AN Easter weekend special saw the six Coates Talent League Girls matches played across Thursday to Saturday, and the top teams emerging from the results. Eastern Ranges, Calder Cannons and Oakleigh Chargers were all outstanding in picking up back-to-back wins, while Tasmania Devils collected their third win of the season to go outright top of the table.

Geelong Falcons managed to hold off a determined Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels outfit in a special Thursday night clash to win by 13 points. The Falcons kept one step ahead of the Rebels throughout the night, holding their opponents goalless in the opening half to secure the 4.8 (32) to 3.1 (19) victory.

STANDOUT: Sara Howley

The bottom-ager has had quite the start to the Talent League season, racking up another 26 touches in the victory. She also had five inside 50s, six rebound 50s and covered the ground brilliantly, using her pace to advantage around the stoppages and going forward in transition.

OTHERS:

Geelong captain Chloe Adams was again busy through midfield, collecting 26 disposals and laying 13 tackles, while Mekah Morrissy worked hard on the wing. Chloe Bryant and Madeline Seebeck also found plenty of the football. For the Rebels, bottom-age talents Millie Lang and Isabella Davies stood out, while Molly Walton also worked hard throughout the match.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels)
3 – Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)
1 – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)

Dandenong Stingrays stormed to a huge 77-point winners over Gippsland Power in a one-sided contest out at Morwell. Keeping the home side goalless in the opening half, the Stingrays maintained the rage in the second half even with some inaccuracy. They would finish with 25 scoring shots to three in a 12.13 (85) to 1.2 (8) victory.

STANDOUT: Jemaya Bressan

Bottom-age talent Bressan was clean and classy and looked dangerous across the ground. The midfielder found the ball in all thirds of the ground and kicked a clever goal off a snap in the first term. She started in a blaze of glory and picked up a game-high 31 disposals, four marks, six tackles and inside 50 as well as her goal.

OTHERS:

Bressan had plenty of contributors across her side with Brooke Smith booting two goals from five scoring shots and 18 disposals, while laying a game-high 13 tackles. Midfielder Mikayla Williamson played her best game of the season, while captain Jemma Ramsdale started in defence then was pushed in attack late in the match. Jemma Reynolds was impressive yet again, while Sophie Butterworth and Abbey Tregellis were strong in the front half. Ash Centra was a clear standout for the Power across the ground, while bottom-ager Jasmine Sowden also provided some dash.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Jemaya Bressan (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
3 – Brooke Smith (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Jemma Ramsdale (Dandenong Stingrays)

Calder Cannons made their premiership intentions clear with a 71-point win over Murray Bushrangers in wet and windy conditions at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Friday. The Cannons kept the Bushrangers scoreless all match while booting 10.11 (71) in an impressive Round 4 performance.

STANDOUT: Sarah Grunden

Considering the conditions, clean hands at ground level were at a premium, with Grunden superb in that area. She booted three goals from five scoring shots and was lively in the front half of the ground, also collecting 18 disposals in a tough match to find space.

OTHERS:

Calder had an array of standouts across the board with the midfield rotations of Kayley Kavanagh, Kyla Forbes and Amy Gaylor all among the best, while Maddison Albrecht and Bridie Collings also won their fair share of the ball. Up forward, Reese Sutton had plenty of chances but could not convert, though still did her best in finding space nad looking dangerous. In a tough loss, Kaylea Kobzan and Holly Egan were the better Bushrangers.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Sarah Grunden (Calder Cannons)
4 – Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons)
3 – Kyla Forbes (Calder Cannons)
2 – Amy Gaylor (Calder Cannons)
1 – Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons)

Eastern Ranges made it back-to-back wins with an impressive 26-point victory over a younger Northern Knights outfit on Friday afternoon. The Ranges – lead by star forward Alyssia Pisano who kicked six of her side’s eight goals – ran out 8.12 (60) to 5.4 (34) winners at Box Hill.

STANDOUT: Alyssia Pisano

There was little doubt as to the best on ground in the match, with the dynamic forward slamming home six goals and three behinds from 15 disposals in a remarkable performance. The deadly left footer also took five marks and had six tackles to do it all and move to second overall on the league goalkicking table despite playing two less games than the leader, Lily Jordan.

OTHERS:

It was another sterling performance from Laura Stone who picked up a team-high 21 disposals and laid eight tackles with nine inside 50s to help give Pisano the best chance of finishing off. In defence, Grace Baba backed up an eye-catching debut with a strong second match, while Grace Belloni and Ava Campbell were also impressive. Northern top-ager Ava Jordan tried hard in her first game of 2023 picking up 21 disposals and kicking a goal, while Zoe Hargreaves again caught the eye as a double bottom-ager. Molly McErlain had the most touches for Northern playing in defence with 25, and seven rebound 50s.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Ava Jordan (Northern Knights)
2 – Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
1 – Grace Baba (Eastern Ranges)

In a hard-fought contest at RSEA Park, Oakleigh Chargers were able to kick away in the second half to remain undefeated thanks to a 28-point win over Sandringham Dragons. Leading by just two points at half-time, the Chargers booted 4.3 to 0.2 in the second half to solidify the 7.7 (49) to 3.3 (21) victory.

STANDOUT: Emma McDonald

Showing further traits from the week before, the 180cm bottom-ager has rare athleticism with her turning circle and ability to clunk marks inside 50 in wet underfoot conditions. Booting 2.1 from 12 disposals, five marks and three inside 50s, she was a key difference as a target up forward.

OTHERS:

In one of the most even performances across the board, around 15 players could have squeezed into the votes. Oakleigh bottom-age duo Sarah Poustie and Abbey Vicino provided some run for their side, while Amy Cariss-Brett and Jacinta Baxter were also busy. For the Dragons, Scout Howden stepped up over the four quarters en route to 23 disposals, three marks, three tackles and five rebound 50s. Cameron Millias, Meg Webster and Judie Goldman also contributes across the course of the match.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons)
2 – Cameron Millias (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Abbey Vicino (Oakleigh Chargers)

Tasmania Devils went outright at the top of the Coates Talent League Girls ladder with a victory at Arden Street, defeating Bendigo Pioneers by 32 points. The Devils were inaccurate at times but given the conditions, were altogether impressive, having 13 scoring shots to two in the first half. Held goalless by the Pioneers in the third term, the visitors stepped up again in the final quarter booting three goals to two to maintain their unbeaten streak with a 7.15 (57) to 4.1 (25) win.

STANDOUT: Candice Belbin

The Tasmania Devils midfielder thrived in the less-than-ideal soggy conditions, laying a massive 13 tackles to go with 21 touches and eight inside 50s. She showed her typical fierce attack at the ball, and was able to explode from the stoppage, impacting the game both offensively and defensively.

OTHERS:

The usual suspects were busy again for the Devils, as Georgia Clark had 20 disposals, four marks and booted 1.2 in tough conditions for a key forward. Ava Read booted three goals in the victory, while Madison Lamb was fierce around the stoppages. For the Pioneers, the dominant duo of Lila Keck and Lucia Painter went to work, combining for 41 disposals to stand up against the Tasmanian talent.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Candice Belbin (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Ava Read (Tasmania Devils)