DANDENONG Stingrays boast a high of five players in our NAB League Team of the Week for Round 15. The ‘Rays snuck home in dramatic fashion against Bendigo on Sunday, while fellow victors GWV and Eastern contributed three representatives apiece after downing strong opposition. Check out who made the full 24-man squad, and three emergency spots below.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

It was difficult to look past the efforts of Western Jets midfielder Jake Smith this week, who racked up 30 disposals and booted two goals in his side’s upset victory over Oakleigh. The Jets stormed home after half time for their fourth win of the season, and Smith was an integral part of the result as he lead all comers. He became the first bottom-ager to take out Player of the Week honours this year.

DEFENDERS:

Four of the six defenders in our hypothetic side hail from Country regions, with only two of the back line members having played in winning sides. Namely, they were GWV’s Hamish Sinnott and Dandenong’s Kobe Shipp, who proved to be strong two-way influences for their respective teams.

In the key position posts, Ryan Eyers (Murray) and Nathan Scollo (Sandringham) reeled in a whopping 21 marks between them, while the likes of Harvey Gallagher (three goals), Kobe Shipp (nine marks), and Hamish Heine (nine rebound 50s) all showcased attacking flair in different ways from the back half.

MIDFIELDERS:

A bunch of prolific ball winners ran rampant in Round 15, headlined by our side’s skipper, Smith. Unsurprisingly, pick one candidate Will Ashcroft racked up a weekend high of 38 disposals and was best afield despite a heavy loss, joined by Dandenong’s Cooper Simpson in the starting on-ball group.

There are two Stingrays at the centre bounces, with over-age ruck Jye Moli stepping up in just his second outing. On the wings are a pair of bottom-agers; GWV’s Joel Freijah was terrific there in his team’s win over Gippsland, while Colby McKercher was squeezed to the outside as Tasmania’s best.

FORWARDS:

The balance of this week’s forward line is promising, with strong goalkickers, dangerous smalls, and rotating midfielders among the mix. Key position players Logan Morris (five goals) and Aaron Cadman (3.3) were excellent targets for their sides, and locked themselves into the spine this week.

Mid-forwards Connor Smith and Bailey Humphrey produced several shots on goal and fill out the flanks, while Ziggy Toledo and Mason Helleran make for two quite different pocketmen. Both players snared four goals in wins, with over 20cm difference between them.

INTERCHANGE:

A competitive week for midfielders sees the interchange dominated by them. Jack Brown slots in as Calder’s lone representative, while Henry Hustwaite lead all comers against Bendigo to become Dandenong’s fifth player in the squad.

Noah Bradshaw makes yet another entry, along with fellow over-ager Mitchell Moschetti, with prolific performances from Jye Peacock and Kynan Brown proving hard to ignore. With such an even group, this week’s emergencies were among a bunch of players unlucky to miss out on the initial 24.

ROOKIE ME CENTRAL NAB LEAGUE BOYS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 15

B: Hamish Sinnott (GWV) – Ryan Eyers (MB) – Kobe Shipp (DS)
HB: Harvey Gallagher (BP) – Nathan Scollo (SD) – Hamish Heine (OC)
C: Joel Freijah (GWV) – Cooper Simpson (DS) – Colby McKercher (TD)
HF: Connor Smith (ER) – Aaron Cadman (GWV) – Bailey Humphrey (GP)
F: Ziggy Toledo (DS) – Logan Morris (WJ) – Mason Helleran (ER)
FOL: Jye Moli (DS) – Jake Smith (WJ) – Will Ashcroft (SD)

INT: Noah Bradshaw (MB), Kynan Brown (OC), Jack Brown (CC), Henry Hustwaite (DS), Mitch Moschetti (GP), Jye Peacock (ER)

EMG: Lachlan Cowan (TD), Jason Gillbee (BP), Beau Tedcastle (GWV)