DANDENONG Stingrays midfielder-forward Olivia Robinson is the Rookie Me Central NAB League Girls Player of the Week for Round 9. The top-age talent was a standout for the Stingrays, who ran out 21-point victors over the Northern Knights at Parade College on Saturday. Robinson notched a game-high 26 disposals, five tackles, six inside 50s, five rebound 50s, and two goals – career-best numbers in all bar one category.

Perhaps one of the most unlucky players to have missed out on Vic Country selection, with nine Stingrays among the Under 18 squad, Robinson took full toll in her best NAB League performance to date. With plenty of top-end talent unavailable, the 17-year-old stood up to exceed her season averages of 18.3 disposals, five tackles and four inside 50s to be the star of the Stingrays’ show. She finished two touches shy of doubling the next best Dandenong disposal winner (14).

Able to roll forward from midfield, Robinson has now found the goals in three seperate games this season, but Saturday was the first time she snared two majors. She spent most of her time in the engine room, proving clean at the stoppages and having no trouble getting her hands on the ball, before making good decisions and displaying lovely long kicking capabilities.

Robinson becomes the second Stingray to earn Player of the Week honours this season after Charley Ryan did so back in Round 2, and she is the fourth player from a Country region (including Tasmania) to add her name to the list. Of the eight players she joins, Robinson is the seventh 2004-born prospect.

With only one regular season round left to play, Dandenong will look to cement its unbeaten home-and-away status when it takes on Tasmania at The Hangar on Saturday afternoon. The two sides are yet to face off in 2022, so the contest should serve as a solid run in to finals for the top-of-the-table region.

2022 ROOKIE ME CENTRAL NAB LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1: Zarlie Goldsworthy (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 2: Charley Ryan (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 3: Charlotte Baskaran (Western Jets)
Round 4: Bridget Deed (Eastern Ranges)
Round 5: Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils)
Round 6: Jasmine Fleming (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 7: Alana Gee (Gold Coast Suns Academy)
Round 8: Sofia Hurley (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 9: OLIVIA ROBINSON (Dandenong Stingrays)