A TANTALISING matchup for only Round 3, the highly talented Gold Coast Suns Academy – which went undefeated last season including knocking off eventual Coates Talent League Girls premier Oakleigh – will take on the in-form Dandenong Stingrays on the Gold Coast.

NEED TO KNOW

WHEN: Saturday April 26, 11:00am
WHERE: Austworld Centre Oval, Gold Coast
WATCH: Live stream via Coates Talent League app

IN A NUTSHELL

Everywhere you look there will be talent in this one, with the Stingrays recording victories of 109 and 103 points in their opening fortnight of Coates Talent League Girls action. Clearly the country team to beat at the very least – and boasting a heap of Vic Country hub members – the Stingrays will mount a threat to the Suns. However Gold Coast is a well-drilled unit that has stars across every line and at best, a stack of first round draft prospects. Plus, the Suns are at home which gives them the slight edge.

TEAMS

GOLD COAST ACADEMY
1. Scarlett Featherstone
2. Amelia Ella
3. Jesse Sewell
4. Aleah Stringer
5. Heidi Grimster
6. Sunny Lappin
11. Annabelle Foat
12. Sienna Burnham
13. Rhianna Ingram
14. Alicia Gordon
15. Chloe Smith
17. Bronte Parker
19. Stephanie Aguinaldo
20. Alannah Welsh
21. Chelsea Smyth
22. Neive Ryan
23. Mikayla Nurse
24. Maddie Campbell
28. Summer Browning
29. Lilly-ann Ryder
31. Georja Davies
32. Millar Brosnan-Ball
35. Ellie Da Ros

DANDENONG STINGRAYS
1. Evelyn Connolly
2. Molly Reimers
3. Nikita Harris
4. Tahlia Sanger
5. Mizuki Brothwell
6. Makhaela Bluhm
7. Lillian Snow
8. Ruby Geurts
9. Nalu Brothwell
10. Matilda Argus
11. Scarlett Marsh
13. Indi Sherritt
15. Charlotte Gilmore
17. Sophie White
25. Charlotte Hewitson
27. Marlee Black
28. Gabrielle Mehrmann
29. Gleeson Litchfield
30. Kiara Triep
31. Jasmine Stephenson
35. Sienna Oxnam
36. Jasmine Whitten
40. Zoe Zach
14. Evi Irving (emg)
18. Bridget Koczek (emg)
26. Phoebe Pearce (emg)

ONES TO WATCH

While the Suns Academy are minus two top stars in Ava Usher and Dekota Baron, they still have plenty of talent including athletic tall Georja Davies and the versatile Alannah Welsh. Davies will headline a midfield that includes potential top 30 candidates Annabelle Foat and Bronte Parker which is the key strength of the Suns’ side.

Dandenong’s on-ball group is veryh deep though with left-footers Matilda Argus and Lillian Snow in great form, while Tahlia Sanger is coming off a terrific VFLW debut with Collingwood. The bookended twins of Mizuki Brothwell and Nalu Brothwell are going great guns, while Evelyn Connolly is among the front-runners for the league leading goalkicker.

The big question is how Dandenong’s attack will fare with greater pressure up the field given the entire Suns on-ball brigade is known for its defensive attributes. Furtheremore, Gold Coast can win the clearances and put pressure on the Dandenong defence at the same time. The likes of Sunny Lappin and Aleah Stringer are a couple of other players to keep tabs on from the Suns, with the former eligible as a father-daughter to Carlton and St Kilda (Matthew Lappin).

PREDICTION

There are not many holes in either side so this could be quite the spectacle if played in ideal conditions. Expect both teams to put up big scores all going well, and while the Stingrays can certainly win, the Suns are a well-drilled unit and have the homeground advantage so are tipped in a narrow one. The losses of Usher and Baron are huge though, so will be up to others to step up.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

GWV Rebels take on Calder Cannons at C.E. Brown reserve, with the Cannons missing Jade McLay who was injured in last week’s National Academy match. It gives fellow Academy member Chloe Baker-West the chance to stand up, with a good test against a GWV midfield that includes the high impact Maggie Johnstone and dangerous left-footer Milly Shortal.

On the border, Murray Bushrangers lock horns with GWS Giants Academy. Leading goalkicker Rose Bell will remain with the Bushrangers, however the likes of Ellie Hall and Majella Day – tied to both clubs will run out for the Giants. Isla Wiencke is a National Academy member to keep an eye on from the visitors.

Bendigo Pioneers have suffered a couple of big losses but welcome the return of co-captain Olivia Lacy for the big game against Northern Knights. Lacey Nihill was impressive in her absence so it will be fascinating to see her role this week, while the likes of Marlo Graham and Alli Allen are tearing it up for Northern, and Scarlett Johnson has found a home as a rebounding defender.

A hungry Eastern Ranges outfit will be keen to put the heartbreaking loss to Oakleigh in the rearview mirror when the Ranges take on the Western Jets at DSV Stadium. National Academy duo Tayla McMillan and Jordyn Allen headline a deep Eastern squad, while Western rebounding defender Alex McBride-Loane will be key in thwarting the opposition attacks.

Also in the Sunshine State is the other Queensland Academy in the Brisbane Lions, who welcome Geelong Falcons to Brighton Homes Arena. Double bottom-ager Ameleia Murray is coming off an All-Australian carnival at the Under 16s level, while ruck Monique Corrigan and tall midfielder Mia Geere are key players. Well beaten last week, the Falcons will need to topple the Lions without star midfielder Stella Huxtable and bottom-age star Ava Bilyk, with Georgia Tyrrell and Alana Mulvahil to shoulder the load.

ROUND 3 FIXTURE

Tips in Bold.

Friday, April 25:

Sydney Swans Academy vs. Tasmania Devils
Blacktown International Sportspark | 11:00am

Saturday, April 26:

Gold Coast Suns Academy vs. Dandenong Stingrays
Austworld Centre Oval, Gold Coast | 11:00am

GWV Rebels vs. Calder Cannons
CE Brown Reserve, Ballarat | 11:00am

Murray Bushrangers vs. GWS Giants Academy
Lavington Sports Ground, Lavington | 11:00am

Bendigo Pioneers vs. Northern Knights
Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo | 12:00pm

Western Jets vs. Eastern Ranges
DSV Stadium, Williamstown | 1:00pm

Sunday, April 27:

Brisbane Lions Academy vs. Geelong Falcons
Brighton Homes Arena, Ipswich | 10:00am

Bye: Gippsland Power, Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons

Season Tips: 9/12