A NEW season of Coates Talent League Girls football is less than two months away, and in readiness for the year, we profile the players in the Victorian hubs. We conclude with the Vic Metro summer squad after covering the Vic Country hub last week.

>> PROFILED | 2025 Vic Country Girls Hub

TOP-AGERS:

Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
Defender/Midfielder | 166cm | 12/11/2007

The smooth-moving Allen is one of a number of National Academy members in the squad and it is easy to see why. Though not being able to crack into Vic Metro’s Under 18s side for a game last year, Allen provides great run and transition from half-back to the midfield be it inside or outside. She makes things happen by foot and is as creative as they come. One to watch as a top-end talent in 2025.

Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)
Utility | 163cm | 02/02/2007

Often bringing her own ball to each match she plays, Baker-West racks up 30-plus – and even 40-plus – disposals. Her contest-to-contest work is enormous, she reads the ball exceptionally well on the inside or around the ground and has played across all three lines. One who will consistently provide an option and can dictate play with the amount of ball she wins.

Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges)
Ruck | 182cm | 03/06/2007

Vic Metro’s leading ruck from last year’s carnival, Bamford averaged 11.3 disposals and 16.3 hitouts at the national championships as a bottom-ager against some quality opposition. Mobile and just as effective at ground level, Bamford also laid four tackles per game at that level, and showed she could find the ball through the Coates Talent League as well.

Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 20/12/2007

An early contender for the top Victorian prospect this year, Bown had an enormous year for the Chargers before getting the call up to represent the ‘Big V’. Able to use both sides of her body, Bown is strong overhead and at ground level with a nice burst going forward. She has a high impact-per-possession, particularly forward of centre where she regularly hits the scoreboard. Can go into the middle and rack up clearances as well.

Asher Fearn-Wannan (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 175cm | 14/12/2007

Coming in for her first full season at the Ranges’ Under 18s after two games in her double-bottom age season, the hard-running Fearn-Wannan provides plenty of run off half-back and further afield. Likely to earn time through the middle as well this year, Fearn-Wannan can both nullify and use her run which helps move the ball quickly in transition. Given her terrific improvement through the pathway while being a multi-sport athlete, she comes with big wraps and high potential.

Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights)
Midfielder | 166cm | 25/10/2007

A rock solid midfielder who is not afraid to get her hands dirty, Gorman was one of a number of Knights who stepped up through her bottom-age season. She is the kind of player who makes her teammates better with her inside work, but can work her way to the outside as well to impact going forward. She averaged 16.9 disposals and 4.9 tackles per game last year and will have a key role in the midfield in 2025.

Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
Forward/Midfielder | 163cm | 15/11/2007

There are high wraps on Graham’s leadership as shown by the small forward/midfielder earning one of the captaincy roles at the Under 17 Futures match last year. She attacks the ball hard and cracks in against much bigger opponents, but her slick sidestep and footy IQ are evident when she wins the ball. She can win repeat possessions in a chain and set up scoring opportunities for herself and others.

Phoebe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
Forward/Midfielder | 160cm | 15/07/2007

With older sister Zoe headed to Tigerland, Hargreaves is now looking to follow in her sibling’s footsteps. A different player to her sister, Hargreaves is significantly smaller, but is very nimble and dangerous once the ball hits the deck. She has played in a variety of roles like her sister, and she has X-Factor around the forward half of the ground. Can do a lot of damage on her day.

Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb (Northern Knights)
Ruck | 181cm | 27/07/2007

Pairing up with Bamford as bottom-age rucks in the Vic Metro Under 18s squad last season, Hishongwa-Gibb is not a natural ball-winner, but is ultra athletic and improved throughout the course of the season. Once she has it, she can move like a midfielder, and competes both in the air and at ground level. While her fundamentals are an area to improve, she gets first hands to it often thanks to her impressive leap.

Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights)
Forward | 174cm | 26/11/2007

A classy forward who played higher up inside 50, Johnson has the X-Factor that clubs look for in a player. She is confident on the lead, strong above her head and finds some nice gaps inside 50. She is rounding out her game as a whole, but like many on this list, has some terrific upside and has shown she has the ability to match it with the best defenders.

Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets)
Tall Defender/Ruck | 173cm | 03/04/2007

A tall defender with an enormous vertical leap, McBride-Loane looms as the standout Western Jets top-ager this season, and the only one – alongside bottom-ager Boyd – in the Vic Metro hub. Able to clunk some huge grabs, McBride-Loane competed through the ruck against players 10cm taller thanks to her natural athleticism. Once she has the ball, McBride-Loane drives it down the ground to transition the ball quickly.

