The Geelong Falcons copped a heavy defeat on the weekend but there was a promising performance from a recognisable name.

Van Rahilly, the son of current Cats assistant coach James, grasped a midfield opportunity after spending most of the season as a small forward.

He equalled his season-best tally of 20 disposals in the defeat to the Sydney Swans Academy after Paul Corrigan increased his on-ball time.

Rahilly's old man was excited to see how his son performed on the weekend.

“He’s playing in the midfield this week, which will be good for him,” Rahilly said on SEN last Friday.

“He’s usually a small forward so he’s having an opportunity through the midfield.”

James says he is in a fortunate position as he doesn't have to intervene when it comes to coaching, instead sending some current day Cats stars to impart their wisdom.

“I’m very lucky because I’ve got some players that help him out,” Rahilly Snr added.

“Tom Atkins is going to do some centre bounce work with him and Shaun Mannagh is doing some small forward craft, so I don’t have to do it.”

While Van is learning from some star Cats, he is not father/son eligible as James played 90 games in the blue and white hoops.

Bendigo Pioneers gun Cody Walker again played in the VFL for Carlton where he’ll end up as a father/son selection towards the pointy end of this year’s draft. He had 22 disposals plus seven score involvements, five tackles, four inside 50s, three clearances and a goal in another strong state league showing.

Lions Academy star Harrison Bridge played for Brisbane in the VFL. They were easily beaten by Geelong but the experience was invaluable for Bridge who kicked two goals from seven touches.

See below for the wrap of the weekend’s Talent League matches:

Top 10 fantasy points

1 - Max Thompson (BP) - 163
2 - Lachlan Hicks (WJ) - 161
3 - Kobe Williams (WJ) - 153
Eq.4 - Ethan Matthews (GWS) & Cooper Collins (GCS) - 151
6 - Lachlan Price (SS) - 122
7 - Cooper French (GWS) - 121
8 - Mitchell Gillan (ER) - 118
9 - Angus Tippett (WJ) - 116
10 - Miller Young (TD) - 114

Bendigo Pioneers (67) v (104) Northern Knights

The Knights continued their premiership tilt with a comfortable 37-point win over the Pioneers in Bendigo. Anthony Rocca’s Knights sit on top of the Talent League table with a 7-0 record and a massive percentage of 224. Sonny Caruso was among their best with 27 disposals and 1.3 as Toby Jeffs bagged a game-high 6.2 from 14 disposals and seven marks. The 191cm, 16-year-old athletic Yarrambat product can also play in defence, with his bag highlighting his versatility. Toby Krasna performed well with 24 touches, six inside 50s and a goal, Tate Hodgson had it 21 times with seven rebound 50s, and Sam Gayfer almost had a day out but kicked inaccurately to finish with 1.6 from 12 touches and six marks. For Bendigo, Max Thompson was enormous with a game-high 33 possessions as well as 12 marks (game-high), seven tackles, seven inside 50s and a goal. Noah Willits was also prolific for the Pioneers with 27 touches including 22 kicks, plus eight rebound 50s and seven tackles. Jack Bell kicked two goals from 20 disposals and eight marks.

1 - Max Thompson (BP) - 163
2 - Noah Willits (BP) - 110
3 - Jack Bell (BP) - 109
4 - Sonny Caruso (NK) - 103
5 - Toby Jeffs (NK) - 103

GWV Rebels (85) v (88) Tasmania Devils

The Devils edged the Rebels in a seesawing affair in Ballarat. For the winning team it was Jake Beams who again led the way, racking up an equal game-high 32 disposals including 20 kicks, six inside 50s and four erebound 50s. Beams is averaging 28.3 disposals so far this season. Lucas Wootton also amassed 32 possessions plus nine inside 50s and a goal in another strong showing. Hugh McCallum’s impressive season continued with another 29 touches (21 kicks), eight marks and six inside 50s while Miller Young contributed 28 touches (22 kicks), nine marks, six rebound 50s and a goal. 16-year-old Thomas Bearman booted 4.3 in a busy forward showing for Tassie. For the Rebels, Ethan Drever was again their most prolific player with a team-best 26 touches, seven tackles, five inside 50s and four rebound 50s. Charlie Kenna featured with 22 disposals, seven tackles and a goal, Archie Elliott kicked 4.2 from 14 touches and Leo Ellerton kicked three goals.

1 - Miller Young (TD) - 114
2 - Lucas Wootton (TD) - 111
3 - Jake Beams (TD) - 106
Eq.4 - Charlie Kenna (GWV) & Hugh McCallum (TD) - 105
6 - Ethan Drever (GWV) - 102

NT Academy (54) v (126) Western Jets

The Jets gave the NT Academy a fair licking in Darwin, winning by 72 points at TIO Stadium. Lachlan Hicks was immense for the visitors, racking up 33 touches, taking 10 marks, laying six tackles and kicking four goals. Monster numbers from the Altona product. Hicks’ gun teammate Kobe Williams produced another prolific performance with 29 disposals (21 kicks), 13 marks, six inside 50s and three goals. Angus Tippett had it 31 times with six inside 50s, 16-year-old Griffin Barker had 21 touches, seven inside 50s and kicked two, and Western Bulldogs NGA prospect Khaled El Souki helped himself to four goals. The crafty 174cm forward/mid has now kicked 27 for the season to lead the Talent League by seven. Nathaniel Lampton was one of the NT’s best with 25 possessions, Ben Barnard was again solid for the Territory side with 22 touches and a goal, while Frances Tipungwuti booted two goals.

