THREE matches played across the Northern and Eastern suburbs of Melbourne take place as the Coates Talent League Girls competition returned from a break. Two of the top three sides will take to the field tomorrow, as will three of the bottom four teams.

Saturday, June 15
Highgate Recreation Reserve | @ 10:30am

FORM:

These teams have struggled throughout the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls season, but did both pick up their first wins of the year recently. Calder Cannons came from behind to knock off Murray Bushrangers on the road, while Western Jets produced a similar sterling performance in torrential rain against Northern Territory Academy.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Calder Cannons:

Welcoming back bottom-ager Jade McLay into the middle, she will be key in trying to get on top of the clearances. Utility Kyla Forbes looms as her side’s best top-ager, while captain Ava Gerada has been a target up forward, and Maddison Albrecht has applied the pressure well.

Western Jets:

The Jets rely a lot on Sierra Grieves work out of the midfield, with the onballer coming off an MVP performance for the AFLW Academy. She will be key to a Jets’ win, while Kiara Boyd won the last match off her own boot with three goals in the final term against Northern Territory. Tall defender/.ruck Alex McBride-Loane and winger Charlotte Miller have been in some nice form of late.

PREDICTION

The match looms as a close one, but the Jets have been the slightly stronger of the sides lately, and when Grieves can get control of the midfield, they will be difficult to stop. Calder has been more competitive of late, but are still missing key bottom-ager Chloe Baker-West.

Saturday, June 15
Preston City Oval | @ 10:30am

FORM:

Northern Knights led the competition at one stage this year, starting the season on fire with four wins from five matches, and the loss was after being four goals up on Eastern as well. Since then, the Knights have slipped a little, dropping two consecutive matches, but having not played since May 25, will be refreshed. They do take on a rampaging Oakleigh Chargers outfit, who other than a loss to the Suns Academy on the Gold Coast, have beaten all before it and look likely to do that consistently throughout the season.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Northern Knights:

If Northern Knights are to create an upset, it will come down to the midfielders delivering well inside 50. The Hargreaves sisters – Zoe and Phoebe – will get their hands on the ball plenty, as well skipper Holly Ridewood who is enjoying a strong season. Scarlett Johnson continues to emerge as a super talented marking forward, while Marlo Graham is another talented bottom-ager.

Oakleigh Chargers:

Where do you even start with this side? With basically no holes in the team, the midfield of Maggie Mahony, Sarah Poustie and Abbey Vicino will win plenty of inside ball, while the half-back line of skipper Sienna Tallariti, vice-captain Charlotte Brewer and bottom-ager Chloe Thorn will rebound incessantly. Key forward Emma McDonald headlines a stacked front 50 too.

PREDICTION

Oakleigh Chargers on paper are the best team in teh league, with so many draftable possibilities in the side over the next few years. Northern Knights have proven to punch above their weight this season at times particularly early on, but this will be a huge challenge against a full strength reigning premiers.

Saturday, June 15
Box Hill City Oval | @ 11:00am

FORM:

Eastern Ranges looked a little shaky early in the season, even when they were winning, but the last two rounds they have played have looked commanding. A dominant 58-point win over Tasmania Devils on the road followed by an 88-point shellacking of Bendigo Pioneers, and the Ranges are now third on the table and looking every bit the major challenger to the Chargers. Sandringham Dragons have gone the other way, starting the season at 3-2 with some handy wins, but suffered a forgettable 64-point loss to Gippsland Power in Round 8, and then went down by 31 points to Tasmania on June 2.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Eastern Ranges:

The Ranges forward line is looking ultra dangerous with both Georgie Brisbane and Georgia Knight finding form and Under 16s young gun Scout Semple stepping in to make an impact. The bottom-age duo of Tayla McMillan and Jordyn Allen are stars in the making, while the likes of Grace Belloni, Evie Parker and Stasia Stevenson round out a really strong midfield group.

Sandringham Dragons:

The Dragons are in a little slump at the moment and will need to cause an upset minus Sophie McKay. They have the likes of Mia Zielinski and Tiger Doultree up forward as well as the in-form Scout Howden on a wing. Defender Jacinta Boyd will have a big job in the back 50.

PREDICTION

Eastern Ranges are arguably the best team to knock off Oakleigh Chargers when at full strength, and a Sandringham side minus McKay will struggle against the depth of the Ranges’ midfield. The Dragons still have some exciting talent across the ground, but with Eastern in form, it is hard to see many sides beating the Ranges.