EASTERN Ranges’ commanding performance over Tasmania Devils earned the undefeated metropolitan side five players in our Coates Talent League Team of the Week for Round 5. Fellow metropolitan winners, Northern Knights and Oakleigh Chargers both had four players in the team, while Calder Cannons and Dandenong Stingrays had the three. Sandringham Dragons and Western Jets (two players) and Tasmania Devils (one) round out the side.

Captaining the side is Calder Cannons midfielder, Kayley Kavanagh who had an impressive performance in her team’s win over Western Jets. She was joined in the midfield by opponent Sierra Grieves who racked up a competition-high 35 disposals. Grieves’ partner-in-crime Lou-Lou Field was named in defence, while the two other Cannons who made the team were Kyla Forbes and Maddison Albrecht.

In the centre was Eastern standout Laura Stone once again, with a trio of teammates inside 50. Booting a combined seven goals between them, Georgia Knight, Grace Belloni and Georgie Pruden all slotted into the side. The fifth member of the side was another bottom-ager in Stasia Stevenson who cracks into the Team of the Week for the first time on the bench.

The two wingers for the team are Oakleigh Chargers’ Sarah Poustie and Dandenong Stingrays’ Mikayla Williamson who both provide terrific dash across the field. Joining Poustie in the side are defender Lara Hausegger, and bottom-age talents Sienna Tallariti and Maggie Mahony. For the Stingrays, ruck Elli Symonds made the team again alongside Jemma Reynolds.

Completing the forward 50 group is clean midfielder/forward, Northern Knights’ Ava Jordan. She racked up 30 disposals in the win over Sandringham, and was joined in the side by Suwindi Buckley and Zoe Hargreaves, with Hannah Scott named in defence.

A couple of Sandringham Dragons lineup at half-back with Shaedyn Aylen and Georgia Foran making their presence felt in the tight loss to Northern. The sole Tasmanian prospect, Mackenzie Williams is on the other flank to round out the squad of 24.

The three emergencies this week included a couple of Cannons in Bridie Collings and Sarah Grunden, as well as Eastern Ranges star forward Alyssia Pisano.

2023 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 5

B: Hannah Scott (Northern Knights) – Lou-Lou Field (Western Jets) – Lara Hausegger (Oakleigh Chargers)
HB: Shaedyn Aylen (Sandringham Dragons) – Georgia Foran (Sandringham Dragons) – Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils)
C: Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) – Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges) – Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays)
HF: Ava Jordan (Northern Knights) – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers) – Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges)
F: Kyla Forbes (Calder Cannons) – Georgia Knight (Eastern Ranges) – Georgie Pruden (Eastern Ranges)
R: Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) – Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons) (c)
INT: Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons) – Suwindi Buckley (Northern Knights) – Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) Stasia Stevenson (Eastern Ranges)

EMG: Bridie Collings (Calder Cannons) – Sarah Grunden (Calder Cannons) – Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges)