TASMANIAN bottom-ager Mischa Barwin is enjoying an eye-catching start to her debut Coates Talent League Girls season, and after steadily improving each week, had a standout performance on the weekend, earning our Rookie Me Central Player of the Week.

Barwin had 27 disposals, five marks, five inside 50s, laid six tackles and kicked three goals in the last quarter as the Devils ran away with the game against the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels. The Tasmanian became the first non-Victorian to be nominated for the Player of the Week this season, and the second bottom-ager overall in 2024.

Barwin’s three majors came with the game done and dusted, in the 11th minute of the fourth term, and then two more in the final five minutes to add icing to the cake in the win. Prior to that, she had the ball on the string through the midfield, accumulating plenty of touches, the equal most for her side. She showed an ability to win it on the inside, outside or up forward, with a touch of finishing class.

Alongside her, teammate Priya Bowering (27 disposals, five marks and a goal) and opponent Isabella Davies (29 disposals, four marks, 10 tackles and five inside 50s) were both prominent. Marlo Graham – who was the Round 1 nominee and therefore ineligible again, was impressive for the Knights yesterday, with 27 disposals, four marks, eight tackles and five inside 50s.

Around the grounds saw Carlton father-daughter Sophie McKay produce her biggest Coates Talent League performance of the year with 31 disposals and two goals in a loss, while last week’s Player of the Week Lucia Painter had a day out against Murray Bushrangers with 32 disposals, seven marks, seven tackles, nine inside 50s and a goal.

The runner-up nominee this week was Dandenong Stingrays midfielder/forward Kayla Dalgleish who kicked half of the goals at Shepley Oval during the Stingrays’ eight-goal win over Gippsland Power. She finished with five majors from 17 disposals, four marks and five tackles. Jemma Reynolds also had a day out with 29 touches, seven marks, three tackles, six inside 50s and a goal.

In the other two matches, Eastern Ranges’ bottom-ager Tayla McMillan (27 disposals, three marks, nine tackles and five inside 50s) was lively, while for the Suns Academy, both Tara Harrington (27 disposals, five marks, 12 tackles and seven inside 50s) and Dekota Baron (14 disposals, five marks, nine hitouts and four goals) were both prolific.

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
Round 2 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
Round 3 – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 4 – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)