EASTERN Ranges’ commanding win over Calder Cannons saw a league-high five representatives make the Coates Talent League Girls Round 13 Team of the Week. The Ranges had one more than fellow big winners Dandenong Stingrays, while the remaining three victors in Oakleigh Chargers, Gippsland Power and Northern Knights all had a trio of players in the side.

Our Rookie Me Central Player of the Week in Sarah Poustie headlines an all-star midfield having picked up 32 disposals herself and done a wealth of work around the ground. She is joined on-ball by respective best on grounds, Ash Centra and Jemma Reynolds. Both of those players had 30 touches and were influential through the midfield for Gippsland and Dandenong respectively.

Speaking of Dandenong, wing Tahlia Sanger made our Team of the Week in her specialist position, while versatile tall Elli Symonds had 22 touches and kicked two goals in her first game of 2024 to earn immediate entry into the side. Fellow Stingray Evelyn Connolly slotted a league-high five goals in the win as well.

On the other wing is Evie Parker, with the Eastern Ranges talent booting two goals and finding plenty of the ball all over the ground. She is one of five Ranges in the squad, with defender/wing Jordyn Allen squeezed to half-back, and defender/midfielder Brylee Anderson on the other flank. Given the quality of the midfield, Isla Baldwin and Stasia Stevenson were named on the bench, but were too good to leave out.

Stationed at centre half-back is Holly Egan, who along with double bottom-ager Rose Bell, hold down the key defensive posts. In the back pocket is another 2008-born talent in Northern Knights speedster Maddison Meagher. She was joined in the side by standout utility Zoe Hargreaves and midfielder/forward Olivia Jesser (three goals).

Two of the five players inside 50 are Oakleigh Chargers representatives, with key forward Emma McDonald clunking nine marks from 16 touches and kicking 1.3, while Abbey Vicino booted two majors from 17 disposals. Rounding out the front six is Gippsland Power Under 16s talent Lily Milner, while bottom-ager Ella Stoddart also made the side after booting a couple of goals.

The starting side is completed by two Bendigo Pioneers in defender Jemmika Douglas and ruck/forward Sienna Hobbs who both impressed in the wet against Gippsland Power. On the bench are sole representatives, Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons) and Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons).

Even tougher was selecting just three emergencies considering the depth of quality missing out. In the end, the three players chosen were Dandenong’s Makhaela Bluhm, Oakleigh’s Chloe Bown and Murray’s Rain Dodd.

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 13

B: Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers) – Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers) – Maddison Meagher (Northern Knights)
HB: Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges) – Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers) – Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
C: Tahlia Sanger (Dandenong Stingrays) – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) (c) – Evie Parker (Eastern Ranges)
HF: Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Lily Milner (Gippsland Power)
F: Abbey Vicino (Oakleigh Chargers) – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays)
R: Sienna Hobbs (Bendigo Pioneers) – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)
INT: Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons) – Isla Baldwin (Eastern Ranges) – Olivia Jesser (Northern Knights) – Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons) – Stasia Stevenson (Eastern Ranges) – Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)

EMG: Makhaela Bluhm (Dandenong Stingrays) – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) – Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)