COATES Talent League Girls action returns tomorrow after a week’s break with five games slated for Saturday, as part of a six-game Round 13 fixture. An understrength Tasmania Devils host the Western Jets on a huge day for Tasmanian footy, while a double-header at Highgate Recreation Reserve promises plenty of action.

Saturday, July 20
UTAS Stadium | @ 9:45am

FORM:

Due to the Allies playing yesterday, Tasmania Devils will be far from full strength in their bid to knock off the Western Jets down at UTAS Stadium. The Devils have won four on the bounce to sit third, and take on a Jets side that has been in much better form of late. Western has surged clear of Calder Cannons, and won back-to-back games in Rounds 9-10. They have lost their past two, but will be keen to take advantage here.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Tasmania Devils:

While Tasmania will be minus most of its first choice midfield due to Allies representatives, they do unveil a star 2009-born talent in Matilda Lange. A strong inside midfielder, Lange projects as one of the top prospects for the 2027 AFLW Draft, and though a while off, will no doubt catch a lot of people’s eyes tomorrow. She is alongside the likes of Mia Anderson and Meg Harrison in midfield, with the latter likely to spend more time inside compared to her usual wing role. Josie Rose up forward has also shown a capacity to hit the scoreboard with bags of goals.

Western Jets:

Western Jets will have the luxury of a near full-strength side given Metro played last weekend, with Sierra Grieves lining up in midfield along with fellow ball-winners Olivia Castello and Hannah Brodie. The defensive duo of Alex McBride-Loane and Lou-Lou Field will provide crucial run off half-back, while watch for the Jets debuting a 2008-born talent of their own in Piper Dixon who is a dangerous forward.

PREDICTION

It would take a huge effort for the Devils to get up in this one considering the amount of top-age and bottom-age experienced talent out due to Allies representation. They have been the better team all year compared to the Jets, but Western has top-end talent and should be able to control proceedings and get enough scoring chances to take home the four points.

Saturday, July 20
Highgate Recreation Reserve | @ 12pm

FORM:

After a competitive couple of weeks which saw the Cannons pick up their first win against the Murray Bushrangers and fall short against the Jets, Calder was put to the sword by an impressive Oakleigh outfit last time out by 83 points. However that was almost a month ago on June 22, and now 28 days later, the Cannons will face an Eastern Ranges side that lost to Geelong while understrength, but has otherwise had been in blistering form with three consecutive wins by 75-plus points leading into that game.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Calder Cannons:

Calder will regain the services of Jade McLay for the match, with the bottom-ager eyeing off a potential slot with Vic Metro in the last match of the national carnival in a few weeks. Kyla Forbes has performed strongly for her state in defence and has been named there for this match, while co-captain Ava Gerada and the tenacious Maddison Albrecht have both impressed of late.

Eastern Ranges:

It is hard to know where to even begin with the Eastern Ranges lineup, given eight of the 24 players are Metro-listed, and another couple are bottom-age reserves. Tayla McMillan, Stasia Stevenson and Grace Belloni form the on-ball group with bottom-age ruck Josephine Bamford killing it for Metro at the moment. Georgia Knight and Georgie Brisbane have been threats up forward at national level, while AFLW Academy member Grace Baba slots into half-back.

PREDICTION

Eastern Ranges side is stacked with talent, and the form prior to the loss to Geelong is what should be read into ahead of the game. On paper the Ranges should win this comfortably, it will be a case of how the weather impacts the scoring, and whether or not the Cannons can turn it into a defensive scrap and put pressure on the Ranges ball-winners.

Saturday, July 20
Highgate Recreation Reserve | @ 2:10pm

FORM:

Gippsland Power have not played since going down to Tasmania Devils by three goals at Shepley Oval on June 23. On that day, star midfielder Ash Centra was tagged out of the match, and inaccuracy really hurt the Power who had been in some great form, comfortably winning the previous two matches. They face a Bendigo Pioneers outfit that started the season 3-0, but have since lost the last six games.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Gippsland Power:

Centra will likely be unimpeded in the match and could well put on a show against quality opponent and fellow possible top five pick, Lou Painter. From the Power, Jasmine Sowden will continue to improve from her Vic Country experience, while Ella Stoddart held her own against the older players at the national championships. Lilly Leighton and Zali Gallagher will always provide 100 per cent effort, though the Power are missing tall forward Abby Hobson.

