INSPIRING her team to a win with an enormous display, Calder Cannons’ Chloe Baker-West is the Round 12 Talent League Girls Player of the Week. Picking up 36 disposals and booting a goal, the talented utility was able to help her team survive a late fightback from the Dragons to snap the Cannons’ three-game losing streak, and the Dragons’ three-game winning streak all at the same time.

Despite being a double bottom-ager and not eligible until the 2025 AFLW Draft, Baker-West is building quite the profile having played at two AFLW Under 16 Championships. Between those events, Baker-West won both Vic Metro MVPs, and made the All-Australian team that was announced this year.

After missing most of the Talent League season, Baker-West returned against Eastern Ranges in Round 11, where she had 29 disposals, four marks, seven tackles, four inside 50s and seven rebound 50s, to be among the best in a 26-point loss.

She went to another level against the Dragons however, recording 36 disposals, two marks, nine tackles, 10 inside 50s, seven rebound 50s and booting 1.1. That goal came in the 14th minute of the first term to extend the Cannons’ lead out to 12 points.

Baker-West becomes the second double bottom-ager to be nominated for our Rookie Me Central Player of the Week after Ava Usher’s nomination back in Round 8. She also becomes the second Cannons player – behind Kayley Kavanagh – and the third consecutive metropolitan-based player to be nominated.

Calder hit the road next week for the longest road trip in Victorian football, taking on Bendigo Pioneers up at Mildura Sporting Precinct. Should they win that clash, they could leapfrog Tasmania Devils into sixth on the ladder, with the Devils taking on top of the table Oakleigh Chargers.

2023 RM CENTRAL TALENT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
Round 2 – Olivia Morris (Sydney Swans Academy)
Round 3 – Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges)
Round 4 – Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges)
Round 5 – Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons)
Round 6 – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)
Round 7 – Chantal Mason (Geelong Falcons)
Round 8 – Ava Usher (Gold Coast Suns Academy)
Round 9 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
Round 10 – Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 11 – Amelie Gladman (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 12 – Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)