A NUMBER of future AFLW Draft prospects put forward their cases for state representation at the national championships through Round 8 of the Coates Talent League Girls competition. Top-end talents Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges, 2026 AFLW Draft) and Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils, 2027 AFLW Draft) both pulled off five-vote performances for the Rookie Me Central Medal,

>> SCROLL to see all the Round 8 votes

With a number of top contenders either absent due to National Academy management (Tayla McMillan and Jordyn Allen), and an unfortunate injury to current Rookie Me Central Medal leader Chloe Baker-West midway through her match on the weekend, the leaderboard has had a shakeup across Round 8 with many of the chasing pack catching up.

One such player is Oakleigh Chargers’ Chloe Bown who pulled off the five-vote effort against the Swans Academy and is in hot pursuit of top spot, while the likes of Nalu Brothwell and Majella Day who have also been high up on the leaderboard, polled votes in Round 8.

The absences as well as other team management gave players the opportunity to stand up, with Bendigo Pioneers’ Issy Boulton polling the maximum votes in a loss to Gippsland Power, while Murray Bushrangers’ Rain Dodd also came away with the five votes from Murray Bushrangers’ win over Northern Territory.

The round marked the end of the Sydney Swans Academy’s campaign in the league with Kiera Yerbury (four votes) and Charlotte Tidemann (one) adding to their season tally. Meanwhile Danika McDonald polled a couple in the loss to the Bushrangers with Northern Territory having one more match – in Round 10 – before closing out its stint as well.

The full Rookie Me Central leaderboard will be posted at the conclusion of Round 9.

ROUND 8 VOTES

Oakleigh Chargers 10.3 (63) def. Sydney Swans Academy 7.7 (49)

5 – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Kiera Yerbury (Sydney Swans Academy)
3 – Cleo Barbakas (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Charlotte Tidemann (Sydney Swans Academy)

Dandenong Stingrays 7.4 (46) def. by Tasmania Devils 7.5 (47)

5 – Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Matilda Argus (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)

Calder Cannons 2.1 13) def. by Eastern Ranges 16.12 (108)

5 – Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Emily Rankin (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Shauna McElligott (Calder Cannons)
2 – Emma Di Petta (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Zoe Wilkinson (Eastern Ranges)

Murray Bushrangers 7.10 (52) def. Northern Territory 3.7 (25)

5 – Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)
4 – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Danika McDonald (Northern Territory)
1 – Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers)

Gippsland Power 8.10 (58) def. Bendigo Pioneers 2.6 (18)

5 – Issy Boulton (Bendigo Pioneers)
4 – Lily Milner (Gippsland Power)
3 – Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power)
2 – Baia Pugh (Gippsland Power)
1 – Chelsea Sutton (Gippsland Power)