THE FIRST Coates Talent League Team of the Week has been locked in, with 24 players selected out of Round 1’s action. Victors Sandringham Dragons and Gippsland Power lead the way with four nominees apiece, with Power star Willem Duursma named captain as our Player of the Week.

>> ROUND 1: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENDERS

B: Ryan Ash (MB) – Harry Dean (MB) – Oliver McKenzie (ER)
HB: Connor Evans (BP) – Zac Walker (GP) – Kye Fincher (SD)

Murray Bushrangers were soundly beaten by Gippsland on Sunday, leaving plenty of work for their defenders. Carlton father-son prospect Harry Dean was named the Bushies’ best for his 16 disposals and seven marks, while Ryan Ash (brother of Lachie) earns a spot for his kick-heavy 22 touches.

They are joined on the last line by Eastern Ranges rebounder Oliver McKenzie, who popped up with 20 disposals, five marks and seven rebound 50s on debut. Another debutant, Zac Walker, impressed for Gippsland. The 191cm over-aged interceptor clunked 10 marks among his 16 disposals.

There’s even more rebound power up on the flanks. A second over-ager in Connor Evans features after posting 22 disposals, six marks and seven rebound 50s in Bendigo’s win over Tasmania. Sandringham’s Kye Fincher also slots in on the back of an industrious 24 touches and five rebound 50s.

MIDFIELDERS

FOL: Cooper Duff-Tytler (CC) – Josh Lindsay (GF) – Oliver Greeves (ER)
C: Rory Wright (SD) – Willem Duursma (GP) – Sebastian Murphy (NK)

The midfield is made up of an on-ball group consisting exclusively of AFL Academy members. Pick one contenders Willem Duursma and Cooper Duff-Tytler showed out, while fellow top 15 prospects Josh Lindsay and Oliver Greeves were standouts and will join them at our hypothetical centre bounces.

Player of the Week Duursma was prolific around the ground with 36 disposals, 10 marks, five clearances and a goal in the Power’s win over Murray. Meanwhile, Duff-Tytler racked up 26 disposals, 14 hitouts, eight clearances, and two goals from the ruck as Calder held on to defeat Oakleigh.

Eastern co-captain Greeves led the way with 23 touches and four clearances, making the cut alongside Northern co-captain Sebastian Murphy (25 disposals, six clearances). The latter was pushed out to a wing despite playing as a midfielder-forward, such was the midfield depth this week.

Lindsay was terrific in Geelong’s defeat to Dandenong, showing his class with 27 disposals and seven clearances. Meanwhile, Sandringham’s Rory Wright was one of the finds of Round 1. The smooth moving left-footer played on both sides of midfield, gathering 19 disposals and six inside 50s on debut.

FORWARDS

HF: Ricky Theodoropoulos (SD) – Liam Hetherton (MB) – Marlon Neocleous (GP)
F: Lachy Dovaston (ER) – Wil Malady (GP) – Hussien El Achkar (CC)

There are plenty of goals in this week’s forwardline, with the six selected players combining for 17 overall. Gippsland bottom-ager Wil Malady and Calder pocket rocket Hussien El Achkar (Essendon Next Generation Academy) both bagged a high of four to feature on the full forward line.

They are joined by Eastern livewire Lachy Dovaston, whose three majors were complimented by six tackles. Up at centre half-forward, Murray spearhead Liam Hetherton did his best to contribute with 3.1 from 14 disposals and five marks in a side which managed just 23 forward 50 entries.

The team’s creativity comes from its half-forwards; Ricky Theodoropoulas (Sandringham) and Marlon Neocleous (Gippsland). The former was near best-on with his relentless attacking drive, while the latter bagged a couple of goals to go with his 23 disposals and eight inside 50s.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Sam Lewis (DS), Thomas McGuane (WJ), Jack Miller (TD), Adam Sweid (CC), Miles Tyrer (SD), Hunter Wright (BP)

EMG: Oliver Depaoli-Kubank (TD), Jack Pickett (GF), Cody Walker (BP)

Plenty of midfield depth spills onto this week’s bench. Dandenong’s Sam Lewis and Western’s Thomas McGuane stood up in losses, while Hunter Wright (Bendigo) and Adam Sweid (Calder) were standouts in tight wins. Tasmanian goalkicker Jack Miller snared three of his side’s seven majors, and Sandringham ruck Miles Tyrer was hard to deny after an imposing performance against the Jets.