ALL the metropolitan teams joined the rest of the competition for Round 3 of the Coates Talent League, with some strong wins and terrific outstanding performances. We recap each game and note down our Rookie Me Central Medal votes.

Calder Cannons got past Sandringham Dragons in a battle of the all-metropolitan sides at Highgate Recreation Reserve early on Saturday. Lead by captain Amy Trinidade who kicked the last two goals of the game, the Cannons went from two points down to 10-point winners to get on the board in their first match of the season.

STANDOUT: Amy Trindade

The Calder Cannons captain stepped up in a big way for her side in challenging conditions, starting on a wing then moving to half-forward. She worked into good spots and finished well, kicking two match-winning goals in the final term to run over the top of the Dragons by 10 points.

OTHERS:

Kayley Kavanagh won more touches than any other player with 28 disposals, as well as six tackles and four inside 50s, while the likes of Bridie Collings and Amy Gaylor were other top-agers to find 20-plus disposals. Bottom-ager Kyla Forbes helped herself to 25 disposals and eight inside 50s in the win, while for Sandringham it was bottom-ager Daisy Flockart (22 disposals, five tackles, five inside 50s and a goal) who stood out despite the defeat. Top-age tall Jasmine Shepherd also impressed for the Dragons.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Amy Trinidade (Calder Cannons)
4 – Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons)
3 – Daisy Flockart (Sandringham Dragons)
2 – Kyla Forbes (Calder Cannons)
1 – Jasmine Shepherd (Sandringham Dragons)

GWS GIANTS Academy made it back-to-back wins with an impressive 25-point victory over Bendigo Pioneers. The GIANTS bolted out of the blocks to lead by four goals at half-time and 37 points by the final break. Bendigo did kick the last two goals of the match, but it was a case off too little, too late.

STANDOUT: Lucia Painter

Painter continued her outstanding form for the Pioneers with another eye-catching display of 26 disposals, four marks, 10 tackles, eight inside 50s and three rebound 50s. She was everywhere, giving off stiff-arms and thumping it inside 50 trying to get her team up and about. Though the Pioneers did go down, it was not due to lack of trying from Painter who was a standout on the day.

OTHERS:

Painter’s partner-in-crime of Lila Keck impressed again with 20 disposals, four marks, four tackles, five inside 50s and a goal, while there was an even spread across the GIANTS’ list. Sophia de Castella was influential and arguably the GIANTS’ best with 22 touches and 10 tackles, while Emma Suckling also had 22 disposals. AFLW Academy Melanie Staunton was also strong with 17 disposals, eight tackles, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Sophia de Castella (GIANTS Academy)
3 – Emma Suckling (GIANTS Academy)
2 – Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Mel Staunton (GIANTS Academy)

Oakleigh Chargers stormed to an impressive 58-point win over Geelong Falcons off the back of 11 unanswered goals to end the match. The Falcons looked good early at Deakin University kicking the first two goals, before the Chargers kicked 11.6 to 0.2 from that point on to runaway with the contest and secure the four points in their first match of the season.

STANDOUT: Sienna Tallariti

In an even spread across the board from the Chargers, it was one of their talented bottom agers that stood out in Tallariti who was influential around the stoppages and then able to hit the scoreboard when forward. Though she could have finished with an even bigger day (2.3), Tallariti still filled her boots with 22 touches, five marks and seven tackles.

OTHERS:

Another bottom-ager in Maggie Mahony (30 disposals, seven tackles and a goal) found plenty of the pill, with defender Lara Hausegger (27 disposals, three marks and four rebound 50s) leading the top-age charge. Speaking of top-agers, Geelong Falcons captain Chloe Adams had 31 disposals, seven marks, 17 tackles, six inside 50s and three rebound 50s. She worked hard all game despite the defeat, while ruck Kiara Woods was competitive through the ruck.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Lara Hausegger (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Kiara Woods (Geelong Falcons)

Northern Knights stormed out of the blocks to lead by 41 points before Murray Bushrangers had even scored, which ultimately set up the 39-point win. From that stage midway through the second term, the Bushrangers were far more competitive, but the damage was done and Northern came away with the 10.10 (70) to 5.1 (31) win.

