AFTER wins in excess of 75 points, the Eastern Ranges and GWV Rebels dominate our Coates Talent League Team of the Week for Round 14. Ranges bottom-ager Christian Moraes skippers the side after winning taking out Player of the Week honours. See who made the cut for our 24-player squad.

>> Coates Talent League Round 14: POTW | Snapshot

DEFENCE

B: Cooper Trembath (ER) – Noah Mraz (DS) – Oscar Ryan (MB)
HB: Jayden Nguyen (CC) – Luke Trainor (SD) – Billy Wilson (DS)

There are a few players in our Round 14 back line who thrived in revised roles, including usual wingman Jayden Nguyen. The Calder bottom-ager racked up 35 touches from half-back to make the side, while Dandenong’s Billy Wilson slots in having also played a half in midfield against the Cannons.

Wilson’s teammate Noah Mraz played a terrific shutdown role to earn a spot this week, and similar can be said for Eastern’s Cooper Trembath. Joining them on the last line is Murray Bushrangers rebounder Oscar Ryan, who stood tall as Trembath’s Ranges ran riot.

Rounding out the back six is a third bottom-ager in Luke Trainor. While not quite a conventional key position player, he features at centre half-back given his 195cm standing and terrific marking performance in the Sandringham Dragons’ win over Western.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Lachlan Smith (GP) – George Stevens (GWV) – Levi Ashcroft (SD)
C: Darcy Wilson (MB) – Christian Moraes (ER) – Kayne Rutley (CC)

Only one man was going to take up the ruck duties this week – Gippsland’s Lachlan Smith. The 202cm ruck held his own against quality opposition in the Power’s runaway win over Northern, fresh off a strong national carnival with Vic Country.

Representative teammate George Stevens was a standout in GWV’s dominant win over Geelong, while bottom-agers Moraes and Levi Ashcroft join him in the engine room having locked horns in our Player of the Week poll.

On the wing is this year’s premier outside midfielder in Darcy Wilson, though he predominantly played on-ball in the Bushies’ loss to Eastern. Calder’s Kayne Rutley has also been named having started out up the field, before snaring three goals in a more natural role up forward.

FORWARD

HF: Harvey Langford (DS) – Archer Reid (GP) – Zane Duursma (GP)
F: Connor Byrne (GWV) – Riley Weatherill (ER) – I. Tanzimat (ER)

There are goals galore in our Round 14 forward line, including 10 between pocketmen Connor Byrne and Isaac Tanzimat. Talls Archer Reid and Riley Weatherill also hit their stride to bag four majors apiece and ensure their spot in the side.

Up on the flank, Reid’s Gippsland teammate Zane Duursma thrived as a high forward having played most of the Talent League season starting in midfield. Dandenong’s Harvey Langford has undergone a similar rotation and booted three goals from 26 touches in a loss this weekend.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Lachlan Charleson (GWV), Jonty Faull (GWV), Damon Hollow (CC), Logan Morris (WJ), Connor O’Sullivan (MB), Michael Rudd (GF)

EMG: Zak Johnson (NK), Xavier Lindsay (GP), Rhys Unwin (GWV)

There was a real squeeze for spots on the bench this week, but room enough for two more GWV Rebels winners in small midfielder Lachlan Charleson and tall forward Jonty Faull. From the same game, Geelong spearhead Michael Rudd snuck in as his side’s standout player.

Elsewhere, it was hard to deny Calder midfielder Damon Hollow as he showed dash and dare in a 34-disposal outing. Like Rudd, Western’s Logan Morris was productive up forward in a losing side, while Allies MVP Connor O’Sullivan showed his class at either end of the field for Murray.