THREE big winners of Round 7 for the Coates Talent League Girls competition dominated this week’s Team of the Week as Oakleigh Chargers and Gold Coast Suns Academy (five each) and Eastern Ranges (four) made up more than half of the side. All bar two of the 12 sides had a representative in an otherwise well spread out side.

While the trio of sides dominated the team, Geelong Falcons skipper Mekah Morrissy was our Player of the Week and therefore captain, having notched up 40 disposals in her side’s win. She was named in the team alongside fellow midfielder Stella Huxtable, and on-ball alongside her vice-captain, Western Jets’ Sierra Grieves who also notched up the 40 touches.

In the centre is Gold Coast Suns Academy star Havana Harris who kicked two goals from 34 disposals, one of five Suns in the side. Also in the team is fellow tall Georja Davies who lines up at centre half-forward, in the same 50 as teammate Alannah Welsh who kicked four goals from 14 scoring shots. Top-agers Heidi Talbot and Mia Salisbury also made it into the team at half-back and on the interchange respectively.

Matching Gold Coast’s performance was reigning premiers Oakleigh Chargers who were led by captain Sienna Tallariti in defence, alongside bottom-ager Chloe Thorn. In midfield, usual suspects Sarah Poustie and Maggie Mahony both slotted in out on a wing and on the bench, while three-goal forward Amelie Gladman was an easy choice or the forward pocket.

After the top three sides, the next highest sides were teams with two representatives. Along with Morrissy’s Falcons, their opponents Gippsland Power, and Brisbane Lions Academy both had a couple of representatives. The Power were supported by Ella Stoddart and Jasmine Sowden who were named up respective ends. For the Lions, over-age defender Laura Roy and co-captain Isabella McDonough made the squad.

Eastern Ranges also had a healthy representation in the Round 10 team with winger Evie Parker and midfielder Tayla McMillan alongside forward Georgia Knight and bottom-age ruck Josephine Bamford, the latter of whom makes her debut in the Team of the Week.

The remaining three players in the 24-strong squad are single representatives in Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels), Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) and Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays). Another Rebel in Elise Cook and another Knight in Holly Ridewood were two of three emergencies with Geelong’s Hayley Peck.

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 7

B: Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power) – Laura Roy (Lions Academy) – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)
HB: Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers) – Heidi Talbot (Suns Academy)
C: Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) – Havana Harris (Suns Academy) – Evie Parker (Eastern Ranges)
HF: Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Georja Davies (Suns Academy) – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)
F: Amelie Gladman (Oakleigh Chargers) – Alannah Welsh (Suns Academy) – Georgia Knight (Eastern Ranges)
R: Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges) – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) (vc) – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons) (c)
INT: Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons) – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers) – Isabella McDonough (Lions Academy) – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) – Mia Salisbury (Suns Academy)

EMG: Elise Cook (GWV Rebels) – Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons) – Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights)