GEELONG Falcons forward Cooper Ward is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after a filling his boots with a bag of seven goals in Round 15. The 178cm top-ager registered 11 of his side’s 36 scoring shots in a 70-point rout of the Oakleigh Chargers at Avalon Airport Oval on Sunday.

Ward took just 28 seconds to make an ominous start, kicking the first goal of the game and having the final say in term one with another late in the piece. After making it a hat-trick in the second quarter, he bagged consecutive majors in the middle of term three and scored again in the fourth to make it seven.

His feats in front of goal made for an equal season-high haul, matched only by Sandringham’s Bailey McKenzie in Round 5 (7.3). Only, Ward had one more scoring shot, posting four behinds in the Falcons brutal attacking display. He has now hit the scoreboard in 10 of his 11 games this season.

Ward’s previous best effort in 2024 was a three-goal outing against Northern in Round 11. His running patterns as a high forward are terrific, showing a great ability to get high up the ground or help his side connect inside attacking 50. As a smaller player, he is quite agile and difficult to contain.

In the same game, teammate Xavier Ivisic led all comers with 27 disposals, eight marks and seven inside 50s to cash in on his APS bye. Falcons co-captain Lachie Jaques, fresh off All Australian selection, also impressed with 21 disposals and 10 marks. Both were key parts of the Vic Country Under 18 side.

Around the grounds, Vic Metro representative got straight back into the swing of things through Northern’s midfield to rack up 27 disposals in a draw with Murray. Joe Berry (20 disposals, two goals) was lively for the Bushrangers, while twins Jack and Matt Whitlock both had 17 disposals and two goals.

Larke Medallist Harvey Langford (32 disposals, 10 marks) was a standout despite his Dandenong Stingrays going down to Sandringham. Ruckman Jordan Doherty proved prolific with 28 touches, 20 hitouts and a goal, while Ricky Theodoropoulas booted three goals from 26 disposals and nine marks for the victorious Dragons.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Tasmania Devils notched a 14-point win over Western at UTAS Stadium. Max Roney (27 disposals, eight rebound 50s) were in the thick of the action for the hosts, as Jets bottom-ager Thomas McGuane starred with 34 disposals and two goals in the defeat.

Calder had a solid 36-point win over Bendigo, with guns Isaac Kako and Damon Hollow each bagging three goals from 25 and 19 disposals respectively. For the Pioneers, versatile talls Jobe Shanahan and James Barrat dominated the airways to combine for a whopping 17 marks.

Gippsland Power skipper Xavier Lindsay was at the forefront of his side’s 10-point win over Eastern. Meanwhile, Ranges pair Josh Smillie and Christian Moraes put together 51 disposals between them as the next most prolific ball winners, while also kicking a goal apiece.

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)
Round 11: Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 12: Joshua Murphy (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 13: Zane Cochrane (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 14: Zac Harding (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 15: Cooper Ward (Geelong Falcons)