AFTER plenty of big performances worthy of Player of the Week, Eastern Ranges’ Grace Belloni earned that reward in Round 15. The top-age midfielder forward was enormous in the Ranges’ 100-point belting of the Western Jets, kicking three goals from 29 disposals in a best-afield effort.

Belloni finished with 15 kicks and 14 handballs, as well as five marks, two tackles, two inside 50s and three goals straight in Eastern’s 18.14 (122) to 3.4 (22) triumph at Box Hill. She matched her 29-disposal performance from Round 14, with her efforts only bettered by a 31-disposal performance back in Round 3 against the Chargers.

As far as consistency goes though, few can match it with Belloni who since Round 3, has not dipped below 22 disposals, while seven of her 10 games in that span have featured 25 disposals or more. Fittingly her season average is 25.2, while also averaging 3.3 marks, 3.8 tackles and 4.5 inside 50s, while booting eight goals from 11 games.

Gaining more midfield minutes to be a midfielder who rotates forward rather than the other way around like in her bottom-age year, Belloni has also impressed for Vic Metro thus far in the national carnival, including a 23-disposal, eight-mark, four-goal effort in a similarly huge win over the Allies.

Belloni became just the second Eastern Ranges player to earn a Player of the Week nomination – behind Tayla McMillan – but made it three consecutive top-age players and five consecutive metropolitan players in the process.

In the same game, Georgia Knight slotted four goals from 13 touches and Kelsie Ternes (five goals from nine disposals) had a breakout game. Grace Baba (21 disposals, six inside 50s and one goal) also impressed, while Sierra Grieves was the pick of the Jets.

Across the course of Round 15, it was hard to ignore Priya Bowering‘s mammoth 47-disposal effort, with the bottom-ager also accumulating five marks, six tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal for Tasmania Devils. The young gun midfielder was nominated back in Round 10 and therefore not able to be re-nominated.

Around the grounds saw Murray Bushrangers’ Ellie Hall had a big day out in defeat against Dandenong Stingrays, accumulating 31 disposals, 12 marks, five tackles and three inside 50s. Kayla Dalgleish (26 touches, three marks) was strong for the winners, as was the ever-reliable Jemma Reynolds (24 disposals, nine marks).

Ash Centra (21 disposals, two goals) was pretty influential once again for Gippsland Power, while Isabella Davies racked up a match-high 28 touches and seven marks for the GWV Rebels in a loss. Another big performer was Ava Bibby who slotted five goals from seven touches in Bendigo’s defeat against Geelong Falcons. Seisia White (13 disposals, three marks, five tackles and 4.2) was a key player for the Falcons.

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)
Round 13 – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 14 – Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 15 – Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges)