PLACES were hard to come by in the first Rookie Me Central Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 1 despite there only being four games. In a case of many even team contributions, three of the four winners in Eastern Ranges, Northern Knights and Oakleigh Chargers all picked up four representatives, with no less than two players from losing regions.

Captaining the side for Round 1 is our Player of the Week in bottom-ager Marlo Graham who notched up 28 disposals, three marks, three tackles and two goals in Northern’s win over Calder Cannons. Alongside her from the Knights is another trio of bottom-agers who caught the eye with forward Scarlett Johnson kicking two goals, Katelyn Busuttil amassing 28 disposals and Kiara Keenan having some great moments in defence.

The vice-captain for Round 1 is Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels’ tall forward Claire Mahony who played her Round 1 match way back on Easter Thursday. On that night, she clunked seven marks and booted two goals from 17 disposals in a standout performance. Her teammate and Rebels’ leader Millie Lang was enormous with 31 disposals, six marks, four tackles, five inside 50s and 11 rebound 50s on that night.

Speaking of Easter Thursday, the Geelong Falcons had three representatives in this side coming out of that match, highlighted by star midfielder Sara Howley who racked up 33 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, five inside 50s and the match-sealing goal. Bottom-age midfielder Stella Huxtable and ruck/forward Kiara Woods were also in the team via the bench given the Falcons’ even performance and squeeze for spots in their roles.

Eastern Ranges had an impressive day against Sandringham Dragons, with both Molly Paterson (25 disposals, four marks, four tackles and five inside 50s) and Isla Baldwin (31 disposals, 10 tackles, four inside 50s and a goal) locking in starting midfield spots, albeit the latter squeezed out to a wing. Forward Georgia Knight had plenty of opportunities with 3.4 from 18 touches and five marks to lineup at full-forward, while Jordyn Allen was classy off half-back.

Oakleigh Chargers scraped home in a thriller against Tasmania Devils, with a league-high seven players coming out of that game. The Chargers had four, headlined by Abbey Vicino who racked up 33 disposals through the midfield, while forward Ebony Jago kicked three majors on debut. Sanne Bakker was another impressive debutant, while defender Charlotte Brewer slotted into the back pocket.

Tasmania still had a trio of players in the side, with Mischa Barwin (18 disposals, one goal) named at half-forward, while teammates Priya Bowering (23 disposals, four marks) and Ava Read (two goals, 11 tackles) made it onto the bench after impressive outings.

Completing the remaining four players in the squad are two each from Calder Cannons and Sandringham Dragons, Jade McLay was a force to be reckoned with from the Cannons, accumulating 29 disposals, while Amelia Wright kicked both of her side’s goals and still had 14 hitouts through the ruck.

Dragons’ co-captain Scout Howden (29 disposals, nine marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and six rebound 50s) was named on a wing in this week’s team after a starring performance in defeat, while Jacinta Boyd (19 disposals, seven rebound 50s) holds up the team at full-back.

Though there was an enormous squeeze for spots, the three chosen emergencies for Round 1 were Oakleigh Chargers’ Jacinta Baxter, GWV Rebels’ Elise Cook and Northern Knights’ Holly Ridewood.

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 1

B: Charlotte Brewer (Oakleigh Chargers) – Jacinta Boyd (Sandringham Dragons) – Kiara Keenan (Northern Knights)
HB: Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges) – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – Jade McLay (Calder Cannons)
C: Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons) – Molly Paterson (Eastern Ranges) – Isla Baldwin (Eastern Ranges)
HF: Marlo Graham (Northern Knights) (c) – Claire Mahony (GWV Rebels) (vc) – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
F: Ebony Jago (Oakleigh Chargers) – Georgia Knight (Eastern Ranges) – Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights)
R: Amelia Wright (Calder Cannons) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Abbey Vicino (Oakleigh Chargers)
INT: Sanne Bakker (Oakleigh Chargers) – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils) – Katelyn Busuttil (Northern Knights) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons) – Ava Read (Tasmania Devils) – Kiara Woods (Geelong Falcons)

EMG: Jacinta Baxter (Oakleigh Chargers) – Elise Cook (GWV Rebels) – Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights)