SYDNEY Swans Academy’s huge win over Murray Bushrangers earned the side a league-high five players in the Rookie Me Central Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 2. The Swans finished with one more than fellow winners, GWV Rebels and Dandenong Stingrays, while GWS GIANTS Academy and Geelong Falcons had three players apiece. Round 2 losers, Bendigo Pioneers and Murray Bushrangers recorded the two players, with the one Gippsland Power player making the side.

Round 2’s Team of the Week will be hypothetically lead out by the Swans Academy captain Olivia Morris who was named on-ball alongside ruck/forward Kendra Blattman who slotted three goals in the win. Emma Juneja was one of two specialist wingers in the side, while Charlotte Watton also kicked three goals and made her way into the forward pocket. Rounding out the five representatives was Asha Turner Funk on the bench.

GWV Rebels bottom-age talents Isabella Davies and Millie Lang make up two of the four representatives for the winning team, with Vic Country hub member Laila Lappin named at centre half-forward, and teammate Lily Jordan in the forward pocket.

Dandenong Stingrays also recorded four players in the Round 2 Team of the Week following an impressive win over Geelong Falcons. Inside 50, four-goal forward Sophie Butterworth will spearhead this week’s side, with over-age talent Brooke Smith named at half-forward. Stingrays duo Jemma Reynolds and Meg Robertson find a place in the team on the bench.

GWS GIANTS Academy was the other winner on the weekend, with captain and AFLW Academy member Melanie Staunton named at half-forward, with Cleo Buttifant (centre half-back) and Sophia de Castella (interchange) also in the side.

Despite going down to the Stingrays, Geelong Falcons also managed the three players in this week’s team. Back for another round are captain Chloe Adams and bottom-ager Sara Howley as a one-two punch in the midfield, while Mekah Morrissy is the other specialist winger in the team.

Bendigo Pioneers recorded the two players in the Team of the Week with star midfielder/defender Lucia Painter at half-back alongside exciting forward Jemmika Douglas on the bench. Defenders Kloe McElhinney and Alice Voss were the Murray Bushrangers representatives, named in opposite back pockets.

Gippsland Power’s Ash Centra rounds out the 24-player squad named on the interchange bench, with teammate Amber Schutte named as one of the three emergencies. The other two emergencies are GWV Rebels’ AFLW Academy member Jessica Rentsch and Geelong Falcons’ Lucy Marescuk.

2023 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 2

B: Alice Voss (Murray Bushrangers) – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – Kloe McElhinney (Murray Bushrangers)
HB: Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Cleo Buttifant (GIANTS Academy) – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
C: Emma Juneja (Swans Academy) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)
HF: Brooke Smith (Dandenong Stingrays) – Laila Lappin (GWV Rebels) – Mel Staunton (GIANTS Academy)
F: Lily Jordan (GWV Rebels) – Sophie Butterworth (Dandenong Stingrays) – Charlotte Watton (Swans Academy)
R: Kendra Blattman (Swans Academy) – Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons) – Olivia Morris (Sydney Swans Academy) (c)
INT: Ash Centra (Gippsland Power) – Sophia de Castella (GIANTS Academy) – Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Meg Robertson (Dandenong Stingrays) – Asha Turner Funk (Swans Academy)

EMG: Lucy Marescuk (Geelong Falcons) – Amber Schutte (Gippsland Power) – Jess Rentsch (GWV Rebels)