THERE might be six rounds left in the 2023 Coates Talent League Girls season, but Geelong Falcons bottom-ager Sara Howley has already built a double-digit lead in the Rookie Me Central Medal. Picking up yet another five-vote performance in Geelong’s win over Tasmania Devils on the weekend, Howley moved to a mammoth 11 votes clear on top.

Excluding Howley who has polled in seven of her eight games – which that alone saw her collect 34 of a possible 35 votes – the chasing pack is fairly even. There is a four-way tie for equal second, with Gippsland Power’s Ash Centra and Western Jets’ Sierra Grieves earning seven votes the past fortnight to draw level with Calder Cannons’ Kayley Kavanagh. GWV Rebels’ Millie Lang is also equal second on 23 votes.

Rounding out the Top 10 are Bendigo Pioneers’ Lucia Painter and Eastern Ranges’ Laura Stone who are both on 22 votes, with Georgia Clark (20) and Chloe Adams (19) in the chasing pack. Bottom-age Vic Metro representatives Zoe Hargreaves and Emma McDonald (18) have also enjoyed strong seasons.

From an individual club perspective, Sandringham Dragons’ Sophie McKay has gone outright on top for her club with another five votes from Round 10. The only other full-time clubs in Dandenong Stingrays and Murray Bushrangers have shared leaders with the Stingrays having three players on eight votes. They are Mikayla Williamson, Elli Symonds and Zoe Besanko, while Bushrangers duo Holly Egan and Tamika Rourke are on four votes.

RMC MEDAL LEADERBOARDS (POST ROUND 11)

TOP 10 PLAYERS

1. Sarah Howley (Geelong Falcons) – 34 votes
=2. Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons) – 23
=2. Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – 23
=2. Ash Centra (Gippsland Power) – 23
=2. Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) – 23
=6. Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers) – 22
=6. Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges) – 22
8. Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils) – 20
9. Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons) – 19
=10. Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – 18
=10. Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – 18

BEST BY CLUB

Bendigo Pioneers: Lucia Painter (22)
Calder Cannons: Kayley Kavanagh (23)
Dandenong Stingrays: Mikayla Williamson, Elli Symonds & Zoe Besanko (8)
Eastern Ranges: Laura Stone (22)
Geelong Falcons: Sara Howley (34)
GIANTS Academy: Cleo Buttifant & Mel Staunton (6)
Gippsland Power: Ash Centra (23)
GWV Rebels: Millie Lang (23)
Lions Academy: Jacinta Baldwick (10)
Murray Bushrangers: Holly Egan & Tamika Rourke (4)
Northern Knights: Zoe Hargreaves (18)
Oakleigh Chargers: Emma McDonald (18)
Sandringham Dragons: Sophie McKay (13)
Suns Academy: Ava Usher (12)
Swans Academy: Asha Turner Funk (11)
Tasmania Devils: Georgia Clark (20)
Western Jets: Sierra Grieves (23)