FOUR NAB League Girls sides have shared in the equal-most players in the Round 2 Rookie Me Central NAB League Girls Team of the Week. The biggest winner of the weekend was Dandenong Stingrays who belted Gippsland Power by 135 points, receiving three players in the Team of the Week. Sandringham Dragons also had three players in the Team of the Week, with narrow losers Murray Bushrangers receiving the three as well. All other winners had two representatives, whilst the Power, and other Round 2 losers Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Northern Knights had one apiece.

Captaining the team this week is the Rookie Me Central NAB League Girls Player of the Week in Dandenong Stingrays’ Charley Ryan who booted five goals from 26 disposals in a superb effort. She was joined in the side by teammates and fellow Vic Country hub members Amber Clarke and Emily Shepherd in respective pockets.

Next to Ryan in the midfield is Sandringham Dragons jet, Sofia Hurley has been named on a wing – due to the strength onball – with fellow AFLW Academy talent Charlotte Baskaran on the other wing following a 32-disposal effort in the Western Jets’ loss to Tasmania Devils. Baskaran’s teammate Krystal Russell earned a spot in the ruck following a 38-hitout and 11-tackle game.

Hurley has two teammates also in the side with the slick Keely Coyne and rebounding defender Georgia Foran also among the 24-player squad. The Dragons’ opposition Oakleigh Chargers had a couple of representatives too, with Jasmine Fleming earning a spot onball for her efforts on the weekend, whilst Charlotte Taylor also earned her second Team of the Week nomination.

Tasmania’s Claire Ransom earned back-to-back nominations after another strong effort, whilst teammate Georgia Clark made her debut in our Team of the Week. Also entering the team for the first time this year was vice-captain of the side, Elizabeth Dowling coming off a five-goal haul for the Falcons. She is in the team alongside Johanna Sunderland (back pocket).

Murray Bushrangers might have gone down in a thriller to Geelong, but they still managed three players in the side. Last week’s captain Zarlie Goldsworthy again made her way into the team, alongside teammates Cassidy Mailer and Tayissa Gray. It was a busy day at Epsom Huntly on Saturday, with Bendigo Pioneers young talents Lila Keck and Lucia Painter both earning spots in the Team of the Week, as did GWV Rebels captain Lilli Condon.

Rounding out the team are a few defenders with Calder Cannons’ Abbey McDonald impressing in that role on the weekend, whilst over-ager Tarrah Delgado was Northern’s sole representative, and Under 16s talent Ella Stoddart one to remember for future years also earning a starting spot. McDonald’s Cannons teammate Reese Sutton completes the 24-player squad for Round 2.

The most unlucky players were Northern Knights’ Rylie Wilcox, Geelong Falcons’ Keeley Hardingham and Tasmania Devils’ Brooke Barwick who were named as emergencies. Murray Bushrangers’ Mindy Quade and Sandringham Dragons’ Zoe Barbakos were also in contention after strong efforts up forward last round.

ROOKIE ME NAB LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 2

B: Ella Stoddart (GP) – Tarrah Delgado (NK) – Johanna Sunderland (GF)
HB: Cassidy Mailer (MB) – Georgia Foran (SD) – Abbey McDonald (CC)
C: Sofia Hurley (SD) – Charley Ryan (DS) (c) – Charlotte Baskaran (WJ)
HF: Zarlie Goldsworthy (MB) – Georgia Clark (TD) – Lila Keck (BP)
F: Emily Shepherd (DS) – Elizabeth Dowling (GF) (vc) – Amber Clarke (DS)
R: Krystal Russell (WJ) – Claire Ransom (TD) – Jasmine Fleming (OC)
INT: Lilli Condon (GWV) – Keely Coyne (SD) – Tayissa Gray (MB) – Lucia Painter (BP) – Reese Sutton (CC) – Charlotte Taylor (OC)

EMG: Brooke Barwick (TD) – Keeley Hardingham (GF) – Rylie Wilcox (NK)