Jade McLay (Calder Cannons)
Tall Utility | 177cm | 01/02/2007

Another ultra-versatile player, McLay has found herself across all three lines for Calder Cannons, and even as a ruck/defender for Vic Metro last year. As strong as any other player in the draft crop, McLay can dictate stoppages with her frame be it through the ruck or as a tall midfielder. A booming kick, McLay clears the danger from defence, and can equally put pressure on the opposition defence.

Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder | 161cm | 25/05/2007

One of the top players in this year’s AFLW Draft class, McMillan is up there with Bown as the top Metro talents in 2025. Classy with a capital ‘C’, she ticks just about every box. Able to hit targets by hand or foot, find space and evade opponents with great athleticism, and is tough as nails. Her tackle numbers are off the charts so she gets her hands dirty, but her ball use and decision making is what stands out and that balance will hold her in good stead.

Zara Neuwirth (Oakleigh Chargers)
Key Defender | 182cm | 06/02/2007

An athletic key defender who played a role for the Under 18s squad last season, Neuwirth projects as a long-term, high-upside player. While still developing her fundamentals, Neuwirth is strong one-on-one, good overhead and athletic, able to move the ball quickly and equally nullify an opponent at the same time. Her development as a top-ager will be one to watch.

Sienna Sharp (Sandringham Dragons)
Tall Utility | 176cm | 30/09/2007

Starved for a lot of opportunities when forward, Sharp kicked four goals from eight games for Sandringham last season, but also spent time in defence, and even one game rolling through the ruck. She is strong and has a crack against any opposition and can be hard to move once gaining the front position.

Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)
Defender/Midfielder | 166cm | 07/09/2007

A talented player who uses the ball well by hand or foot and finds lanes to run in transition down the field, Thorn started as a defender but has developed through the middle as well. Though occasionally finding herself in the forward half, she creates scoring opportunities through forcing opposition turnovers with her pressure. Has a nice balance of offensive and defensive traits.

Zoe Vozzo (Eastern Ranges)
Wing | 164cm | 06/02/2007

Not a huge accumulator, Vozzo is more of an impact player who can do damage on the outside. She wins the ball and darts forward, and though she averaged just the 9.7 disposals last season, catches the eye with her ability to turn defence into offence. Not afraid to tackle, Vozzo kicked eight goals in her 14 games which is impressive for a player often just rotating forward of centre.

Macy Watkins (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder | 171cm | 24/05/2007

Found her feet last season when Sophie McKay was not out there, and will lead the Dragons’ on-ball group in 2025. She has a crack and is not afraid to lay some huge tackles or win the contested ball and feed it out by hand or foot going forward. She is a good size at 171cm and will be one of the Dragons’ biggest ball-winners this season.

Zoe Wilkinson (Eastern Ranges)
Utility | 169cm | 17/05/2007

In her first Coates Talent League season, Wilkinson managed eight games and was able to slot into a variety of positions. She covered the ground well with a strong endurance base, and though not a huge ball-winner, just popped up with some nice moments. Will look to feature consistently this year and be one to watch.

BOTTOM-AGERS:

Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
Defender/Midfielder | 172cm | 25/03/2008

From a bottom-age perspective, Anderson has been one of the most consistent players through her Under 16s season, winning the Metro MVP at the national carnival and then transitioning that form to Coates Talent League level. A tall, natural accumulator, Anderson will run and carry be it from defence out out of a stoppage.

Kiara Boyd (Western Jets)
Forward/Midfielder | 173cm | 02/06/2008

Burst onto the scene in torrential rain against Northern Territory and kicked three last quarter goals on debut to single-handedly kick a winning score for the Jets. A dual sports star who also juggles her time with netball, Boyd did get a crack in the midfield late and could show her evasiveness and smarts there in 2025.

Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 06/06/2008

Boasting some of the highest upside there is, Martin was enormous for Caulfield Grammar in the Herald Sun Shield, heavily tagged but still starring. At Oakleigh Chargers, she was a huge threat in front of goal, and though her accuracy could waver, she also went into the midfield and used her bigger frame to full advantage around the stoppages.

Maddison Meagher (Northern Knights)
Defender/Wing | 162cm | 02/08/2008

Meagher has the need for speed, and coming into the Knights’ program, she burst off half-back at a rate of knots, then also spent time on a wing. She runs in transition, is not afraid to take the game on, and has some areas to improve that will take her game to another level. She might be small, but packs a punch and once she gets forward of the ball, good luck catching her.