AN EVENLY contested weekend of Coates Talent League football sees 10 of a possible 12 teams boast multiple representatives in our Round 15 Team of the Week. Leading they charge with three players each are victors Geelong Falcons and Sandringham Dragons – see who made the cut!

>> 2024 CTL Round 15: Snapshot | POTW | Scouting Notes

DEFENCE

B: Jack Skinner (GF) – James Barrat (BP) – Owen Bater (SD)
HB: Oscar Greenshields (WJ) – Jobe Shanahan (BP) – Max Roney (TD)

Bendigo Pioneers talls James Barrat and Jobe Shanahan hold up the defence this week having combined for 17 marks in their side’s six-goal loss to Calder. Both prospects showcased their versatility with stints in midfield, having also proven their quality as forwards throughout the season.

Also dominating in the air was Geelong Falcons top-ager Jack Skinner, who clunked 13 grabs among his 15 disposals. He slots into a pocket opposite Sandringham’s Owen Bater, who battled valiantly in a lockdown role on Dandenong Stingrays co-captains Harvey Langford and Cooper Hynes.

A pair from the Tasmania-Western clash feature up on the flanks. Max Roney was the Devils’ main distributor from defence with 27 touches and eight rebound 50s, while Jets top-ager Oscar Greenshields (22 disposals, five marks) offered a great balance of offence and defence.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Jordan Doherty (DS) – Isaac Kako (CC) – Xavier Lindsay (GP)
C: Lucas McInerney (NK) – Harvey Langford (DS) – Willem Duursma (GP)

Dandenong and Gippsland lay claim to a pair apiece in our hypothetical midfield this week, making for strong Country representation. Captains of the respective sides – Harvey Langford and Xavier Lindsay – both racked up over 30 disposals and 10 marks to be locks in the engine room.

Stingrays tall Jordan Doherty was hard to deny in the starting ruck role after amassing 28 disposals and 20 hitouts in his side’s loss to Sandringham. Meanwhile, Power bottom-ager Willem Duursma makes a return appearance for his 20 disposals, six marks and one goal from the wing.

Lining up on the opposite side to Duursma is Northern’s Lucas McInerney, who was everywhere on the outside with seven inside 50s and six rebound 50s from a game-high 28 disposals against Murray. Calder livewire Isaac Kako (25 disposals, three goals) also impressed in a full-time midfield outing.

FORWARD

HF: Cooper Ward (GF) – Gabriel Stumpf (NK) – Damon Hollow (CC)
F: Joe Berry (MB) – Matt Whitlock (MB) – Ricky Theodoropoulas (SD)

Player of the Week Cooper Ward is the standout up forward after booting seven goals against Oakleigh – three more than any other player in Round 15. Among those to bag three were Northern tall Gabriel Stumpf, Calder captain Damon Hollow, and Sandringham small Ricky Theodoropoulas.

Murray Bushrangers pair Joe Berry and Matt Whitlock also booted two majors each to slot in alongside each other on the full forward line. Berry was lively with 20 disposals and seven inside 50s, while Whitlock showcased his mobility to register seven scoring shots in the draw against Northern.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Xavier Ivisic (GF), Luke Kennedy (SD), Seth MacDonald (ER), Thomas McGuane (WJ), Dom Pitt (TD), Isaiah Markovsky (OC)

EMG: Lucca Grego (WJ), Lachie Jaques (GF), Josh Smillie (ER)

As usual, a raft of midfielders spill onto the six-player interchange this week. The outlier is Eastern Ranges forward Seth Macdonald, who snagged four goals in a loss to Gippsland. Elsewhere, Western bottom-ager Thomas McGuane (34 disposals, two goals) locked horns with Tasmania’s Dominic Pitt (23 and three) to see both players make the cut.

In the Geelong-Oakleigh clash, Xavier Ivisic cashed in during a school football bye to be among the Falcons’ best, while Isaiah Markovsky is the Chargers’ lone representative. Sandringham midfielder Luke Kennedy was also hard to deny after breaking through for a season-high 30 touches this week.