ANOTHER season is quickly coming to a close in the Coates Talent League Girls and we take a look at how 2023 panned out for each of the 13 sides. In the next of these team reviews articles, we take a look at the two Country-based elimination finals losers, diving into their season, draft prospects and some names to remember in coming years.

>> 2023 Talent League Girls team reviews: Metro non-finalists
>> 2023 Talent League Girls team reviews: Country non-finalists
>> 2023 Talent League Girls team reviews: Metro elimination finalists

TASMANIA DEVILS

Position: 7th
Metro pool: Third
Wins: 7
Losses: 6
Percentage: 100.6

Tasmania Devils started the season on fire, winning the first three games before going down to Eastern Ranges in a humbling 75-point defeat. They had an up and down season throughout the year, but did push grand finalists Oakleigh Chargers in Round 13, only falling by eight points in a competitive performance.

That narrow loss was followed by a massive 61-point win over Murray Bushrangers, then a grinding victory over Calder Cannons. The Devils should have finished off against Dandenong Stingrays in what would have been a huge victory for the program, but faded late and went down by five points. Their season ended at the hands of Geelong Falcons in the elimination finals, leading at the last break but bowed out by 27 points.

TOP-AGE DRAFT PROSPECTS:

Tasmania’s top AFLW Draft prospect did not actually take the field in 2023, with Brooke Barwick a sensational midfield talent. With great hands and a balance between offensive and defensive traits, Barwick is a top 10 prospect and will be good for the 2024 AFLW season.

Fellow AFLW Academy forward Georgia Clark has incredible hands and a high work rate that sets her aside from many other tall forwards, with the lack of marking players inside 50 also working in her favour. Mackenzie Ford is a dual-running midfielder who has a lot of neat traits, while ruck/defender Tunisha Kikoak and running talent Jasmyn Thompson also earned Combine invites.

FUTURE DRAFT PROSPECTS:

Tasmania has a few nice prospects for next year, headlined by dual Allies representative Mackenzie Williams in defence. Sophie Strong is a speedy midfielder/forward, Lucy Thompson can be a marking target inside 50, while Ava Read is a smart, but lightly-built forward.

From a 2025 perspective, a trio of Tasmanians have already shown their talents both through the Under 16s carnival, and the Coates Talent League. Priya Bowering is a tough inside midfielder alongside fellow 2007-born player Harriet Bingley, while defender Jorja Haberle is a rebounding prospect.

GWV REBELS

Position: 9th
Country pool: Fourth
Wins: 5
Losses: 8
Percentage: 92.6

The GWV Rebels were fortunate enough to make finals despite finishing ninth, ending up behind Sandringham Dragons on percentage but being the fourth ranked Country side. They won two of their first three games – against Bendigo Pioneers and Gippsland Power – but ended up slipping to a five-game losing streak and 2-6.

Returning from the June break, the Rebels won back-to-back games over Murray Bushrangers and Northern Knights, but only a come-from-behind victory against Bendigo Pioneers in the last round added another ‘W’ to the tally. Ultimately while the Rebels did make finals, they were well beaten by Dandenong Stingrays by 64 points.

TOP-AGE DRAFT PROSPECTS:

GWV Rebels skipper Jess Rentsch is the top AFLW Draft prospect for 2023, with the speedy half-back/midfielder getting better as the season went on. Rentsch returned from a serious broken leg sustained last year, but once she got into it, did not miss a beat and finished on a high with a massive three-goal game against the Pioneers.

Fellow Vic Country representative Tyla Crabtree earned a Draft Combine invite having pieced together a consistent carnival as a clean and hard inside midfielder. She along with forward Lily Jordan constantly brought the pressure for the Rebels.

FUTURE DRAFT PROSPECTS:

Key forward Claire Mahony and tall defender Millie Lang are a couple of bookends that would make other clubs envious. Both are very strong in the air and impact the game in multiple ways, looming as first round prospects next year.

GWV small utility Isabella Davies and midfielder Brook Ward are others who have potential for the 2024 AFLW Draft, while 2007-born Maggie Johnstone and Ruby Thomas both have exciting traits for the future.