STANDOUT: Lulu Beatty

Northern Knights co-captain Beatty could have a short stint at the Knights this season if she is able to find an AFLW club in tonight’s Supplementary Draft, but she did her chances no harm with a strong Round 3 effort. Beatty found space on the outside and had nine marks to go with 22 touches, also having four inside 50s and six rebound 50s.

OTHERS:

Beatty had support from double bottom-agers Phoebe Hargreaves and Marlo Graham who both impressed in their Coates Talent League debut, while ruck Lauren Jatczak was too strong for her opponents as she booted two goals from 17 disposals and 29 hitouts. Top-age defender Kaylea Kobzan was the best for the Bushrangers, finishing with 20 disposals, three marks, six tackles and 10 rebound 50s.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Lulu Beatty (Northern Knights)
4 – Phoebe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
3 – Lauren Jatczak (Northern Knights)
2 – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
1 – Kaylea Kobzan (Murray Bushrangers)

Tasmania Devils handed Western Jets their first loss in 12 months, defeating the reigning premiers by 16 points at Dial Park on the weekend. The Devils lead at every change, and while the Jets manage to stem the bleeding and reduce the deficit in the final term, it was never going to be enough to overcome the undefeated Devils, 8.5 (53) to 5.7 (37).

STANDOUT: Georgia Clark

It was a case of back-to-back five votes for tall forward Clark who was again unbeatable in the air, clunking 11 marks with her 15 disposals and 3.2 for the game. Presenting time and time again she was continually a force to be reckoned with and earned our best on ground in the win.

OTHERS:

Tasmanian double-bottom ager Priya Bowering was also impressive, collecting 17 disposals, three tackles, three inside 50s and a goal. Overager Candice Belbin had a team-high 27 disposals in the win, also laying eight tackles. For the Jets, bottom-agers Sierra Grieves (32 disposals, four marks, 10 tackles and four inside 50s) and Lou-Lou Field (17 disposals, six marks, six tackles and eight rebound 50s) were the stars.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Sienna Grieves (Western Jets)
2 – Lou-Lou Field (Western Jets)
1 – Candice Belbin (Tasmania Devils)

Eastern Ranges produced a four-quarter performance against Dandenong Stingrays to run away 46-point winners at Kilsyth. The Ranges took control early thanks to an impressive major from the returning Alyssia Pisano and never looked back, keeping the Stingrays to just one goal per quarter en route to an 11.11 (77) to 4.7 (31) victory.

STANDOUT: Laura Stone

The Eastern Ranges top-ager earned our Player of the Week honours for her performance where she racked up 25 disposals, two marks, six tackles and five inside 50s. Stone was influential through the midfield and dropping back to mop up in defence, providing her trademark dash across the ground.

OTHERS:

Along with Stone, fellow AFLW Academy member Pisano was deadly in front of goal kicking four majors, while winger Hayley McLaughlin also found plenty of the ball. Talls Grace Belloni and Ava Campbell were also among the best. For Dandenong, Felicity Crank and Eleanor Butler tried hard behind the ball.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Hayley McLaughlin (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Ava Campbell (Eastern Ranges)

Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels stormed to a 50-point win over Gippsland Power in the second game of a double-header at Kilsyth Recreation Reserve. The Rebels moved to 2-1 for the season as the Power went to 0-2, with a seven goals to nil first half, and an eventual 9.6 (60) to 1.4 (10) victory.

STANDOUT: Millie Lang

Bottom-age key defender Lang was one of a number of impressive Rebels, but she earned the five votes for her work at centre half-back. Her aerial ability, combined with her deadly left boot make her an exciting prospect for next year. She had 20 disposals, five marks, two tackles and two rebound 50s, often finding the ball in between the arcs and hitting targets in the front half.

OTHERS:

Up the other end, Lily Jordan slotted five goals to continue her outstanding start to the season, while overager Molly Walton played her best game of 2023 thus far through the middle with 23 touches, five inside 50s and five rebound 50s. Brook Ward also impressed for the Rebels with 19 touches, four marks and six tackles. For the Power, defender Amber Schutte was a rebounding force with 22 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles and seven rebound 50s, while Ash Centra clunked nine marks from 20 disposals.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels)
4 – Lily Jordan (GWV Rebels)
3 – Molly Walton (GWV Rebels)
2 – Brook Ward (GWV Rebels)
1 – Amber Schutte (Gippsland Power)