AFTER playing a key role for Vic Metro as a bottom-ager in the AFLW Under 18 Championships the week before, Oakleigh Chargers’ Chloe Bown continued that form into Round 12 of the Coates Talent League Girls competition. She was a clear best on ground in her side’s huge win over Sandringham Dragons, earning our Player of the Week nomination from the split round of four games.

Bown racked up 35 disposals – 11 more than anyone else on the ground – while also clunking eight marks, laying five tackles and amassing 11 inside 50s. She also converted two goals from four scoring shots to really do it all playing between attack and midfield.

Having played seven games in her debut season last year and averaged 22.6 disposals, 2.9 marks, 5.7 tackles and 5.6 inside 50s as a double bottom-ager, Bown has found the scoreboard far more regularly in 2024. She was unlucky not to be awarded Player of the Week for her four goals from 27 touches back in Round 6, but was next best behind teammate Maggie Mahony that day.

She has converted multiple goals in five of her eight matches thus far to tally 14 for the season, while still maintaining an average of 21.6 disposals, 3.5 marks, 4.6 tackles and 4.5 inside 50s for the Chargers. She was the best of a host of impressive chargers, highlighted by midfielder Sarah Poustie who was enormous with 22 touches, nine tackles and nine inside 50s in the win.

Though the Dragons lost by 94 points, Tiger Doultree could hold her head high, picking up 24 disposals and clunking nine marks, while having 10 rebound 50s in a strong defensive display. There were also some big numbers in the Northern Knights-Western Jets game, as Zoe Hargreaves kicked a goal from 22 disposals, six marks, five tackles and two inside 50s in the win, while Jets pair Olivia Castello and Sierra Grieves both accumulated 30-plus disposals.

Round 12 was split across two weekends, with a couple of matches the week before. In those games, it was an even spread with Rain Dodd and Holly Egan among the best for the Bushrangers in a tough loss, as was past Player of the Week Sophia Green, while Elise Cook and Maggie Johnstone impressed for the successful Rebels.

In the Geelong Falcons-Eastern Ranges game, Georgia Tyrrell had a field day with 25 disposals and 10 tackles, while fellow bottom-ager Stella Huxtable booted two goals from 17 disposals as the Falcons stormed to a 35-point win over the Ranges. Brylee Anderson was the star for Eastern, with the double bottom-ager kicking two majors from 21 touches.

Bown makes it four consecutive underage players for Player of the Week nominations, following on from Green, Priya Bowering and Tayla McMillan, while joining Mahony as the representatives from Oakleigh this season.

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
Round 2 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
Round 3 – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 4 – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
Round 5 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
Round 6 – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 7 – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)
Round 8 – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 9 – Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 10 – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
Round 11 – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges)
Round 12 – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)