A LONG time coming, Calder Cannons star Chloe Baker-West earned our Coates Talent League Player of the Week nomination for Round 5. The two-time Vic Metro MVP and high-volume accumulator has been in the top two or three just about every round but keeps narrowly getting pipped. However on the weekend, she stood tall to be the number one player during Calder’s 43-point victory over Bendigo Pioneers.

Baker-West had league-highs in disposals (38) and marks (14) and an equal league-high clearances (10), while also notching up seven inside 50s and laying four tackles. Incredibly she could have had an even more dominant performance had she been a little more accurate in front of goal against the Pioneers, kicking three behinds. However in the absence of captain Jade McLay, Baker-West totalled up 164 AFL Fantasy points in one of the midfield performances of the season.

Baker-West is no stranger to big numbers, averaging a mind-boggling 33.4 disposals, 6.6 marks, 5.2 tackles, 7.6 clearances, 3.6 inside 50s and 6.4 rebound 50s for the Cannons. She leads all-comers in the disposals tally, and was the first player to surpass 100 disposals after just three rounds. After a season-low of 24 disposals for her in Round 4 against the Chargers, the Rookie Me Central Medal leader had an equal season-high in Round 5.

Her performance was the standout individual effort of the weekend, pipping the likes of GWS Giants Academy forward Majella Day who kicked six from 11 disposals, seven marks and four tackles against Tasmania Devils, and Geelong Falcons’ Stella Huxtable who finished with 35 disposals, eight marks, three tackles, five clearances, two inside 50s, five rebound 50s and 1.2 from her side Geelong Falcons’ loss to Gippsland Power.

Elsewhere, Dandenong Stingrays’ Lillian Snow also notched up 10 clearances from 23 disposals, six marks, six tackles, seven inside 50s and two rebound 50s, while teammate Alice Cunnington slotted three goals from 17 touches against the Dragons. Eastern’s Jordyn Allen (26 disposals, four marks and 10 rebound 50s) repelled everything from defence against the Lions Academy, while Kiera Yerbury (26 disposals, three marks, four tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s and a goal) impressed for the Swans Academy.

2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 2 – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)
Round 3 – Jovie Skewes-Clinton (GWV Rebels)
Round 4 – Ava Deszcz (Gippsland Power)
Round 5 – Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)