EASTERN Ranges livewire Lachy Dovaston is our Coates Talent League Player of the Week after a breakthrough bag of goals in Round 11. The small forward booted five from 20 disposals and laid six tackles in his side’s thrilling one-point win over Geelong Falcons in Healesville on Sunday.

>> Snapshot: 2025 Coates Talent League – Round 11

Dovaston’s personal-best scoring haul took his season tally up to 18 goals in eight games, having posted nine in 15 as a bottom-ager last year. The Vic Metro representative has been held goalless just once this season, registering a pair of three-goal games and three two-goal efforts to highlight his consistency.

In Sunday’s narrow victory, the 177cm prospect helped put his side ahead going into the final break with three third-quarter goals. That included two within the first five minutes of the term, before sinking another at the 22-minute mark to snatch the lead with the breeze at Eastern’s back.

The result sees Eastern move to a 5-3 record. The Ranges are now ranked second amongst the full-time regions behind Gippsland Power (7-1), who they meet in Morwell on Saturday. Dovaston is Eastern’s first Player of the Week for the season, and just the third from a Metro region.

In the same game, Dovaston’s fellow top 20 prospect Xavier Taylor (22 disposals, 11 marks) impressed down back alongside Andrew Barker (17 and 12). Geelong Falcons and Vic Country midfielder Hugo Mikunda was prominent in the losing effort with 30 disposals and 13 inside 50s.

Around the grounds, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) notched a 49-point win over Murray. Competition leading goalkicker Charlie McKinnon spearheaded the victory with seven goals from 13 touches and five marks, but was ineligible for Player of the Week honours after taking out the Round 8 nod.

Dandenong midfielder Callum Smith continued his terrific form with 29 disposals, 11 clearances and a goal in the Stingrays’ 27-point loss to Oakleigh. Chargers over-ager Josh Shepherd sung forward to snag four goals from 14 disposals and seven marks, while Flynn Woolhouse also bagged four majors.

In the battle between first and last, Gippsland defeated Western by 54 points. Power midfielders Luke Cheffers (35 disposals, eight marks, nine tackles) and Brodie Atkins (30 disposals, nine tackles, seven inside 50s) stuffed the stats sheet as their side clicked into gear after half time.

2025 CTL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Round 1: Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power)
Round 2: Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power)
Round 3: Thomas McGuane (Western Jets)
Round 4: Max Hudson (Suns Academy)
Round 5: Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)
Round 6: Beau Addinsall (Suns Academy)
Round 7: Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 8: Charlie McKinnon (GWV Rebels)
Round 9: Thomas Burton (Western Jets)
Round 11: Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges)