Best Young Player from the Weekend (15.06.2026)

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**Mark Duffield** (1:03)
Time for The Next Vintage, which comes to us thanks to Forrester Estate Family-Owned Premium Margaret River Wine. We're talking about the next generation of AFL players. Paul Heath has joined me in the studio. Heata, welcome.

**Paul Heath** (1:19)
Morning Duff, how are you?

**Mark Duffield** (1:20)
I'm very well, thank you.

**Paul Heath** (1:21)
Yeah, we had a bit of a funny altercation, if we can call it that, with this week's best players for The Next Vintage.
I had to go and find someone else because the rugby league didn't play on the weekend, and I decided to go with Jasper Alga from Richmond. And about 20 minutes later, I checked in and you said, I'm going to go with Jasper Alga from Richmond. So that's how good Jasper was on the weekend. A great effort from him.

**Mark Duffield** (1:47)
It was.

**Paul Heath** (1:48)
They really gave it a nudge as well, didn't they? Against the Lions.

**Mark Duffield** (1:51)
Yeah, for half a game. Yeah. I don't think the Lions are overly fond of going to Hobart.
Where there's a little bit different to Queensland. I think they got beaten down there either last year or the year before by an underman Richmond team. So I expected it to be closer than everyone thought. But eventually the class told, and probably there's probably a bit of sense of urgency about the Lions at the moment as well. They know they've got to get going.

**Paul Heath** (2:18)
Yeah. It's not going to be around for all year, is it?
So yeah, Jasper goes and kicks four goals, six marks. Just a great effort to keep them in the team as a young player as well. He's only eight games into his career as well as young Jasper. So that's my nomination this week for The Next Vintage. Who have you got?

**Mark Duffield** (2:34)
And so I decided to bend the rules a little bit. And I've gone with West Coast Marcus Herbert.

**Paul Heath** (2:40)
That's all right.

**Mark Duffield** (2:41)
Mid-season rookie draft pick made his AFL debut at Optus Stadium against North Melbourne. Absolutely looked like he belonged from very early in the game. And it's not just the fact that he got a few touches. He had 15 disposals, six marks, the two tackles, 264 metres gained. But it was the composure he showed with the ball, the spatial awareness when he knew he could step somebody and get through into more space and have more time to use the ball. And also the ground level crunch with Charlie Comben later in the game was absolute top level commitment. A really hard hit caused a spill of the ball, nearly gathered the ball on the rebound as well after the collision.
I think he belongs. I think he'll play a good amount of AFL footy. And I think West Coast have chosen well there.

**Paul Heath** (3:31)
Was he at the short term deal? Marcus, did he have the six month deal?

**Mark Duffield** (3:36)
If he did, it won't be for long.

**Paul Heath** (3:37)
Yeah, well, they'll be looking to renegotiate that if that's the case. Exactly. That's the next vintage. Thanks to Forrester Estate, family owned, premium Market River wine. Enjoy 25% off online with the code SEN25. That's 25% off online with the code SEN25.