BENDIGO Pioneers’ impressive win over Gippsland Power has resulted in four players receiving spots in the Draft Central NAB League Girls’ Team of the Week for Round 5. The Pioneers had the most of any club for the round, one more than Geelong Falcons, while a further seven clubs had two players each. The Power, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Murray Bushrangers all had the one player each after defeats on the weekend.

The Pioneers midfield was ultra impressive and Brooke Hards, Annabel Strachan and Hannah Stewart all made the side, along with goalsneak mid-forward Elizabeth Snell who bagged five majors and earned the title of Draft Central Player of the Week for Round 4. The Geelong Falcons had another impressive win on the weekend, coming from behind to knock off Dandenong Stingrays and were rewarded with three players in Team of the Week, captain Lucy McEvoy, full-forward Renee Tierney and midfielder Paige Sheppard. Their opponents the Stingrays had two players each, with defender Brooke Vernon in the side for a fourth week, as well as Georgia Howes who was impressive up forward.

Also in defence is Sandringham Dragons’ Alice Burke and Sarah Hartwig, with Hartwig and Western Jets’ Isabelle Pritchard likely to form the defensive duo in Vic Metro’s campaign at the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. Pritchard is joined in the side by teammate Isabella Grant on the wing. On the other wing is Georgia Patrikios who stood out in Calder Cannons’ win over Murray Bushrangers, while Alana Barba has been named at centre half-forward. Sophie McCarthy booted three goals up the other end of the ground at RAMS Arena to earn a spot in the pocket.

Northern Knights Team of the Week regulars, Britney Gutknecht and Gabby Newton made the team once again, while Eastern Ranges opponents Tarni Brown and Serena Gibbs were impressive throughout and also earned nods in our team for Round 5. The other side with two players in the Team of the Week was Oakleigh Chargers, with Mimi Hill (half-back) and Alana Porter making the side. To round out the team is Gippsland Power defender Matilda Van Berkel who has been in good form the last few weeks in defence.