAC Cup set for major overhaul in 2019". afl.com.au.
  8. (17 August 2018). "AFL Draft 2018: Premier TAC Cup competition set for major shake-up to include interstate teams in Victoria". [[Fox Sports Australia]].
  9. Max Laughton. (24 August 2020). "VFL to merge with NEAFL, under-18 comps revamped in massive changes to AFL's second tier". Fox Sports.
  10. (5 February 2021). "NAB League Media Release - The future of women's kicks off on Saturday". AFL.com.au.
  11. [http://www.foxsportspulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=0-3020-0-0-0&sID=159891 TAC Cup Coaches Award details]
  12. (13 September 2015). "Draft bolter Clayton Oliver clinches Morrish Medal". AFL.com.au.
  13. (8 September 2014). "TAC Cup award night winners". Sportingpulse.
  14. [http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1765508/rebel-louis-herbert-receives-tac-cup-coaches-award/ Herbert wins award in TAC Cup]
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