IN the final edition of our Draft Central Player of the Week for NAB League Boys, Gippsland Power’s Riley Baldi has taken out the nomination after an impressive performance in the Power’s win over Bendigo Pioneers at Queen Elizabeth Oval. The Power midfielder became the first Power player this season to be nominated, and the third player from a NAB League Boys Country side. He earned the nomination after winning the Facebook poll against Geelong Falcons’ Charlie Sprague.
In the narrow 10-point win, Baldi picked up 27 disposals, five marks, five inside 50s and two rebounds, while laying seven tackles and booting two goals from three scoring shots – including a narrow miss. The 178cm midfielder/forward has played seven games for the Power this year, returning from injury in Round 5 and immediately having an impact, then missing games due to Vic Country commitments. He has picked up 20 or more disposals in six of his seven matches, averaging 24.3 disposals, 5.4 marks, 3.4 tackles, 4.3 inside 50s and 1.0 rebounds, as well as hitting the scoreboard with seven goals and five behinds. He also played all four games for Vic Country, averaging 19.0 disposals, 6.3 marks, 3.3 clearances, 6.0 tackles and 2.5 inside 50s. He looms as a crucial player for Gippsland in the upcoming NAB League Boys finals series.
DRAFT CENTRAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
ROUND 1: Noah Anderson (Oakleigh Chargers)
ROUND 2: Mitch Mellis (Eastern Ranges)
ROUND 3: Matt Rowell (Oakleigh Chargers)
ROUND 4: Tom Green (GWS GIANTS Academy)
ROUND 5: Zakery Pretty (Eastern Ranges)
ROUND 6: Trent Bianco (Oakleigh Chargers)
ROUND 7: Sam Conforti (Bendigo Pioneers)
ROUND 8: Darcy Cassar (Western Jets)
ROUND 9: Lucas Rocci (Western Jets)
ROUND 10: Jordan Jaworski (Eastern Ranges)
ROUND 11: Darcy Chirgwin (Sandringham Dragons)
ROUND 12: Jye Chalcraft (Murray Bushrangers)
ROUND 13: Matt McGuinness (Tasmania Devils)
ROUND 14: Josh D’Intinosante (Northern Knights)
ROUND 15: Angus Hanrahan (Sandringham Dragons)
ROUND 16: Lochlan Jenkins (Oakleigh Chargers)
ROUND 17: RILEY BALDI (GIPPSLAND POWER)
2024 AFL Draft Preview: Richmond Tigers
RICHMOND holds all the keys to this year’s AFL Draft, boasting a whopping eight selections inside the first 24 – including the coveted pick one. Having lost a raft of experienced players and club greats during the offseason, the Tigers are now primed to accelerate their rebuild over the next two intakes. >> FREE: View […]
2024 AFL Draft Preview: Port Adelaide
FRESH off a fourth top four finish in the last five years, Port Adelaide welcomed three new players via trade period to help soften the blow of Dan Houston‘s move to Collingwood. Now, the Power boast a pair of top 30 selections and will look to remain a contender into the long-term. >> FREE: View […]
Port powers past Hawks after epic tussle
AFTER an incredible fourth quarter comeback, Port Adelaide is through to its first ever AFL Women’s Preliminary Final after defeating Hawthorn by the slimmest of margins last night. Perhaps still trying to calm the heart rate after the chaos of the final five minutes of the quarter, Power coach Lauren Arnell admitted that it was […]
Clarke’s Crows reach another prelim
ADELAIDE has won through to yet another AFL Women’s Preliminary Final, this time comprehensively beating Fremantle to set up a date with fellow perennial contenders Brisbane next week. Reflecting on the game post-match, Adelaide coach Matthew Clarke said that the Crows were “rapt” with how the game panned out. “I thought that probably the first […]
2024 AFL Draft Preview: North Melbourne
HAVING prioritised its midfield depth across a drawn-out rebuild, North Melbourne lays claim to a premium pick at the top-end of a draft renowned for its array of on-ball talent. Nonetheless, opportunity presents for the Roos to either take on another quality prospect, or utilise their strong hand to both shuffle down the order and […]
2024 AFL Draft Preview: Melbourne Demons
MELBOURNE will be a key player at the pointy end of this year’s AFL Draft, boasting a pair of top 10 selections. The Dees will look to rebound from a disappointing campaign, which produced the silver lining of pick five, as well as Essendon’s pick nine to target elite talent in what is a strong […]
PREVIEW | AFLW 2024: Semi-Final 2
TODAY’s second AFLW Semi-Final sees this year’s two finals debutants – who had vastly different experiences making their finals debuts last week – square off for a chance to meet North Melbourne next week in a preliminary final.
PREVIEW | AFLW 2024: Semi-Final 1
THE TRULY cutthroat part of AFL Women’s finals gets underway today, with a semi-final between two stalwarts of the competition that have both seen their share of finals in their time.
2024 AFL Draft Preview: Hawthorn Hawks
HAWTHORN’S rapid transition from its rebuild phase to be a genuine contender is no better exemplified by its position in this year’s AFL Draft. A rampant trade period sees the Hawks poised to enter this year’s event in the second round, having laid claim to top 10 picks in every intake since 2019. >> FREE: […]
