A MASSIVE 100-point win to Eastern Ranges resulted in last year’s grand finalists notching up a league-high five players in our Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 15. The Ranges boast two more than any other side, while fellow winners Gippsland Power, Dandenong Stingrays and Geelong Falcons all have three.

Captaining the team in Round 15 was Eastern midfielder Grace Belloni who kicked three goals from 29 touches on the weekend. She was a clear best on ground in the triple-digit victory, with Tasmanian young gun Priya Bowering (47 disposals, 10 inside 50s) earning the vice-captaincy.

While the Devils had an even team performance that resulted in just the one other player making the side – Mischa Barwin – the Ranges had a quartet of others who produced outstanding performances in the win. Jordyn Allen showed her class all over the ground, while Grace Baba provided important run and carry from defence. Kelsie Ternes (five goals) had a breakout game, while Stasia Stevenson provided a spark in the forward half.

Alongside Bowering and Belloni in the midfield is star midfielder-forward Ash Centra who was again best on ground in her side’s win over GWV Rebels. Ella Stoddart (three goals) and Lily Milner (21 disposals, five inside 50s) were picked for the Team of the Week after their displays. Hard working midfielder-defender Isabella Davies was named at half-back after a game-high 28 disposals, while Maggie Johnstone also impressed between midfield and attack.

Dandenong Stingrays had three representatives in the Round 15 side, with usual suspects Jemma Reynolds and Kayla Dalgleish in there again after controlling the midfield, while Nalu Brothwell slotted a season-high four goals in the victory. They defeated Murray Bushrangers who had a couple of versatile defender-midfielders named in the back half of the ground in Sophia Green and Ellie Hall.

Geelong Falcons skipper Mekah Morrissy was one of three Vic Country representatives in the Team of the Week, named alongside high production midfielder Sara Howley and tenacious forward Seisia White (four goals). They defeated Bendigo Pioneers who had the two representatives in talls, Ava Bibby (five goals) and Sienna Hobbs taking posts inside 50 and the ruck respectively.

The remaining two players in the Round 15 Team of the Week are sole representatives being Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets, full-back) and Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons, interchange). The three who unluckily missed out on the side but were named as emergencies were Eastern skipper Georgie Brisbane and Vic Country members Holly Egan and Elli Symonds.

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 15

B: Grace Baba (Eastern Ranges) – Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets) – Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers)
HB: Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers) – Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
C: Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays) – Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges) (c) – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)
HF: Seisia White (Geelong Falcons) – Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
F: Ava Bibby (Bendigo Pioneers) – Kelsie Ternes (Eastern Ranges) – Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)
R: Sienna Hobbs (Bendigo Pioneers) – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power) – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
INT: Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels) – Lily Milner (Gippsland Power) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Stasia Stevenson (Eastern Ranges) 

EMG: Georgie Brisbane (Eastern Ranges) – Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers) – Grace Azzopardi (Calder Cannons)