DOUBLE bottom-age tall Cleo Barbakas has the height of a ruck but the mobility of a midfielder, and she used both of those elements to produce a massive game in Oakleigh Chargers’ win over the Western Jets. Playing second ruck to Jessica Owen, Barbakas still had 13 hitouts, but finished with 22 disposals, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and kicked two goals from five scoring shots up forward to be our Rookie Me Central Player of the Week.

Barbakas stood tall in the absence of some key Vic Metro-listed teammates, also getting it done at ground level with a mind-boggling 11 hardball and five looseball gets leading to 16 of her 22 possessions being contested. She ran at 50 per cent disposal efficiency and still took two marks, while being a threat once the ball hit the ground.

Incredibly still two and a half years away from her draft year, Barbakas played through the Under 16s Development Championships for Vic Metro where the 182cm talent booted four goals from her two games and played primarily as a key forward. Since coming into the Oakleigh program, Barbakas has gone to another level, playing ruck-forward and even midfield at stoppages.

Barbakas worked well alongside the Vic Metro-listed Teagan Murtic who finished with 31 disposals, five marks, nine tackles, six clearances and five inside 50s in the victory over Western, while Scarlett Bown also booted 2.3, from 19 disposals, five marks, six tackles and six hitouts.

Past Player of the Week winner Chloe Baker-West did as she pleased en route to 44 disposals, seven marks, five tackles, nine clearances, six inside 50s and 13 rebound 50s in a 26-point loss to Sandringham Dragons. Another double bottom-ager in Claudia Kogler (27 disposals, three marks, 11 tackles, six clearances, six inside 50s and a goal was also prolific.

Others who stuffed the stat sheet included Dandenong Stingrays’ Indi Sherritt (31 disposals, eight tackles, seven clearances and six inside 50s) in a defeat to Geelong, while bottom-age duo Emily Rankin and Brylee Anderson were lively in Eastern’s victory over Tasmania.

From the Round 11 matches, the two players who really stood out were Sandringham Dragons’ Maya Duane (23 disposals, 10 marks, eight inside 50s and 2.2) and Murray Bushrangers’ Skylah McPherson (28 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and two goals).

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)
Round 6 – Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)
Round 7/8 – Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
Round 9 – Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 10 – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 11/12 – Cleo Barbakas (Oakleigh Chargers)