AWARDS season has begun, and the Rookie Me Central Medal has been claimed after another season of Coates Talent League football. Gippsland Power forward Zane Duursma claimed the honour in 2023 after a five-vote game saw him overtake Tasmania’s Colby McKercher in the final round.
>> SCROLL to see the leaderboard
McKercher led the count all season and was adjudged best afield in seven of his eight outings, with the exception coming about due to a foot injury which may see him miss the Devils’ finals campaign. Duursma duly pounced, storming home with 18 votes in his last four matches.
The midfielder was still prolific enough to finish second, ahead of two more prospects from Country regions in George Stevens and Darcy Wilson. The latter had a bye in Round 17, so was drawn level by Stevens who earned three votes for his 32 disposals in a big win over Western.
Rounding out the top five for this year is the lone Metro product and bottom-ager in said group, Oakleigh’s Jagga Smith. His one vote in Round 17 put him three clear of Eastern Ranges pair Christian Moraes and Josh Smillie in equal-sixth, who are also eligible for the 2024 draft.
The two Ranges finished level atop their region’s overall count, just like Harley Reid and Tobie Travaglia for Bendigo, and Northern’s Nate Caddy and Zak Johnson. Stay tuned to Rookie Me Central, where we’ll present Duursma with the medal as the Coates Talent League postseason gets underway.
>> CTL Round 17: Snapshot | POTW | TOTW | Scouting Notes
ROUND 17 VOTES
GWV Rebels 13.16 (94) def. Western Jets 4.14 (38)
5 – Sam Lalor (GWV Rebels)
4 – Jonty Faull (GWV Rebels)
3 – George Stevens (GWV Rebels)
2 – Massimo Raso (Western Jets)
1 – Lachie McArthur (Western Jets)
Dandenong Stingrays 6.11 (47) def. by Tasmania Devils 10.9 (69)
5 – Billy Wilson (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Arie Schoenmaker (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Heath Ollington (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Harry De Mattia (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – James Leake (Tasmania Devils)
Sandringham Dragons 12.16 (88) def. by Oakleigh Chargers 15.8 (98)
5 – Harvey Thomas (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Charlie Edwards (Sandringham Dragons)
2 – Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
Calder Cannons 14.9 (93) def. Northern Knights 6.13 (49)
5 – Mahmoud Taha (Calder Cannons)
4 – Nash King (Calder Cannons)
3 – Will Green (Northern Knights)
2 – Kristian Ferronato (Northern Knights)
1 – Zak Johnson (Northern Knights)
Geelong Falcons 12.11 (83) def. Bendigo Pioneers 10.6 (66)
5 – Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons)
3 – River Stevens (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Reef Page (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Michael Rudd (Geelong Falcons)
Gippsland Power 8.10 (58) def. Eastern Ranges 8.4 (52)
5 – Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power)
4 – Tew Jiath (Gippsland Power)
3 – Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)
2 – Christian Moraes (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Caleb Windsor (Eastern Ranges)
RMC MEDAL LEADERBOARDS
FINAL LEADERBOARD
1. Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power) – 39 votes
2. Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils) – 35
=3. George Stevens (GWV Rebels) – 33
=3. Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers) – 33
5. Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 29
=6. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) – 26
=6. Christian Moraes (Eastern Ranges) – 26
8. Logan Morris (Western Jets) – 23
=9. Lachlan Charleson (GWV Rebels) – 22
=9. Angus Hastie (Geelong Falcons) – 22
BEST BY CLUB
Lions Academy: Sam Marshall (5)
Bendigo Pioneers: Harley Reid & Tobie Travaglia (16)
Calder Cannons: Nash King (19)
Dandenong Stingrays: Harvey Langford (20)
Eastern Ranges: Christian Moraes & Josh Smillie (26)
Suns Academy: Jed Walter (11)
Geelong Falcons: Angus Hastie (22)
Gippsland Power: Zane Duursma (39)
Giants Academy: Harvey Thomas (10)
GWV Rebels: George Stevens (33)
Murray Bushrangers: Darcy Wilson (33)
Northern Knights: Nate Caddy & Zak Johnson (18)
Northern Territory: Orlando Turner (2)
Oakleigh Chargers: Jagga Smith (29)
Sandringham Dragons: Will Brown (18)
Swans Academy: Indhi Kirk (13)
Tasmania Devils: Colby McKercher (35)
Western Jets: Logan Morris (23)
VOTES BY CLUB
Lions Academy – 12
Bendigo Pioneers – 75
Calder Cannons – 99
Dandenong Stingrays – 98
Eastern Ranges – 112
Suns Academy – 45
Geelong Falcons – 99
Gippsland Power – 107
Giants Academy – 12
GWV Rebels – 126
Murray Bushrangers – 80
Northern Knights – 87
Northern Territory – 3
Oakleigh Chargers – 88
Sandringham Dragons – 91
Swans Academy – 37
Tasmania Devils – 128
Western Jets – 64
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