TASMANIA Devils picked up their first win of the Coates Talent League Girls season, and recorded a league-high four players in our Rookie Me Central Round 3 Team of the Week.

The Devils finished one ahead of reigning premiers Oakleigh Chargers who were outstanding once again while five of the other six winners had multiple representatives, and 13 of the 14 teams in action recorded at least one player in the side.

This week’s captain is our Player of the Week, Lucia Painter who racked up 30 disposals, six marks, 13 tackles, 11 inside 50s and booted 1.2 in the Bendigo Pioneers’ tight win over Western Jets. She was joined in the side by fellow top-ager and Vic Country hub member Jemmika Douglas who was named in the back pocket.

Up the other end of the field, Tasmania Devils contributed two goalkickers with Josie Rose (four goals) and ruck Tunisha Kikoak (two) having a profound impact on the scoreboard. The Devils still had a defender in there with AFLW Academy member Mackenzie Williams and midfielder Mischa Barwin both standing out.

Oakleigh Chargers notched up the three representatives in the side with tall forward Emma McDonald once again lining up at centre half-forward after a three-goal haul, while captain Sienna Tallariti was named in defence, and midfielder Sarah Poustie made it onto the bench.

Another winner on the weekend was Dandenong Stingrays, as captain and forward/ruck Zoe Besanko was named in a pocket, while Jemma Reynolds made it onto the bench. Their opponents Geelong Falcons had the two representatives, as Lucy Marescuk was one of two specialist wingers, while Sara Howley also made the side.

Sandringham Dragons collected a win and had the other specialist winger in Scout Howden, with a four-goal haul from Mia Zielinski resulting in the over-ager retaining the full-forward spot. From the Northern Academies, Ellie Hall slotted into centre half-back from the Giants, while the winner Swans had both Imogen Brown (half-forward) and Emma Juneja (interchange) in the side.

Eastern Ranges might have lost, but they still managed two players in the Team of the Week with midfielder/forward Grace Belloni racking up 31 touches playing on-ball. She was named in the centre, while fellow midfielder Tayla McMillan made it onto the bench.

From the individual represented clubs, Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power) was nudged to half-back given the strength of the midfield, and she did a lot of work in defence, while Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights), Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) and Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) completed the squad.

The three emergencies for Round 3 were Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights), Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers) and Isla Wiencke (Giants Academy).

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 3

B: Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers) – Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils) – Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers)
HB: Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Ellie Hall (Giants Academy) – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)
C: Lucy Marescuk (Geelong Falcons) – Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges) – Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons)
HF: Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights) – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – Imogen Brown (Swans Academy)
F: Josie Rose (Tasmania Devils)- Mia Zielinski (Sandringham Dragons) – Zoe Besanko (Dandenong Stingrays)
R: Tunisha Kikoak (Tasmania Devils) – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers) (c) – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)
INT: Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Emma Juneja (Swans Academy) – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)

EMG: Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers) – Isla Wiencke (GWS Giants Academy)