BOTH Queensland Academies wrapped up their four-game stints in the Coates Talent League Girls competition as wet and windy conditions made accuracy challenging at times across the weekend.

Oakleigh Chargers 9.7 (61) defeated Western Jets 1.5 (11)

Ladder leaders Oakleigh Chargers continued their great form this season with a commanding 50-point win over Western Jets in Port Melbourne. The Chargers led by 20 points at half-time but kicked away with a six goals to one second half to win, 9.7 (61) to 1.5 (11).

STANDOUT: Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)

The general in defence was superb once again, rebounding anything that came her way and rarely making a mistake by hand or foot. She stayed in the back half of the ground this week but still pushed up the ground when required to set up scoring chains for her side, finishing with 25 disposals, four marks and seven rebound 50s.

OTHERS:

Along with Tallariti, the usual Chargers’ midfield suspects in Sarah Poustie and Maggie Mahony both found plenty of the ball, while Chloe Thorn coming out of defence was sublime. In the absence of Emma McDonald, it was Amelie Gladman who stepped up with three goals from 14 touches and six marks. For Western, once again it was Sierra Grieves who dominated with 40 disposals, while Olivia Castello and Hannah Brodie were next best in terms of numbers for the Jets.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)
3 – Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers)

Calder Cannons 0.0 (0) lost to Gold Coast Suns Academy 11.15 (81)

Gold Coast Suns Academy showed no mercy in a commanding 81-0 victory over Calder Cannons at a windy Highgate Recreation Reserve. The unbeaten Suns were too strong across the park for the winless Cannons who were missing a trio of standout bottom-agers which made the task even harder from the start.

STANDOUT: Georja Davies (Suns Academy)

It was a raffle for the votes between the Suns Academy players across the board, with Davies getting the nod for her impact and work around the ground. The tall clunked seven marks, had 24 disposals, 16 hitouts, four inside 50s and booted two goals in an all-round performance. One of those goals featured an intercept mark, sidestep and composed finish in the second term.

OTHERS:

Top draft prospect Havana Harris was sublime once again, amassing 34 disposals and booting two goals, while up forward, Alannah Welsh was right at home in the goalsquare, having a mind-boggling 14 shots on goal, but finished with 4.10 including four posters. Heidi Talbot and Mia Salisbury were almost among the best. For the Cannons, Kyla Forbes was a standout, while Maddison Albrecht and Stephanie Mitchell had some nice moment.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Georja Davies (Suns Academy)
4 – Havana Harris (Suns Academy)
3 – Alannah Welsh (Suns Academy)
2 – Heidi Talbot (Suns Academy)
1 – Mia Salisbury (Suns Academy)

GWV Rebels 4.2 (26) defeated Northern Knights 2.8 (20)

A goal in the last few minutes to Claire Mahony helped GWV Rebels get over the line against Northern Knights, coming from behind at each break to win, 4.2 (26) to 2.8 (20) in a thriller at a wet and wild Mars Stadium.

STANDOUT: Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)

Davies continued her fine form in the 2024 season with another consistent effort, racking up 25 touches, four marks six inside 50s and laying 11 tackles. She always brings the heat and is neat around the ground, thriving in the challenging conditions.

OTHERS:

Working hard alongside Davies on-ball were the like of Elise Cook and Millie Lang for the Rebels, while Ruby Thomas and Chloe Walker were the other home side players who hit double-figure disposals. For the Knights, skipper Holly Ridewood and Vic Country hub member Zoe Hargreaves were prominent once again, while Tahlia Plunkett and Katelyn Busuttil both laid a game-high 14 tackles in the match.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)
4 – Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
3 – Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights)
2 – Elise Cook (GWV Rebels)
1 – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels)

Dandenong Stingrays 1.5 (11) lost to Brisbane Lions Academy 5.4 (34)

In a margin that was perhaps unfair to the home team, Brisbane Lions Academy ended up kicking away in the last eight minutes to record a comfortable 23-point win. The Dandenong Stingrays had drawn within five points at the 12-minute mark of the final term despite only kicking a goal, before the Lions found the spark they needed with three majors in eight minutes.

STANDOUT: Laura Roy (Lions Academy)

As even of a performance across the board as any game this season, the top pick could have gone to any number of players from both sides. In the end, Roy was chosen for her driving work off half-back and being able to clear with her booming left boot, usually making good decisions. She finished with 21 disposals, six marks, 10 tackles and five rebound 50s in the win.

OTHERS:

Roy worked well alongside fellow defender Farrandai Hopkins, while skipper Isabella McDonough and double bottom-ager Mia Geere were consistent across the board in wet conditions. For the Stingrays, the usual suspects in Jemma Reynolds (30 disposals, eight tackles) and Kayla Dalgleish (25 disposals, seven tackles) got their hands dirty, while fellow midfielders Nikita Harris and Kate Terri also tried hard.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Laura Roy (Lions Academy)
4 – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Isabella McDonough (Lions Academy)
2 – Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Mia Geere (Lions Academy)

Geelong Falcons 3.7 (25) defeated Gippsland Power 1.5 (11)

In perhaps one of the wettest games of the weekend alongside the Mars Stadium clash, Geelong Falcons ground out a hard-fought win. Conditions made it nearly impossible to score, particularly after half-time, with just a combined six behinds for both sides in the second half.

STANDOUT: Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)

Morrissy was outstanding in the conditions, and earned our Player of the Week for her 30 disposals, 11 tackles, five inside 50s and four rebound 50s, playing inside in the absence of Sara Howley and notching up 10 clearances in doing so. She controlled the game and guided her team to victory in a challenging match.

OTHERS:

Bottom-age duo Stella Huxtable and Georgia Tyrrell provided amble support alongside Morrissy in midfield, while over-age ruck Hayley Peck found her fair share of the ball and impressed considering the day was not an outing for talls. Gippsland Power were led by Jasmine Sowden and Ella Stoddart who combined for 12 marks from 48 disposals. Under 16s talent Grace Dillow also worked hard across the ground.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)
2 – Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)
1 – Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons)

Tasmania Devils 3.2 (20) lost to Eastern Ranges 11.12 (78)

In the final game of the round, and the only one outside Victoria, Eastern Ranges produced their best performance of the year to put Tasmania Devils to the sword on their home deck. The Ranges booted 11 of the first 12 goals to lead by as much as 71 points at one stage, before two consolation majors in the final term saw the Devils cut that deficit to under 10 goals.

STANDOUT: Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges)

Another match where you could have raffled the votes among seven or eight players, it was bottom-age ruck Bamford who caught the eye with her strength, vertical leap and positioning around the ground. She clunked several critical marks, got involved in transition and was the number one ruck on the ground with 19 hitouts to-boot.

OTHERS:

Between the forwards and the midfielders, Eastern players had a day out, as Georgia Knight booted three, skipper Georgie Brisbane played her best game of the year, and the likes of Evie Parker, Tayla McMillan and Stasia Stevenson all had their moments. Throw in debutant and Vic Metro Under 16s MVP Brylee Anderson and the classy Jordyn Allen and the Ranges had winners all over the park. Mackenzie Williams, Priya Bowering and Mischa Barwin were among the better Devils on the day.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Georgia Knight (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Evie Parker (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Georgie Brisbane (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges)