A NAIL-BITING finish to the 2024 Rookie Me Central Medal in the Coates Talent League Girls competition saw just one vote separate the top two, and each of the top 12 on different vote totals. Dandenong Stingrays’ Jemma Reynolds polled in 12 of her 14 games to deserve the accolade, finishing one vote clear of Vic Metro MVP and Western Jets star, Sierra Grieves.

Gippsland Power utility and top draft prospect Ash Centra (42 votes) finished third, with Oakleigh Chargers’ Sarah Poustie (40) and Northern Knights’ Zoe Hargreaves (39) rounding out the top five. The highest ranked bottom-ager was Eastern Ranges jet Tayla McMillan, while Tasmanian 2025 AFLW Draft prospects Priya Bowering and Mischa Barwin finished either side of last year’s winner, Sara Howley.

Bendigo Pioneers prospect Lou Painter completed the top 10 with 29 votes, while strong finishes to the year from bottom-ager Chloe Bown and Northern skipper Holly Ridewood resulted in them leaping into the first dozen players on the leaderboard.

From a teams perspective, Kyla Forbes‘ standout finish in the final round saw her snatch Calder Cannons’ top voter, as did Sophie McKay for Sandringham Dragons. Claire Mahony – who shared with Isabella Davies – and Holly Egan – who shared with Sophia Green also reached their respective GWV Rebels’ and Murray Bushrangers’ top billing.

It should come as no surprise that reigning premiers and ladder leaders Oakleigh Chargers had the most cumulative votes, picking up 161 from 13 players. Eastern Ranges (15 players, 148 votes) had the most individuals poll a vote in the season while finishing second overall. Northern Knights (133) and Dandenong Stingrays (130) each had 13, while Gippsland Power, Tasmania Devils and Geelong Falcons all topped the ton of votes and had double-digit representatives.

TOP 20 LEADERBOARD

1st. Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) – 49 votes
2nd. Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) – 48 votes
3rd. Ash Centra (Gippsland Power) – 42 votes
4th. Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) – 40 votes
5th. Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – 39 votes
6th. Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) – 38 votes
7th. Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils) – 37 votes
8th. Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – 36 votes
9th. Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils) – 32 votes
10th. Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers) – 29 votes
11th. Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) – 26 votes
12th. Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights) – 25 votes
Eq. 13th. Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays) – 24 votes
Eq. 13th. Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – 24 votes
Eq. 15th. Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons) – 23 votes
Eq. 15th. Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power) – 23 votes
Eq. 17th. Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges) – 22 votes
Eq. 17th. Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – 22 votes
Eq. 17th. Claire Mahony (GWV Rebels) – 22 votes
Eq. 20th. Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons) – 21 votes
Eq. 20th. Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – 21 votes

LEADERS BY CLUB

Bendigo Pioneers – Lou Painter (29)
Calder Cannons – Kyla Forbes (14)*
Dandenong Stingrays – Jemma Reynolds (49)
Eastern Ranges – Tayla McMillan (38)
Geelong Falcons – Sara Howley (36)
Giants Academy – Isla Wiencke (11)
Gippsland Power – Ash Centra (42)
GWV Rebels – Isabella Davies & Claire Mahony* (22)
Lions Academy – Isabella McDonough & Laura Roy (10)
Murray Bushrangers – Holly Egan* & Sophia Green (20)
Northern Knights – Zoe Hargreaves (39)
Northern Territory – Kierra Zerafa (6)
Oakleigh Chargers – Sarah Poustie (40)
Sandringham Dragons – Sophie McKay (23)*
Suns Academy – Havana Harris (17)
Swans Academy – Imogen Brown (8)
Tasmania Devils – Priya Bowering (37)
Western Jets – Sierra Grieves (48)

* indicates new leader

CLUB LEADERBOARD

Oakleigh Chargers – 161 [13 players]
Eastern Ranges – 148 [15]
Northern Knights – 133 [13]
Dandenong Stingrays – 130 [13]
Gippsland Power – 121 [12]
Tasmania Devils – 121 [11]
Geelong Falcons – 112 [10]
GWV Rebels – 85 [8]
Western Jets – 85 [7]
Murray Bushrangers – 74 [7]
Sandringham Dragons – 70 [7]
Bendigo Pioneers – 68 [7]
Suns Academy – 54 [7]
Calder Cannons – 40 [6]
Lions Academy – 28 [4]
Giants Academy – 21 [5]
Swans Academy – 21 [6]
Northern Territory – 8 [3]