DANDENONG Stingrays and Northern Knights make up almost one third of the AFL Draft Central TAC Cup Team of the Week for Round 12 after the teams had strong wins over Bendigo Pioneers and Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels respectively. On the other end of the scale, a narrow win for the Sandringham Dragons, meant just the one player – Angus Hanrahan – squeezed into the 22, thanks to the strong team effort, although Liam Stocker was one of the hypothetical emergencies. The Dragons’ opponents Geelong Falcons had two, while Gippsland Power, Murray Bushrangers, Oakleigh Chargers and the Western Jets all had two nominations after their round 12 win. Besides from the Falcons, other round 12 losers, Bendigo Pioneers, Calder Cannons, Eastern Ranges and GWV Rebels just had the one nominee each.

For the ladder leading Stingrays, there are four players who have made the side after a big win over Bendigo. Three of the five starting midfielders are Stingrays, with Sam Fletcher, Campbell Hustwaite and Zac Foot making the side, as did mid/forward Jake Frawley who booted four first-half goals. At the same end, bottom-age Pioneers defender Braydon Vaz made the side in the back pocket. Northern Knights also had their fair share of players in the side, with Adam Carafa easily securing his spot on a wing with 37 disposals, joined by fellow midfielder Tom McKenzie, and forward Sunny Brazier. Opposition ruck, GWV Rebels’ Patrick Glanford makes his debut in the team after an impressive 38 hitouts in that game.

Geelong Falcons’ Team of the Week regulars, Sam Walsh and Brayden Ham both made the side once again, as did Gippsland Power tall forward Noah Gown and teammate Matthew McGannon (half-back). Joining McGannon at half-back is Murray Bushrangers defenders Lachlan Ash and Jacob Koschitzke. Ash has made the team on multiple occasions and slots into his regular position in defence, while Koschitzke is coming off a fantastic National Under 18 Championships and put in a strong performance for the Bushrangers.

Up the other end, Oakleigh’s damaging forward line is on show in the Team of the Week with AFL Draft Central’s TAC Cup Player of the Week Jake Gasper in at half-forward along with Dylan Williams. Noah Anderson narrowly missed out, although is considered unlucky given a three-goal performance but with so many good forward efforts this week it was hard to pick just six. Likewise Gippsland Power forward Irving Mosquito was also unlucky not to make the team, another hypothetical emergency for the team.

Western Jets might have had a loss, but still had two players in the team with defender Buku Khamis and Team of the Week regular Xavier O’Halloran making the side. For the other losing sides, Daniel Hanna (Calder Cannons) and Lachlan Stapleton (Eastern Ranges) also made it into the final 22 as their sides’ respective best players.