THE FINAL Coates Talent League Team of the Week is in for 2023, featuring players from 11 of the 12 teams in action across Round 17. A high of seven players were selected from the Dandenong-Tasmania clash, see who made the cut in our 24-man squad. Note, our Team of the Year will be named next week.

DEFENCE

B: Arie Schoenmaker (TD) – Christian Mardini (NK) – Kobe Shipp (DS)
HB: Tew Jiath (GP) – Cooper Trembath (ER) – Tobie Travaglia (BP)

It was a competitive back line to crack this week, but a few big jobs got much of the selected six over the line. Christian Mardini and Cooper Trembath respectively kept Jordan Croft and Archer Reid to a combined one goal, and duly slot into the key position posts.

Tasmanian superboot Arie Schoenmaker was terrific with 32 disposals and 14 rebound 50s in the Devils’ win over Dandenong, though Stingrays backman Kobe Shipp also features having showcased a sound intercepting game for his 22 touches and nine marks.

Up on the flanks, Tew Jiath is a repeat entrant and held up the fort as Gippsland edged past Eastern by a single goal. Bendigo bottom-ager Tobie Travaglia was also impressive going both ways, doing a job on one of Geelong’s most dangerous forwards while leading the Pioneers’ disposal count.

MIDFIELD

C: Cooper Simpson (DS) – Sam Lalor (GWV) – Charlie Edwards (SD)
FOL: Will Green (NK) – Billy Wilson (DS) – Finn O’Sullivan (OC)

A bunch of prolific performances were overlooked for this week’s starting midfielders, though there is plenty of talent present. Bottom-agers Sam Lalor and Finn O’Sullivan were outstanding in their respective sides’ victories, and stand as a couple of next year’s top prospects.

Joining them at the centre bounces is Dandenong’s Billy Wilson, who has enjoyed a fruitful foray on-ball of late. Northern ruck William Green was impossible to overlook too, after showing great touch for a 204cm talent in his side’s loss to Calder.

Out on the wings, Dandenong co-captain Cooper Simpson continued his uptake in form having recently returned to the field, while Sandringham’s Charlie Edwards features for a second week running as he climbs the ranks and enters serious draft conversations.

FORWARD

HF: Heath Ollington (TD) – Calsher Dear (SD) – Zane Duursma (GP)
F: James Leake (TD) – Jonty Faull (GWV) – Harvey Thomas (OC)

Round 17 Player of the Week Jonty Faull spearheads the forward line after booting 4.4 as GWV thumped Western. Hawthorn father-son chance Calsher Dear occupies the other key position post having snared two goals from 20 disposals and six marks in a losing effort.

A pair of Tasmanians feature on one side of the front six, too. James Leake bagged five goals as he pushes into top 20 calculations, while over-ager Heath Ollington was just as prolific aerially while booting three of his own majors.

On the same day, Harvey Thomas split the big sticks four times in his side’s win over local rival Sandringham, and Zane Duursma did the same in another sublime performance as the Power notched win number seven.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Harry De Mattia (DS), Angus Hastie (GF), Rye Penny (CC), George Stevens (GWV), Mahmoud Taha (CC), Caleb Windsor (ER)

Competition for spots was typically tight, but some top talents managed to make the cut. Calder boasts two representatives in midfielder Mahmoud Taha and dashing over-age defender Rye Penny, matching the haul of Round 17 opposition, Northern.

GWV Rebels bull George Stevens and Vic Country teammate Harry De Mattia were again hard to deny after prolific performances, while Geelong’s Angus Hastie showed enough promise in an even team performance, and Caleb Windsor beat out fellow Eastern gun Nick Watson for the final spot.