THE first of two double-headers at Shepley Oval kicks off the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls finals series, with the four metropolitan teams looking to extend their season for another week at least. The top two teams in the competition in Oakleigh Chargers and Eastern Ranges are favourites to face-off in the grand final for a second successive year.

Saturday, September 7
Shepley Oval | @ 11:00am

FORM:

The premiership defence officially ramps up now for Oakleigh with no turning back from here on. The Chargers have fittingly finished on top of the ladder, but as many sides have found out before, finals is a different ball game. In saying that, coming from behind to defeat Eastern Ranges last week was a huge win, while for Sandringham, the Dragons played arguably their best game of the year by only just falling short to Northern by a point.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Oakleigh Chargers:

After a stint down back, Chargers key forward Emma McDonald returns to the forwardline alongside the likes of bottom-ager Chloe Bown, and top-age State Combine invitees Abbey Vicino and Amelie Gladman st to roll through there. Skipper Sienna Tallariti and vice-captain Charlotte Brewer will hold down the defence, while Sarah Poustie and Zoe Curry will provide a strong inside presence.

Sandringham Dragons:

Sandringham will have built confidence out of the performance against the Knights, but will be without co-captain Scout Howden for the match after she finished the game on ice. The one-two combination of Sophie McKay and Daisy Flockart will be important on-ball, while Macy Watkins has been in nice form through the middle. Tiger Doultree provides an intercepting force from the back half, and Olive McLean can be dangerous in the front half.

PREDICTION

Oakleigh will be too strong in the contest, with depth across the board and players missing out who would just about be in any other side. The Chargers are premiership favourites for a reason, and should march onto the preliminary final next weekend.

Saturday, September 7
Shepley Oval | @ 1:10pm

FORM:

Eastern Ranges will be disappointed after almost gaining a massive confidence-booster against Oakleigh Chargers last week. In a wildcard round thriller, the Ranges lead by 22 points at the final break, but the ladder leaders charged home to run over the top of Eastern. Northern Knights were on the other side of the equation against Sandringham Dragons, surviving an almighty score to get home by a solitary point in the dying minutes.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Eastern Ranges:

Eastern has such a well-balanced unit that the Ranges always proved hard to stop. From the inside brigade of Tayla McMillan and Grace Belloni, to the outside run of Evie Parker and Zoe Vozzo. Up forward the dangerous combination of Georgie Brisbane and Georgia Knight looms large, though Stasia Stevenson and Emma Stilve are also goal-scoring threats. The half-back line of Grace Baba, Asher Fearn-Wannan and Jordyn Allen is also an incredibly damaging line for run and carry.

Northern Knights:

Northern has a well-balanced lineup with a couple of National AFLW Draft Combine invites. They both start on-ball with skipper Holly Ridewood and Zoe Hargreaves providing some run between the inside and up forward. The speed of double bottom-ager Maddison Meagher releases Ridewood to play a more inside role, while up forward, the likes of Scarlett Johnson, Kira Lemire and Olivia Jesser are ever-threatening. Bottom-ager Marlo Graham is coming off captaining her side at the Under 17 Futures match last weekend.

PREDICTION

Eastern Ranges have been the second best team all year and should get up in this one especially based off last week’s form. However, the Knights lead comfortably against the Ranges at the start of the year, so will have confidence they can match it with them, while also never being blown away. Expect the game to be a tight one, with only a few goals the difference.