BENDIGO Pioneers recorded a league-high four players in our Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 4, one ahead of the Dandenong Stingrays, and Gold Coast Suns and GWS Giants Academies. All bar two of the 14 teams in action over the weekend had representatives in this week’s team, with the seven winners and one losing side recording multiple players.

The star-studded followers included a duo of Suns Academy rucks, with Georja Davies and Havana Harris lining up as ruck and ruck rover respectively, having tagged teamed in the former, but also joined each other at a lot of stoppages. AFLW Academy member Lucia Painter joins them in a tall line with the 174cm midfielder/forward booting a goal from 30 touches.

Dandenong Stingrays’ Jemma Reynolds slots into the centre after 29 disposals and putting on a clinic through the midfield against Gippsland Power, while our Player of the Week, Tasmania Devils’ Mischa Barwin was named on a wing for this team. Eastern Ranges’ Evie Parker is the specialist wing in the team.

The talent does not slow down in attack with Sandringham Dragons’ Sophie McKay kicking two goals from 30 disposals in a loss and was named at half-forward, with another big 27-disposal game from Northern Knights’ Marlo Graham on the other flank earning her a spot in the team. Bendigo Pioneers’ leader Lexi Gregor booted three goals against the Bushrangers and earned the centre half-forward spot.

At full-forward is Gold Coast Suns Academy bottom-ager Dekota Baron after four goals in the tight win over Oakleigh Chargers. The only player to best her in goals for Round 4 was Stingrays top-ager Kayla Dalgleish who kicked five from 17 touches. Tasmania Devils’ Ava Read was again prolific and slotted into the other pocket.

In defence there are a few Team of the Week debutants, with actual Murray Bushrangers’ debutant Sophia Green flanking third-gamer Mizuki Brothwell, while Sydney Swans Academy’s Ellie Veerhuis is in the back pocket in another first appearance for the Team of the Week.

Rounding out the defence and starting team are three players familiar to Team of the Week, in Oakleigh Chargers skipper Sienna Tallariti, the smooth-moving Jemmika Douglas and consistent Isabella Davies who has kept performing strongly for the GWV Rebels.

Looking to the bench and a couple of Giants fill out the six-player interchange with Ashley Patton in as the next best forward, and Isla Wiencke as rotational mid-forward. Another forward-mid is the fourth Pioneer in the side in Gabrielle Drage, while Northern Knights’ Katelyn Busuttil, Eastern Ranges’ Tayla McMillan and Oakleigh Chargers’ Sarah Poustie complete the 24-strong squad.

The three emergencies for this round are Sandringham Dragons’ winger Scout Howden, Lions Academy mid-forward Isabella McDonough and Gippsland Power midfielder Jasmine Sowden, with the latter two their respective side’s sole representatives in the extended team.

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 4

B: Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers) – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers) – Ellie Veerhuis (Swans Academy)
HB: Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) – Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers)
C: Evie Parker (Eastern Ranges) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils) (c)
HF: Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons) – Lexi Gregor (Bendigo Pioneers) – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
F: Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays) – Dekota Baron (Suns Academy) – Ava Read (Tasmania Devils)
R: Georja Davies (Suns Academy) – Havana Harris (Suns Academy) – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
INT: Katelyn Busuttil (Northern Knights) – Gabby Drage (Bendigo Pioneers) – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) – Ash Patton (Giants Academy) – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) – Isla Wiencke (Giants Academy)

EMG: Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons) – Isabella McDonough (Lions Academy) – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)