DESPITE some teams getting on the end of losses against their opponents, they still featured a number of standout individuals for Round 3, as the Draft Central NAB League Boys Team of the Week was announced. The big winners in Northern Knights led the way with four players, whilst narrow loser Geelong Falcons had three. Oakleigh Chargers, Bendigo Pioneers, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels, Murray Bushrangers, Sandringham Dragons, Tasmania Devils and Western Jets all had two players each in the side, whilst Bendigo Pioneers, Dandenong Stingrays, Eastern Ranges and Gippsland Power had the one each. Of those, Bendigo had the most even team performance, winning against the Falcons, but the spread made it difficult to select individual standouts.

The Knights were the standout team with plenty of contributors across the board and earned four players in this week’s side. In the midfield, Ewan Macpherson and Josh Ward lineup with Ned Long and Joel Trudgeon up forward following multiple goal efforts. The triple threat Falcons see Charlie Ham in the back pocket, Toby Conway in the ruck and Noah Gribble on the bench. The Knights easily accounted for Gippsland with Mitchell Moschetti earning a place on the bench for the Power, whilst the Falcons went down to the Pioneers, who had Sam Conforti and Cobi Maxted making the 24-player squad.

Captaining the side this week is Oakleigh Chargers’ Nick Daicos who was easily the Draft Central NAB League Boys Player of the Week. He is named in the side with teammate Sam Darcy, whilst his vice-captain is Finn Callaghan. The Sandringham Dragons wing is joined by tall forward/ruck Jacob Edwards in the team. The other key position forward in the side is another versatile type in Mac Andrew, with the Dandenong Stingrays tall earning his place despite his team’s loss to the Dragons. The Chargers accounted for the Jets, with key defender Cody Raak and midfielder Billy Cootee making the Round 3 team.

Locking down full-back once again is GWV Rebels’ Josh Gibcus, who has made the team alongside Kai Lohmann, whilst they were winners over Murray Bushrangers. The Bushrangers have a couple of defenders in Tom Brown and Paddy Parnell making the side, with Tasmania Devils’ Sam Banks rounding out the back six. He is in the team with Baynen Lowe who is up the other end of the ground. Murray’s Daniel Turner is one of three hypothetical emergencies in the side with Sandringham’s Darby Hipwell and GWV’s Sam Butler.

DRAFT CENTRAL NAB LEAGUE BOYS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 3

B: Charlie Ham (GF) Josh Gibcus (GWV) – Tom Brown (MB)
HB: Sam Banks (TD) – Cody Raak (WJ) – Paddy Parnell (MB)
C: Sam Conforti (BP) – Ewan Macpherson (NK) – Finn Callaghan (SD) (vc)
HF: Tyler Sonsie (ER) – Mac Andrew (DS) – Joel Trudgeon (NK)
F: Ned Long (NK) – Jacob Edwards (SD) – Baynen Lowe (TD)
R: Toby Conway (GF) – Nick Daicos (OC) (c) – Josh Ward (NK)
INT: Billy Cootee (WJ) – Sam Darcy (OC) – Noah Gribble (GF) – Kai Lohmann (GWV) – Cobi Maxted (BP) – Mitchell Moschetti (GP)

EMG: Darby Hipwell (SD) – Sam Butler (GWV) – Daniel Turner (MB)