REIGNING back-to-back champions Oakleigh Chargers will look vastly different compared to last season, with plenty of new faces joining those experienced bottom-agers and double bottom-agers from 2024 in the 2025 Coates Talent League Girls squad. Two-time premiership coach Ty Vickery said it will provide different challenges to overcome this season, but is excited by the opportunities.

PRESEASON

“It’s been really fun. We have had a pretty big turnover from last year’s group, so really young group compared to last year. A lot more 17-year-olds and that sort of thing, it’s been really enjoyable, a lot of challenges for girls and a lot of new girls in the program.”

TOP-AGE VIC METRO HUB MEMBERS

Chloe Bown
Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 20/12/2007

“She’s a terrifically skilled inside and outside midfielder, really strong overhead. We played her forward last year for patches and she consistently kicked goals. Has a really well-rounded game with skill and toughness as well. We’ll play her predominantly inside, but also give her some time forward.”

Chloe Thorn
Defender/Midfielder | 167cm | 07/09/2007

“Chloe’s a terrific leader and character for us. She’s an intercepting medium half-back, really tough as well and strong overhead. She played our previous two years after playing with us a lot as a 16 year-old so looking for a big year from her.”

Zara Neuwirth
Key Defender | 183cm | 06/02/2007

“She’s a tall defender, versatile, could play a bit deeper but also higher up. Really good at just defending one-on-one, rarely outmarked. Really looking forward for her to continue to grow her offensive game as well.”

>> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Metro summer hub

OTHERS TO WATCH

“A girl called Storm Johnson who played with us last year and unfortunately couldn’t finish the year because of an ankle injury. She’s come back all guns firing this preseason, she’s a pressure forward and probably the best pressure forward I’ve seen in terms of chase down tackles, nailing the tackles. She’s a really exciting player to watch, she’s super dynamic and competitive. Looking to see what she can do.”

OVER-AGERS

“We’ve got one coming back in Amelie Gladman. She has never done a footy preseason before because she was an elite level cricketer so we challenged her that if she wanted to come back we needed to see that level from her. She’s been outstanding the whole time so she’s dividing her time between us and Collingwood.

“We’ve got Jess Owen, so Jess moved from Tasmania. She hasn’t played much football, she’s a 192cm ruck which is obviously really tall. She’ll also split her time with Collingwood. Finally, Tatyana Perry as well who was part of the Academy as well, and she’s come down to Melbourne to pursue football a little more seriously so she’s got outstanding speed and she’ll play through half-back and the wing.”

BOTTOM-AGERS

“We had a really strong crop last year, we had five play in our grand final side. Bailee Martin is really good, she’s a key position player in the Vic Metro summer hub as well. Competitive, marks on the lead, reads the ball really well. We’ve got Leni Lockyer who missed a lot of last year with injury, probably our best kick in the team, really high footy IQ and moves really well also. Then probably Grace To has done really well this preseason also. She was a pressure forward last year who consistently hit the scoreboard. This year we’re going to look to move her inside mid a little bit more. She’s really quick and looking for that dynamic play from her.”

THOUGHT ABOUT THE THREE-PEAT?

“I mean it’s certainly not about wins and losses, but we do obviously aim to put a really competitive side that plays a really competitive brand out there. It’s probably not something we’re thinking about. We just aim to overcome whatever challenges that there is with the new group and just play a really competitive, fun brand of football.”

SQUAD PROFILE

“It’s interesting. We’re still trying to find our identity a little bit. We’ve got a lot more quality height this year than the last couple of years, but also that means they’re a bit younger. Last year we only really had Emma, so we’ve got a little bit more height which is cool, but overall we’ve got a lot of experience now.

“We’ve got a lot of games into 16 and 17 year-olds last year, way more than we did the previous year and we think that will hold us in really good stead to be competitive early. But probably another highlight is our speed. We’re a lot quicker just naturally to what we have been in previous years so hopefully that can show with some good outside run.”

ROUND 1

vs. Northern Knights
Sunday April 6, 12:40pm
Highgate Recreation Reserve