A PAIR of high-flying defenders have landed in the top 10 of this year’s Rookie Me Central Medal leaderboard after polling votes in Round 12. Gippsland’s Alix Tauru and Bendigo’s James Barrat find themselves equal-seventh and equal-10th respectively, separated by just one vote.

>> SCROLL for the Round 12 votes & leaderboard

Tauru, a recent addition to the Vic Country squad, soared for eight marks to be adjudged best afield in the Power’s 65-point loss to Geelong. Meanwhile, potential representative teammate, Barrat continued his venture to defence with 10 grabs as the Pioneers fell a point short of Dandenong.

Along with Tauru, Murray Bushrangers spearhead Joshua Murphy also polled a full three votes in a losing side. The forward kicked six goals from 19 disposals and nine marks to edge out Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels midfielder Sam Lalor (34 disposals) for best on ground honours.

Also among the weekend’s standouts were Dandenong ruck Jordan Doherty and Bendigo key forward Jobe Shanahan. Both hit the scoreboard in a big way, with the former bagging three majors from 21 touches, while the latter booted five to go with six marks in a season-high haul.

With two new entrants in a stacked field, the top 10 is extended out to 13 names. Dandenong midfielder-forward Cooper Hynes remains top of the tree with 14 votes, just one ahead of Vic Metro stars Josh Smillie (Eastern) and Jagga Smith (Oakleigh). All three players are club captains.

Another four skippers headline the trailing pack, including Northern’s Zak Johnson, who has polled in a high of six games alongside Hynes. Mid-season draftees Will McLachlan and Tom Hanily are hanging onto their top 10 spots, while Tauru’s three best on ground games make him Gippsland’s leading poller.

>> 2024 CTL Round 12: Snapshot | POTW | TOTW

ROUND 12 VOTES

Dandenong Stingrays 14.12 (96) def. Bendigo Pioneers 14.11 (95)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Jordan Doherty (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Jobe Shanahan (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – James Barrat (Dandenong Stingrays)

Gippsland Power 7.10 (52) def. by Geelong Falcons 18.9 (117)
By: Michael Alvaro

3 – Alix Tauru (Gippsland Power)
2 – Hugo Mikunda (Geelong Falcons)
1 – Noah Caracella (Geelong Falcons)

Murray Bushrangers 9.7 (61) def. by GWV Rebels 11.5 (71)
By: Adrian Dixon

3 – Joshua Murphy (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Sam Lalor (GWV Rebels)
1 – Harry Lawson (GWV Rebels) 

Sandringham Dragons 13.11 (89) def. Oakleigh Chargers 13.5 (83)
By: Matthew Vella

3 – Zane Cochrane (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Harry Armstrong (Sandringham Dragons)
1 – Waylon Davey-Motlop (Oakleigh Chargers)

>> Scouting Notes: Sandringham Dragons vs. Oakleigh Chargers

TOP 10 LEADERBOARD

1st. Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays) – 14 [1, 3, 3, 2, 2, 3]
Eq. 2nd. Josh Smillie (Eastern Ranges) – 13 [3, 1, 3, 3, 3]
Eq. 2nd. Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers) – 13 [2, 3, 2, 3, 3]
Eq. 4th. Zak Johnson (Northern Knights) – 11 [3, 2, 3, 1, 1, 1]
Eq. 4th. Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers) – 11 [3, 1, 2, 2, 3]
6th. Damon Hollow (Calder Cannons) – 10 [2, 3, 3, 2]
Eq. 7th. Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays) – 9 [3, 1, 3, 2]
Eq. 7th. Will McLachlan (Geelong Falcons) – 9 [2, 3, 1, 3]
Eq. 7th. Alix Tauru (Gippsland Power) – 9 [3, 3, 3]
Eq. 10th. James Barrat (Bendigo Pioneers) – 8 [2, 2, 1, 2, 1]
Eq. 10th. Joe Berry (Murray Bushrangers) – 8 [2, 3, 1, 2]
Eq. 10th. Tom Hanily (Gippsland Power) – 8 [3, 2, 3]
Eq. 10th. Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power) – 8 [2, 3, 3]

LEADERS BY CLUB

Bendigo Pioneers – Tobie Travaglia (11)
Calder Cannons – Damon Hollow (10)
Dandenong Stingrays – Cooper Hynes (14)
Eastern Ranges – Josh Smillie (13)
Geelong Falcons – Will McLachlan (9)
Giants Academy – Logan Smith (4)
Gippsland Power – Alix Tauru (9)
GWV Rebels – Mitchell Lloyd (5)
Lions Academy – Daniel Annable (6)
Murray Bushrangers – Joe Berry (8)
Northern Knights – Zak Johnson (11)
Northern Territory – Taj Murray (1)
Oakleigh Chargers – Jagga Smith (13)
Sandringham Dragons – Levi Ashcroft (5)
Suns Academy – Zeke Uwland (5)
Swans Academy – Ned Hawkins (6)
Tasmania Devils – Lenny Douglas/Geordie Payne (7)
Western Jets – Thomas McGuane (6)

CLUB LEADERBOARD

Tasmania Devils – 38
Gippsland Power – 36
Dandenong Stingrays – 34
Calder Cannons – 33
Geelong Falcons – 33
Bendigo Pioneers – 31
Murray Bushrangers – 30
Eastern Ranges – 27
Sandringham Dragons – 22
Northern Knights – 21
Western Jets – 20
Oakleigh Chargers – 16
GWV Rebels – 15
Swans Academy – 13
Lions Academy – 11
Suns Academy – 11
Giants Academy – 7
Northern Territory – 1