'Meant for the MCG': Storm star Xavier Coates leaves rivals stunned with 'freak' try of the year contender
Melbourne Storm winger Xavier Coates could attract some attention from teams in the AFL after he took a stunning airbourne mark to score a hat-trick against the Sharks.
Eager to ignite a comeback charge for the visiting team, Coates added a third individual try to the scoreboard to narrow the margin to six points with 10 minutes remaining.
It was a stellar effort from the Storm winger as he leapt almost two metres into the air above Cronulla's Daniel Atkinson to dive into goal and ground the ball.
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The 24-year-old pushed off Atkinson's back to retrieve the ball as all in attendance and on the field were left in shock.
"Oh my goodness. That is meant for the MCG," Mick Ennis said on Fox League.
"The knee up in the back of his head... He's two metres up in the air."
Sideline reporter Eloise Sohier added: "That is something we see in the AFL."
Xavier Coates leaps for the ball just a metre out from the tryline. Fox League
The impressive effort was not enough to save Melbourne from falling to defeat, although it has pushed the winger into contention for try of the year.
Harry Grant described Coates as a "freak" in such try-scoring situations and recognised that his teammate's talent has been overlooked by many in recent seasons.
"He's the ultimate competitor," Grant told Fox League post-match.
"He's been the most underrated winger in the game for a long, long time.
"I think Hawthorn might come knocking or something like that," he laughed.
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Xavier Coates celebrates scoring a try. Getty
Coach Craig Bellamy echoed the Storm captain's comments, admitting that he is highly impressed with the displays he has seen from Coates so far this season.
"He just keeps surprising me every week," Bellamy said in his press conference.
"He keeps scoring tries and sometimes you just think 'How the hell did he score that'. Everyone has different opinions on how they see it but he has just been unbelievable for us.
"Not only with that spectacular stuff, he always gets up and around 20 strong carries.
"He has been outstanding this year."
