GOLD COAST Suns Academy narrowly edged out state rivals Brisbane Lions Academy for the most players in our Coates Talent League Team of the Week for Round 5. The Suns notched up five representatives, with the Lions and Murray Bushrangers both totalling four, while Northern Knights (three) were also prominent among the nine teams that had at least one representative.

>> CTL ROUND 5: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Lachlan Carmichael (Swans Academy) – Harry Heathcote (Suns Academy) – Caylen Murray (Lions Academy)
HB: Tom Burton (Western Jets) – Samuel Trembath (Murray Bushrangers) – Oscar Roberts (Murray Bushrangers)

A complete full-back line of Northern Academy members kick off our Round 5 side with Swans’ Lachlan Carmichael the most recognisable name there. He racked up an equal game-high 30 disposals against the Chargers, while also earning six marks, six tackles, three inside 50s and eight rebound 50s.

Suns Academy key back Harry Heathcote (15 disposals, eight marks and seven rebound 50s) did a great job on Oliver Greeves in the first half, while Lions Academy bottom-ager Caylen Murray was also impressive across the back half in the victory over Tasmania.

At half-back, Western Jets ball-winner Thomas Burton leads the offensive drive, with the dual-position player finishing with a league round-high of 34 disposals. He also took seven marks and rebounded seven times. Murray Bushrangers pair Samuel Trembath and Oscar Roberts round out the back six, combining for 49 disposals, 26 marks and nine rebound 50s against the Northern Territory.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Jim Houston (GWS) – Daniel Annable (BL) (c) – Beau Addinsall (GC)
C: Dylan Patterson (GC) – Cody Gardiner (MB) – Nicholas Andreacchio (SS)

Queensland’s best and brightest talent headlines the on-ball group with the one-two punch of National Academy members Daniel Annable (33 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal) and Beau Addinsall (33 disposals, five marks, three tackles, eight clearances, four inside 50s, two goals) in there. Annable was our Player of the Week and therefore captain for Round 5.

Addinsall’s fellow AFL Academy member Dylan Patterson showed incredible speed and skill at Box Hill and earned his spot on the wing, notching up 27 disposals, five marks, four inside 50s and seven rebound 50s, and realistically could have slid to half-back in this team. On the other wing is hard-running Swans Academy member Nicholas Andreacchio who produced another best on ground performance with 30 touches, seven marks, five tackles, dive clearances and seven inside 50s against Oakleigh.

Completing the followers is Giants Academy ruck Jim Houston who despite being a touch undersized (196cm), was outstanding against Sandringham and totalled 24 disposals, 12 marks, 20 hitouts, five clearances and 10 inside 50s. Cody Gardiner was named as the third midfielder with a strong 28 disposals, seven marks, 12 tackles, eight clearances and six inside 50s on the weekend.

FORWARDS

HF: Sebastian Murphy (NK) – Ben Kennedy (MB) – Ricky Theodoropoulos (SD)
F: Matthew Owen (BL) – Max Hudson (GC) – Tallis McMillan (GWS)

Picking the forwards this week was just as tough as the midfielders given there were plenty of big bags in Round 5. While the Northern Academies dominated the front line, Sandringham Dragons’ small Ricky Theodoropoulos snagged four goals in a loss to the Swans. He and Northern Knights’ Sebastian Murphy (24 disposals, three marks, five tackles, five clearances, four inside 50s and 3.4) are the flankers.

The key position posts went to Murray Bushrangers’ Ben Kennedy and Suns Academy forward Max Hudson. Kennedy could have been named as a defender as well, but he got forward to boot three goals from 21 touches, seven marks and five inside 50s, while Hudson backed up his five-goal haul last week with another four goals in Round 5 against Eastern Ranges.

Completing the forwardline are Lions Academy small Matthew Owen (179cm) and marking tall forward Tallis McMillan (191cm) with the duo booting two and four goals respectively from their matches, both enjoying wins in the process.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Nick Canavan (NK) – Koby Coulson (GC) – Nicholas Driscoll (NK) – Cooper Hodge (BL) – Ryan McConnell (ER) – Rory Wright (SD)

The Round 5 Team of the Week was so stacked some of these players would normally be locks for starting positions, but instead find themselves on the bench. Though a midfield-heavy extended six, many of them can also play a secondary position. Hawthorn father-son prospect Cooper Hodge and AFL Draft bolter Rory Wright are a couple of names that jump off the page on the interchange.

The others are Northern Knights duo Nick Canavan and Nicholas Driscoll, Eastern Ranges mid/forward Ryan McConnell and for the second week in a row, Gold Coast onballer Koby Coulson.