DANDENONG Stingrays midfielder Elwood Peckett is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after a remarkable all-round performance in Round 17. He amassed 25 disposals, nine marks, eight tackles, seven inside 50s, and five goals in his side’s 57-point road win over Murray on Saturday.

Peckett, the son of 252-game former Saint Justin, is tied to St Kilda as a potential father-son selection this year. He has broken out over the last couple of weeks, culminating in a season-best effort which boosted his averages to 16.7 disposals, 4.3 marks, and 3.5 tackles across 11 games.

The 187cm top-ager has had the privilege of waxing with the likes of co-captains Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes in Dandenong’s engine room this year, both of whom also stuffed the stats sheet in Round 17. It was the Stingrays’ second win on the bounce, and sixth in their last seven games.

OUR SCOUTS SAID…

“The Saints father-son prospect has shown many glimpses through the season, but put it all together in a commanding performance on the weekend. Peckett was hard at it all game and consistently came out of contests with ball in hand…

“He was rewarded for his hard running off the ball in the attacking phase, with many of his scoring opportunities coming from marks he earned by simply outworking his opponent. All of his goals came from difficult spots, either outside the 50m arc or on less than desirable angles.” – Declan Reeve.

Peckett beat out Eastern Ranges star Christian Moraes in this week’s Player of the Week poll, claiming 68 per cent of the votes. Moraes is perhaps the most unlucky prospect to miss out on a nod yet, having racked up 27 touches, six marks and five goals in the Ranges’ 54-point win over Western.

Around the grounds, Oliver Hannaford put in another superb shift with 16 disposals and two goals for the second week running. His GWV Rebels beat Gippsland by 24 points at ETU Stadium, with Power captain Xavier Lindsay (26 disposals, five inside 50s, one goal) once again proving a standout.

Calder midfielder Nash King and Tasmanian defender Max Roney led all comers with 31 disposals apiece as the Cannons raided the Apple Isle for a 22-point victory. Visiting skipper Damon Hollow was again lively in the forward half, booting four goals to make it nine in his last three games.

Sunday’s lone fixture saw Geelong eke out an eight-point win over Bendigo. Tobie Travaglia (27 disposals, 11 tackles) and James Barrat (21 disposals, nine marks) both put in shifts for the Pioneers, as did Falcons Lachie Jaques (23 disposals, seven marks) and Joe Pike (23 disposals, 37 hitouts).

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Round 1: Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
Round 2: Taj Hotton (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 3: Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons)
Round 4: N/A
Round 5: Bailey McKenzie (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 6: Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 7: Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)
Round 8: Geordie Payne (Tasmania Devils)
Round 9: Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 10: Jonty Faull (GWV Rebels)
Round 11: Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 12: Joshua Murphy (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 13: Zane Cochrane (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 14: Zac Harding (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 15: Cooper Ward (Geelong Falcons)
Round 16: Jack Ough (GWV Rebels)
Round 17: Elwood Peckett (Dandenong Stingrays)