Bendigo Pioneers:

Painter is the standout prospect for the Pioneers this year, but the defensive tall-small duo of Sasha Pearce and Jemmika Douglas have done their best throughout the season. Olivia Lacy and Issy Boulton are lively in the front half, while the half-forward line of Sienna Hobbs, Lexi Gregor and Gabby Drage is an incredible aerial trio.

PREDICTION

Gippsland Power have shown to be one of the dangers this season, with some top-end talent in each third of the ground, and able to match it with the better sides. Bendigo has promise too, but has just been out of form of late, needing a spark to get the ball rolling again. The Power to get up in Round 13.

Saturday, July 20
Wangaratta Showgrounds | @ 2:30pm

FORM:

Murray is the only winless side remaining out of the full-time teams, and will have a tough time of upsetting a pretty handy Northern Knights outfit. The Bushies have been far more competitive of late, with their past five losses coming with an average losing margin of 15.3 points compared to 73.5 points from the opening four defeats. Northern overcame a mid-season three-game losing streak from Rounds 7-10 to bounce back with two wins in the past two rounds to be right up there with the top sides.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Murray Bushrangers:

Though Murray will be minus its Allies Academy members, the young duo of Sophia Green and Rain Dodd adds a point of difference to the midfield, while Nikhita Spiteri will bring the heat. Vic Country representatives Holly Egan and Madison Ibrahim along with Under 16s Giants Academy representative Rose Bell will form an eye-catching half-back line.

Northern Knights:

The Knights are headlined by the Hargreaves sisters in midfield with Zoe and Phoebe running around with the in-form Olivia Jesser. Knight skipper Holly Ridewood has been named at half-back after playing a couple of impressive games for Vic Metro on the wing. Scarlett Johnson and Kira Lemire are marking targets inside 50 and Kiara Keenan is a reliable interceptor in the defensive half.

PREDICTION

Northern ‘s largest losing margin is 12 points to Oakleigh, which shows just how competitive the Knights have been in 2024. Expect them to be too strong in this one, though the homeground advantage may help the Bushrangers who have the talent, and will be hungry for the win. They are minus their Allies representatives in Ellie Hall and Tamika Rourke though.

Saturday, July 20
Belvedere Reserve | @ 2:30pm

FORM:

Sandringham Dragons are currently on a five-game losing streak in the competition, with their three games this season coming against Western Jets (twice) and Calder Cannons, and of their three past losses, two are by 15-plus goals and another by 64 points. They meet a tough Stingrays outfit that has only lost to Oakleigh Chargers from the full-time teams, and are currently on a three-game winning streak.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Sandringham Dragons:

The Dragons will go into the game minus their three Vic Metro representatives in Sophie McKay, Scout Howden and Daisy Flockart which means it will be up to a lot of the younger players to step up. Top-age forward-turned-defender Tiger Doultree will be crucial in trying to quell the constant Dragons attack. Jacinta Boyd and Sienna Sharp are forward targets to watch for, while Olive McLean can also spark the side.

Dandenong Stingrays:

It is exciting to finally see Elli Symonds‘ name on a teamsheet again after missing the first half of the year due to injury. She is lining up at centre half-forward and will likely rotate into the ruck with skipper Zoe Besanko, while Vic Country representatives Jemma Reynolds and Kayla Dalgleish can do plenty of damage. Makhaela Bluhm will also be better for her Country experience, with Lillian Snow and Tahlia Sanger other key contributors.

PREDICTION

A full-strength Stingrays lineup with top 20 prospect Symonds returning up against a Dragons side missing its best three top-age prospects and on a tough losing streak. It will be the toughest of challenges for Sandringham, and Dandenong is very disciplined at getting the job done, so it is anticipated they will put the foot down when getting a sniff.