GOLD Coast Suns Academy leads the way with four nominees in our Coates Talent League Team of the Week for Round 7. The Suns nabbed their second win of the season on Sunday as the Northern Academies bowed out, while fellow victors Eastern and Geelong are also well represented this week. Check out who made the 24-player squad.

DEFENCE

B: Cooper Trembath (ER) – Connor O’Sullivan (MB) – Nick Williams (GCS)
HB: Luamon Lual (GWV) – Patrick Snell (BL) – Hussein Kadour (WJ)

Height is a feature of this week’s hypothetical back line, with five of the six selected players measuring up at over 188cm. GWV Rebels half-back Luamon Lual is the only exception at 181cm, but holds his own and led his side well for a team-high 26 disposals.

In the same game, Suns Academy over-ager Nick Williams clunked an equal game-high 10 marks, dominating the airways this weekend alongside Eastern’s Cooper Trembath (14 marks) and Western’s Hussein Kadour (11).

Our key position posts are occupied by two dynamic talls, the most highly regarded being Murray’s Connor O’Sullivan. He led all comers in the Bushies’ win over Sandringham, notching 25 touches and seven marks, while Patrick Snell was steadfast in the Lions Academy’s fifth straight defeat.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Ethan Read (GCS) – Jake Rogers (GCS) – Zane Duursma (GP)
C: Caleb Windsor (ER) – Colby McKercher (TD) – Christian Moraes (ER)

Our Round 7 Player of the Week, Colby McKercher is flanked by two Eastern Ranges accumulators across the centre line, with all three players racking up over 30 disposals. Genuine wingman Caleb Windsor had 31 and 16 marks, while bottom-age midfielder-forward Christian Moraes managed 34.

The latter led all comers in his game, as did Suns Academy ruck Ethan Read. He was pitted against McKercher in the Player of the Week vote after strengthening his top 10 credentials with 27 touches, 10 marks and 24 hitouts.

Teammate Jake Rogers was a beneficiary of his service, building on a strong block of form with his sharp work at ground level. Fellow National Academy member Zane Duursma rounds out the on-ball brigade, earning a spot on the back of 25 disposals and 3.3 as Gippsland beat Western.

FORWARD

HF: Harrison Doughton (DS) – Zac McInnes (GF) – Phoenix Gothard (MB)
F: Jack Dolliver (TD) – Jed Walter (GCS) – Tye Gander (SS)

Gold Coast’s fourth and final representative spearheads the side at full forward, with Jed Walter slotting in after six goals against GWV. Tasmania’s Jack Dolliver also snared six majors to accompany him in the pocket, while Walter is aided in a key position sense by Geelong bottom-ager Zac McInnes.

Spring-heeled Swans Academy over-ager Tye Gander also made the cut one final time, while Dandenong debutant Harrison Doughton was a handy surprise packet. Murray speedster Phoenix Gothard also did enough to scrape in ahead of some stiff competition.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Oliver Hannaford (GWV), Angus Hastie (GF), Caleb May (SS)
Tobyn Murray (GF), Geordie Payne (TD), Cooper Simpson (DS)

EMG: Josh Smillie (ER), Leo Lombard (GCS), Cooper Hynes (DS)

With seven games played this week, there were plenty of performances unlucky to be left on the cutting room floor. Though, Geelong pair Angus Hastie and Tobyn Murray were hard to deny for their work in defence and midfield respectively.

Also making the cut was Rebels midfielder Oliver Hannaford and Dandenong co-captain Cooper Simpson, who hit the scoreboard at crucial times for their sides. Elsewhere, Tasmanian Geordie Payne was terrific in defence and Swans Academy ruck Caleb May impressed in the same game.