IT was as if the competition saved its best until last, with the Draft Central NAB League Girls Team of the Week for Round 9 being the toughest one yet. Without a doubt, cutting the shortlist from 34 names was a difficult one, and even then, the individual midfield performances – and high-scoring goal efforts – made it incredibly tricky to determine a final 24-player squad. In the end, 12 of the 13 full-time NAB League Girls sides were represented in the team, with three winners earning three players in the side, and the other four winners – and two narrow losers – earning the two players, while the remaining losing sides had one or less in the tightest squeeze for spots.

Given the amount of votes handed to both players in our Player of the Week, we opted to go with co-captains for Round 9, as Murray Bushrangers’ Keeley Skepper and Tasmania Devils’ Perri King were bestowed that honour. Skepper was joined in the side by teammate Aurora Smith, as well as forward Olivia Cicolini, while King’s teammate Shania Saward made her debut in the side at half-back. The midfield was a stacked one this week, with Western Jets’ Charlotte Baskaran named onball, while forward Caitlin Sargent‘s four majors resulted in her slotting in at centre half-forward. Lilli Condon rounded out the onball group, while Tahlia Meier made the team on the bench.

Oakleigh Chargers’ triple digit win over Gippsland Power saw three players named in the side, with Jasmine Fleming and Charlie Rowbottom combining for five goals, Fleming on debut. Amanda Ling also kicked three in a different role to her usual onball one and earned a place in the side, whilst opposition ruck Grace Matser slotted into her spot once again. Also up forward was Geelong’s Poppy Schaap, joined in the side by teammates and defenders, Elizabeth Dowling and Annie Lee who hold down the key position posts again. The other forward was Dandenong Stingrays’ co-captain Ash Richards, with Felicity Crank named up the other end in a back pocket.

Also named in the starting squad was defender Tannah Hurst of the Northern Knights, with Maeve Chaplin no stranger to the side, making the team yet again. From the Eastern Ranges, Mia Busch slotted back onto a half-back flank, with Keeley Sherar named on the star-studded bench. Rounding out the bench was two individual nominees from their respective teams, with Calder Cannons’ Georgie Prespakis and Sandringham Dragons’ Bridie Hipwell both impressing despite losses.

This week’s emergencies were GWV Rebels’ Nyakoat Dojiok, Calder Cannons’ Emelia Yassir, and the sole Bendigo Pioneers representative in the 27, in defender Drew Ryan. But the names making the original cut of 34 included Eastern Ranges’ Ruby O’Dwyer, Murray Bushrangers’ Sophia McCarthy, GWV Rebels’ Ella Friend, Sandringham Dragons’ Ebony Angelopoulos, Tasmania Devils’ Claire Ransom, Geelong Falcons’ Renee Tierney and Dandenong Stingrays’ Emily Shepherd.

DRAFT CENTRAL NAB LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 9

B: Tannah Hurst (NK) – Elizabeth Dowling (GF) – Felicity Crank (DS)
HB: Mia Busch (ER) – Annie Lee (GF) – Shania Saward (TD)
C: Aurora Smith (MB) – Lilli Condon (GWV) – Keeley Skepper (MB) (c)
HF: Jasmine Fleming (OC) – Caitlin Sargent (WJ) – Poppy Schaap (GF)
F: Olivia Cicolini (MB) – Charlie Rowbottom (OC) – Ash Richards (DS)
R: Grace Matser (GP) – Perri King (TD) (c) – Charlotte Baskaran (WJ)
INT: Maeve Chaplin (NK) – Bridie Hipwell (SD) – Amanda Ling (OC) – Tahlia Meier (GWV) – Georgie Prespakis (CC) – Keeley Sherar (ER)

EMG: Nyakoat Dojiok (GWV) – Emelia Yassir (CC) – Drew Ryan (BP)