1 - Lachlan Hicks (WJ) - 161
2 - Kobe Williams (WJ) - 153
3 - Angus Tippett (WJ) - 116
4 - Griffin Barker (WJ) - 94
5 - Nathaniel Lampton (NT) - 92

Dandenong Stingrays (70) v (98) GWS Giants

The Giants beat the Stingrays by 28 points at Shepley Oval in Dandenong, kicking a wayward 13.20. Ethan Matthews has been doing some damage so far in 2026, and that continued with another significant outing. He had a game-high 36 disposals (24 kicks), a massive 14 inside 50s, as well as eight tackles while kicking 2.3. His partner in crime Cooper French had great numbers yet again, finishing with 31 touches, nine inside 50s, six marks and 1.3, while Brody Kane booted four goals and had 20 possessions. 16-year-old Jed Corbett had a near fill-up, booting 2.4 from 10 touches. For Dandy it was Wil Antrobus who led the way with 35 touches (22 kicks), an enormous 16 rebound 50s and four tackles. Helping him was Ben Carroll who had it 27 times and kicked two goals, while Bruce Gibson contributed 25 possessions and a goal and Orlando Clark had 26 touches, seven rebound 50s and seven marks.

1 - Ethan Matthews (GWS) - 151
2 - Cooper French (GWS) - 121
3 - Wil Antrobus (DS) - 111
4 - Bruce Gibson (DS) - 109
5 - Ben Carroll (DS) - 104

Sydney Swans Academy (129) v (54) Geelong Falcons

The Swans Academy is a seriously good football side. They made it six on the trot courtesy of a 75-point drubbing of the Falcons at Blacktown. Usual suspect Lachlan Price bounced back from a quieter performance with a team-high 26 touches and a trio of eights - marks, tackles and inside 50s. Lincoln Chambers was the leading scorer on the ground with 4.3 from 17 disposals and six marks, and Ricky Meyrick had the ball 22 times. Oliver Griffiths and James O’Loughlin each kicked three goals. O’Loughlin is the son of Swans legend and premiership star Michael. For the Falcons, Riley McLure was yet again one of their very best, finishing with 27 touches (20 kicks) seven marks and seven rebound 50s. Kyan Walters contributed 25 disposals, eight marks and six rebound 50s, and Archer Chamberlain kicked 2.3. Van Rahilly was busy with 20 disposals and four inside 50s after gaining some extra midfield minutes.

1 - Lachlan Price (SS) - 122
2 - Riley McLure (GF) - 102
3 - Lincoln Chambers (SS) - 98
4 - Kyan Walters (GF) - 90
5 - Ricky Meyrick (SS) - 86

Brisbane Lions Academy (87) v (55) Eastern Ranges

The Lions continued on their merry way with a 32-point win over the one-win Ranges at Brighton Homes Arena. Caylen Murray is putting together a nice campaign, this time amassing 24 disposals with seven marks, seven inside 50s, five tackles and two goals. Ben Lillico was busy with 25 touches, seven inside 50s and a couple fo goals, while Ethan Duke had it 20 times and kicked a goal. Hawthorn father/son prospect and Lions Academy star Cooper Hodge again put up solid numbers with 24 possessions and a game-high 11 inside 50s. Reece Thompson booted three majors for the Lions. Harrison Chapman led the way for Eastern, racking up an equal game-best 30 touches plus 10 marks, while Jordan Knapp also had it 30 times in another productive outing. Jett Flower, grandson of Demons legend Robbie, had 28 touches with six inside 50s and rebound 50s, Mitchell Gillan had 24 touches and seven tackles and William Waller put up 25 disposals and six rebound 50s.

1 - Mitchell Gillan (ER) - 118
2 - Caylen Murray (BL) - 113
3 - Harrison Chapman (ER) - 112
4 - Jordan Knapp (ER) - 111
5 - Jett Flower (ER) - 105

Gippsland Power (80) v (84) Gold Coast Suns Academy

The Suns held on for a narrow win by four points over the Power at La Trobe Uni in Bundoora. Cooper Collins was immense again for the Suns with a game-high 36 disposals (25 kicks), 11 marks, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s. The Broadbeach talent has racked up 27, 26, 30, 42 and 36 in his five Talent League game so far this season. Harrison Gray chimed in with 25 touches, Leroy Kaesler had it 24 times and Ben Crawford, son of Hawks legend Shane, had 17 touches and kicked a goal. For Gippy it was Thomas Macmillan who had a bit of the ball, racking up 25 touches (20 kicks) plus eight marks and seven rebound 50s. Twin brother Connor had 23 disposals, six rebound 50s and a goal, while Clancy Snell had 24 possessions and Levi Macumber had 23. Jonah Walker booted four goals as the leading scorer on the ground.

1 - Cooper Collins (GCS) - 151
2 - Thomas Macmillan (GP) - 103
3 - Levi Macumber (GP) - 89
4 - Connor Macmillan (GP) - 88
5 - Harrison Gray (GCS) - 87