GWV REBELS forward Jonty Faull is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after a roaring return from injury in Round 10. Making his first appearance for the season, Faull booted five goals from 14 disposals and four marks as his side went down by six points in a thriller against Dandenong.

The 195cm marking machine grew in confidence towards the back end of last season, hitting the scoreboard with regularity, and finally got to build on it as a top-ager on Saturday. He missed both AFL Academy games but has returned just in time for Vic Country’s National Championships campaign.

Faull needed just three minutes to post his first goal of the day in what would have been a big mental boost. He again split the big sticks just before half time and took only 55 seconds to get on the board in term three, going on to add another four minutes later and making it five early in the fourth quarter.

Despite being highly competitive, Faull and the Rebels fell to 1-7 with Saturday’s loss in the dying minutes. The Coates Talent League will make way this weekend as Vic Country and Metro partake in a double-header of Under 18 representative football at IKON Park, against SA and the Allies respectively.

Around the grounds in Round 10, Western Jets goalsneak Jack Gerardi had claims for nabbing this week’s nod with six majors in Western’s narrow win over Northern. Teammate Lucca Grego (22 disposals, nine tackles) was also integral, while Knight Riley Ormerod led all comers with 33 touches.

Round 9 Player of the Week Jagga Smith was again outstanding with 40 disposals as Oakleigh went down by six goals to Calder. Of course, he is out of contention for a second award but is firmly in the running to take out this year’s Rookie Me Central medal, which he currently leads.

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Round 1: Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges)
Round 2: Taj Hotton (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 3: Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons)
Round 4: N/A
Round 5: Bailey McKenzie (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 6: Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 7: Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)
Round 8: Geordie Payne (Tasmania Devils)
Round 9: Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 10: Jonty Faull (GWV Rebels)