A FULL six games are on offer across the Talent League Girls competition, with the Vic Metro players again busy to to AFLW Under 18 Championships. Allies representatives should return however, and Vic Country players should be at full availability not partaking until July 30, making for some even clashes.

Our Match of the Round for Round 13 is Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels taking on Murray Bushrangers, with the former needing a win and the latter coming off a breakthrough victory for the first time in 2023.

Sunday, July 9 @ Highgate Recreation Reserve, 11am

GWV Rebels started the season in great form, winning two of their first three games – against the Bendigo Pioneers and Gippsland Power – and narrowly losing to the Geelong Falcons in the other two games for the first month. Since then it has been tougher going for the Rebels, going down to the Power and having a five-game losing streak entering Round 13. Coming off a bye last round they will be refreshed and ready to go against the Bushies.

Murray Bushrangers finally gained reward for effort in Round 12, toppling Bendigo Pioneers in an impressive performance. The young players who have come through the Bushies pathway have held their own, and made them a far more competitive unit. This looms as a winnable game, and should be a close one between two sides who only have one win between them in the past couple of months.

TOP-AGE DRAFT WATCH:

#5 Jessica Rentsch (GWV Rebels)
11/10/2005 | 170cm | Defender/Midfielder

The speedy AFLW Academy member is a key player for the Rebels when it comes to their transitional movement, able to win it behind the ball, when moving into the midfield. She is a player who has the potential to get to multiple contests and win repeat possessions to put her side on the front foot.

#24 Lily Jordan (GWV Rebels)
29/06/2005 | 164cm | Forward

Though her goal-scoring has tried up of late, Jordan remains a vital player inside 50 for the Rebels because of her defensive pressure and creativity. Still capable of hitting the scoreboard, especially if not watched carefully, she could be a real threat to the Bushrangers’ defence

#26 Kaylea Kobzan (Murray Bushrangers)
09/02/2005 | 172cm | Tall Utility

The Bushrangers top-ager has shown a new lease of life in the past couple of weeks, playing forward and becoming a target inside 50. Strong overhead and a powerful kick, the natural defender has shown she can be just as impactful, if not more so when forward of the ball and clunking contested marks.

FUTURE STARS:

#15 Millie Lang (GWV Rebels)
11/06/2006 | 177cm | Key Defender

One of the standout bottom-age prospects, Lang is the consummate professional in the way she goes about it and is as consistent as anyone else going around. A strong intercept mark and powerful kick that can also use her opposite right foot, Lang is hard to stop in the air or in intercepting situations.

#2 Tamika Rourke (Murray Bushrangers)
31/03/2006 | 175cm | Midfielder

The GWS GIANTS Academy member has the eye-catching traits of athleticism and smarts, able to get into ball-winning positions and extract it from the coalface and burst into the open. She can sometimes do a bit too much with it, but is working on that aspect, and could be an exciting talent in 2024.

#5 Molly McLaren (Murray Bushrangers)
14/12/2007 | 163cm | Midfielder

Another prospect for a couple of years away, McLaren has come into the Bushrangers program and looked completely comfortable as that inside midfielder. Though she is only small, she packs a punch and is fierce both at the ball and ball carrier. A clearance player who can get her side on top in the middle.

PREDICTION:

A hard match to predict, the GWV Rebels have more experience at the top-age level, but the Murray Bushrangers are in much better form of late. Expect it to be a nail-biter that goes down to the last few minutes.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

Tasmania Devils vs. Oakleigh Chargers
Saturday, July 8 @ Dial Park, 11:00am

Top of the table Oakleigh Chargers head to the Apple Isle to take on a Tasmania Devils outfit that should be back to full strength with the return of the Allies girls. If Tasmania can cause the upset, the Devils could keep in touch with the top few sides and only be eight points off top spot. The Chargers can streak further away with a win, or have some of the chasing pack close the gap.

Western Jets vs. Northern Knights
Saturday, July 8 @ Highgate Recreation Reserve, 11:00am

Northern Knights have been a competitive unit all season and winning the games they should. This is another game that the Knights should win, with the one-win Western Jets coming off a big loss to Oakleigh Chargers. They might lose some top-end stars for the clash with the Metro representation, and with Northern’s impressive depth on display, expect the visitors to be too strong.

Geelong Falcons vs. Gippsland Power
Saturday, July 8 @ Avalon Airport Oval, 12:00pm

Following a surprise loss to an understrength Eastern Ranges outfit in the wet at Shepley Oval, Geelong Falcons returns to the west to host Gippsland Power in Werribee. Prior to the Round 12 loss, the Falcons had been in some outstanding form, and will be looking to return to that form here. The young guns at the Power have done some fantastic things of late, and it will not be a walk in the park for the Falcons, but the experience should still get the job done.

Dandenong Stingrays vs. Sandringham Dragons
Saturday, July 8 @ Kinetic Stadium, 4:00pm

In an evening clash at Frankston, Dandenong Stingrays return from a bye to take on a Sandringham Dragons outfit that lost its first game in a month last week. It does not get any easier here, with the Stingrays’ Vic Country players available and the Dragons’ Metro ones likely unavailable. All signs point to Dandenong being a bit too strong, but the Dragons are always competitive and should put up a fight.

Bendigo Pioneers vs. Calder Cannons
Sunday, July 9 @ Mildura Sporting Precinct, 9:30am

Completing the round prior to the GWV Rebels and Murray Bushrangers clash, Bendigo Pioneers and Calder Cannons head up to the state’s most north west. Taking to the field in the outstanding Mildura Sporting Precinct, the Pioneers will hope to rekindle the form that saw them competitive early in the year. The Cannons have been up and down, but were up last week, speared on by some young guns, and should do enough to come away with the four points in this one.