DANDENONG Stingrays broke Eastern Ranges’ unbeaten record in season 2023, while Gold Coast Suns Academy, Brisbane Lions Academy and Oakleigh Chargers all remained uneaten after Round 8 in the Coates Talent League.

Calder Cannons produced an incredible comeback to boot five goals to nil in the final term against a plucky Gippsland Power to run over the top of the home side at Morwell by seven points. The Power controlled the game for the majority of the match, before throwing the magnets around in the final term. Unfortunately for them, the Cannons stepped up and made the most of their chances, booting 5.1 to 0.0 to win, 6.4 (40) to 5.3 (33).

STANDOUT: Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons)

While Gippsland Power had an even spread across the board, Kavanagh was a standout player for the Cannons, and one of the few four quarter performers who refused to give in. When her team stepped up in the last, Kavanagh still continued to lead the charge, and was influential around the stoppages and getting the ball forward.

OTHERS:

Aside from Kavanagh, bottom-ager Kyla Forbes caught the eye with her clean hands in wet conditions at Morwell. Bridie Collings, double bottom-age debutant Jade McLay and Maddison Albrecht also had some important moments. For the Power, Jasmine Sowden and Lilly Leighton were prime movers, with Ash Centra, Ella Stoddart and Rebecca Fitzpatrick working hard in transition.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons)
4 – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)
3 – Lilly Leighton (Gippsland Power)
2 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
1 – Kyla Forbes (Calder Cannons)

Oakleigh Chargers remained undefeated with an impressive 59-point win over Northern Knights in a return to Preston City Oval. The Chargers had 22 scoring shots to three, keeping Northern goalless throughout the match in the 8.14 (62) to 0.3 (3) result.

STANDOUT: Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers)

After some impressive performances to start the season, McDonald brought it all together in a dominant performance, booting 4.2 from 13 disposals and eight marks. The bottom-age tall was an outstanding player in a strong team performance.

OTHERS:

McDonald was far from alone with fellow bottom-agers, Sienna Tallariti (26 disposals, three marks, five inside 50s and eight rebound 50s) and Maggie Mahony (22 disposals, three marks, four tackles and eight inside 50s) were both impressive. Jorja Jackson racked up a match-high 32 disposals, while the likes of Jacinta Baxter and Sarah Poustie also found plenty of the ball. Hannah Scott (24 disposals, five marks, nine tackles and seven rebound 50s) was the best for Northern, while Matilda Fitzgerald shared the load in defence and Lauren Jatczak racked up a whopping 46 hitouts in the ruck.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Jorja Jackson (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Hannah Scott (Northern Knights)

Brisbane Lions Academy backed up its maiden Coates Talent League win last week with an eight-point win over Sandringham Dragons. Though the result was tight, the game was largely held in the Lions’ control for the most part, with the Dragons kicking three last quarter goals to one – including a major just before the final siren to cut the deficit to eight, 7.9 (51) to 6.7 (43).

STANDOUT: Jacinta Baldwick (Lions Academy)

Working hard all game, Baldwick was one of a number of Lions who really stood out by cracking in and never allowing the Dragons too much space. She laid six tackles to go with 18 disposals and a goal of her own, in what was a promising performance from the top-ager.

OTHERS:

Along with Baldwick, the Lions had plenty of contributors including Zimra Hussain and Farrandai Hopkins out of defence, while skipper Laura Roy had an equal game-high 19 disposals in the win. For the Dragons, inside midfielder Judie Goldman was lively while fellow ball-winner Sophie McKay and key forward Mia Zielinski also caught the eye in defeat.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Jacinta Baldwick (Lions Academy)
4 – Judie Goldman (Sandringham Dragons)
3 – Mia Zielinski (Sandringham Dragons)
2 – Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Zimra Hussain (Lions Academy)

Two teams looking for a bounce back win after disappointing losses last week, it was the Bendigo Pioneers who overcame a sluggish start to boot the last five goals of the game against Northern Territory and win by 23 points. The Pioneers trailed by as much as 13 points midway through the third term, but kicked 5.7 to 0.2 after that to run over the top of the Thunder, 6.10 (46) to 3.5 (23).

STANDOUT: Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)

The midfield dynamo had yet another 30-disposal game in a clear best on ground display for the Pioneers against the Thunder. She was influential with her 31 touches, five marks, five tackles and eight inside 50s and was involved in everything.

OTHERS:

Bendigo had a spread of contributors with the athleticism of Jemmika Douglas and Bryde O’Rourke both prolific in the front half, and Steph Demeo working hard in the back half of the ground. For the Territory, Tatyana Perry took control off half-back with her elite clean hands and slick skills, while Emma Stark and Marika Carlton were other bottom and double bottom-agers respectively who stood out.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers)
3 – Tatyana Perry (Northern Territory)
2 – Bryde O’Rourke (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Emma Stark (Northern Territory)

Tasmania Devils dominated the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels, booting the first seven goals of the game to race out to a 41-point lead. Though the Rebels hit back with two of the last three goals, it was too little, too late and the girls from the Apple Isle snapped a two-game losing streak to win, 8.6 (54) to 2.5 (17).

