HAVING reached a grand final and successive preliminary finals over the last few years, the Dandenong Stingrays are never too far away from the ultimate success in the Coates Talent League Girls competition. Head coach Josh Moore has enviable depth at his disposal, with the Stingrays boasting five top-age Vic Country hub members and a stack of bottom-age talent for the following year.

PRESEASON

“It’s been good. We feel like we’re in a pretty good space, obviously game’s just around the corner. Ticked off everything we needed to tick off so far. Feel like the girls fundamentals are really sound, it’s probably just adding in some education before Round 1 so we’re ready to go.”

TOP-AGE VIC COUNTRY HUB MEMBERS

Matilda Argus
Midfielder/Defender | 166cm | 06/01/2007

“‘Tild’s has probably had an injury interrupted last few years. But she’s had a full preseason so I feel like she’s got a really strong foundation to have a really good year. She’s been playing footy since she’s been a young kid and had a really successful junior footy career at local level so really excited seeing how she can translate that into Coates League this year.”

Mizuki Brothwell
Defender | 175cm | 22/10/2007

“She’s only been playing footy for 18 months and she’s in the National Academy so she’s come a long way in a short space. There’s really no ceiling on how far she can go. She just does everything really, really well. I’m super excited to see how the year pans out for her.”

Nalu Brothwell
Forward | 174cm | 22/10/2007

“Pretty similar to Mizuki, so Nalu’s only been playing for 18 months. She does play a different position so more of a forward. So sometimes can be harder as a forward to showcase talent at times, but like her sister she’s done everything right. She’s developing rapidly, and there’s a lot of interest in her so very excited about her.”

Molly Reimers
Forward | 170cm | 25/07/2007

“Molly obviously a top-age girl, she played Coates as a 16-year-old so she’s been in the system for a couple of years. Her fundamentals and the way she kicks the footy is outstanding, and she has really good forward craft.”

Lily Snow
Midfielder | 169cm | 10/07/2007

“Lily’s in our leadership group, she’s a vice-captain. Just a really good footballer. Genuine workhorse, she’ll play a fair bit of inside mid because she’s quite strong over the ball, really good contested player but also good overhead so she’ll push forward and be really difficult matchup for the oppo.”

>> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Country summer hub

OTHERS TO WATCH

“I think Eve Connolly is one to keep an eye on, she’s had a big preseason. She’s had some areas of her game she’s needed to work on, she’s gone to work and done that, so I’d expect her to push into there.

RETURNING OVER-AGERS

“We’ve got two 19-year-olds in Tahlia Sanger and Makhaela Bluhm who tested really well today, and set themselves for big years. I think they’re ones to watch as well.”

BOTTOM-AGERS

“We had 10 girls represent Vic Country as 16-year-olds last year so it’s a really strong bottom-age group. We’ve got two in Vic Country as bottom-agers so that’s Alice Cunnington and Ruby Geurts. They’re probably the two I’d nominate to watch, but honestly it’s a really strong group looking forward to them showcasing that this year.”

STYLE OF PLAY

“It does change year to year but in saying that we are going to be similar last year. More of a running team, I think our offence is going to stack up pretty well. I like to think our ball movement in attack is going to be a main area that we’re going to work on. Probably don’t have a heap of talls in our top-age year level so trying to get the ball on the outside and showcase the girls talents in terms of skill level and speed.”

ROUND 1

vs. Gippsland Power
Sunday April 6, 11:00am
Morwell Football Ground