STANDOUT: Mackenzie Ford (Tasmania Devils)

A standout on both the offensive and defensive fronts, Ford cracked in throughout the four quarters in the midfield, laying 10 tackles and having an equal game-high 22 disposals. She worked hard to get the ball into attack and was a prime mover in attack.

OTHERS:

Ford was one of a number of key players for the Devils, with skipper Candice Belbin making her return to the side, while her two vice-captains, Georgia Clark and Tunisha Kikoak were ultra-impressive up forward and through the ruck once again. For the Rebels, midfielder Brook Ward was the pick of the group, while Millie Lang and Tyla Crabtree found plenty of the ball.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Mackenzie Ford (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Tunisha Kikoak (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Brook Ward (GWV Rebels)
1 – Candice Belbin (Tasmania Devils)

Dandenong Stingrays became the first team to knock off Eastern Ranges in the 2023 Coates Talent League Girls season, running out impressive five-goal winners at Frankston. In wet conditions, the Stingrays came back from a deficit at quarter time and just one goal in the first half, to boot seven of the last 10 goals and run away 8.9 (57) to 4.3 (27) winners.

STANDOUT: Ruby Murdoch (Dandenong Stingrays)

The hard-running defender provided plenty of drive out of defence and was crucial in the Stingrays getting on top, particularly through the middle stages of the match. She mopped up well and ran forward when she got the chance, working in transition with her teammates.

OTHERS:

The top-end standouts of the Stingrays was the difference in the match, with ruck Elli Symonds and tall Zoe Besanko showing mobility around the ground. In defence, Jemma Ramsdale intercepted everything that came her way, while Mikayla Williamson provided run and carry and was more efficient with ball-in-hand. Winger Hayley McLaughlin played further behind the ball in the match off half-back, while Georgie Brisbane and Mackenzie Bourne tried hard.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Ruby Murdoch (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Zoe Besanko (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Jemma Ramsdale (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Hayley McLaughlin (Eastern Ranges)

Gold Coast Suns Academy showed no mercy en route to a 110-point thrashing of Western Jets. The Suns piled on 21.4 (130) to the Jets’ 3.2 (20) up in Queensland to make it two wins on the trot and provide a myriad of highlights, including a whopping eight-goal second term and reaching the 100-point margin by the final break.

STANDOUT: Ava Usher (Suns Academy)

In a breathtaking display, Usher was simple outstanding across the four quarters, slotting four goals from 21 disposals, including a couple of unbelievable majors from long-range under pressure. The double bottom-ager was unstoppable in the midfield and looms as the top pick in the 2025 AFLW Draft if she continues her trajectory.

OTHERS:

Bottom-age guns Havana Harris and Tara Harrington were again brilliant across the ground, while skipper Josie McCabe, and over-ager Charlotte Adamson were important around the stoppages. Both Alannah Welsh (four goals) and Georja Davies (three) booted multiple majors in a short space of time. For the Jets, it was a tough day at the office, but Sierra Grieves and Akima Manoah were two players who never stopped trying.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Ava Usher (Suns Academy)
4 – Havana Harris (Suns Academy)
3 – Charlotte Adamson (Suns Academy)
2 – Josie McCabe (Suns Academy)
1 – Tara Harrington (Suns Academy)

Geelong Falcons conceded the first goal of the game and then went on to slot the last 12 of the match in a dominant performance against Murray Bushrangers at Werribee. Both sides were up opposite ends of the ladder and the Falcons continued their impressive season with 29 scoring shots to eight, including 12.13 to 0.1 after the Bushrangers’ first goal to pick up a 12.17 (89) to 1.2 (8) victory.

STANDOUT: Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)

It was yet another best on ground performance from the bottom-age young gun with a whopping 35 disposals – 11 more than anyone else on the field – four marks, five inside 50s and two goals. She provided her usual run and carry and hit the scoreboard while setting up her teammates in the huge win.

OTHERS:

The Falcons had eight players win 20 or more disposals, with runners Mekah Morrissy and Lucy Marescuk impressive on the outside, Johanna Sunderland finding the ball at will, and forward Chantal Mason backed up her breakout game the week before with 4.4 from 16 disposals. Caitlin Charles also had a breakout game of 20 touches and two goals. For the Bushrangers, Ellie Armstrong and Molly McLaren worked hard across the four quarters.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Chantal Mason (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Caitlin Charles (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Lucy Marescuk (Geelong Falcons)