A HANDFUL of Bendigo Pioneers feature in our Coates Talent League Team of the Week after their side’s thumping 111-point victory over Murray. Geelong Falcons also won big to contribute four players to the 24-player squad, which has a representative from all 10 regions who took the field in Round 15.

>> CTL Round 15: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Tom Evans (BP) – Gus Papal (CC) – Kobe George (GF)
HB: Aaron Sharkie (OC) – Jett Elek (GF) – Gus Kennedy (DS)

Arguably the biggest selection squeeze came in defence this week, with plenty of accumulators filling their boots. No player did so more than Bendigo Pioneers over-ager Tom Evans, who racked up 38 disposals for the second game running, taking his season average up to 30.7 in 10 appearances.

Oakleigh’s Aaron Sharkie made a statement with 26 touches and six rebound 50s having been rotated out of the Vic Metro side, although couldn’t help the Chargers overcome Greater Western Victoria. He still beat out a pair of Rebels for that final spot at half-back, resigning them to the bench this week.

Geelong Falcons boast two representatives in the backline. Tall utility Jett Elek with 16 disposals and three marks, potentially pushing for a Vic Country recall. Over-age teammate Kobe George led all comers in the Falcons’ win over Western, gathering 31 disposals and eight marks with plenty of run-and-carry.

Joining Elek in the key position posts is Calder high-flyer Gus Papal, who rose for eight marks among his 18 disposals in an upset win over Gippsland. Dandenong bottom-ager Gus Kennedy also made the cut for his 27 disposals and seven rebound 50s in a move to defence, helping set up the Stingrays’ play.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Zaydyn Lockwood (BP) – Zac O’Keefe (GP) – Sonny Beasy (BP)
C: Jasper Russell (DS) – Sam Harris (CC) – Gus Teixeira (SD)

The midfield is headlined by Zac O’Keefe (Gippsland) and Sam Harris (Calder), who enjoyed a great battle in the Cannons’ upset win. O’Keefe picked up a game-high 27 disposals, while 2026 North Melbourne father-son hopeful, Harris kicked a clutch late goal from his 26 touches and nine marks.

One of the weekend’s most dominant performances came from over-age Bendigo ruck Zaydyn Lockwood. The athletic 198cm talent posted 29 disposals, 10 marks, eight tackles and 24 hitouts in Bendigo’s resounding win over Murray, standing out with his aerial ability around the ground.

Teammate Sonny Beasy was another who caught the eye, collecting a personal-best 24 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s and two goals. The bottom-ager has been building since returning to the fold in Round 13 and utilised his penetrative left-foot kicking to open Murray up at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

It was impossible to choose just one of the outstanding wingmen from Sandringham’s win over Dandenong. Dragons bottom-ager Gus Teixeira earned his spot with 24 disposals, eight marks and eight inside 50s alongside Stingrays top-ager Jasper Russell (32 disposals, 12 marks, seven rebound 50s).

FORWARDS

HF: Angus Ford (GF) – Jack Pickett (GF) – Jonty Davis (BP)
F: Arki Butler (SD) – Charlie McKinnon (GWV) – Jackson Watkins (CC)

Player of the Week Jack Pickett spearheads the attack on the back of his seven-goal haul against Western. The bottom-ager ran at 100 per cent efficiency from 10 touches and clunked six marks. He lines up next to teammate Angus Ford, who was lively with 20 disposals, six marks and four goals.

Respective five-goal hauls saw mercurial Sandringham bottom-ager Arki Butler and stay-at-home GWV top-ager Charlie McKinnon essentially select themselves on the full forward line. McKinnon leads the competition for goals with 36 in nine games, boasting 14 more majors than the next best player.

Yet another bottom-ager in the squad is Jackson Watkins, who locked in a spot with six marks and three goals for Calder. The forwardline is rounded out by yet another Pioneer in Jonty Davis, who provided plenty of energy and run en route to racking up 29 disposals, eight marks and a goal.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Tanner Armstrong (MB), Riley Holloway (GWV), Jaidi Jackson-Leahy (BP), Sam Niklaus (GWV), Jai Saxena (OC), Billy Wigmore (WJ)

GWV Rebels pair Riley Holloway and Sam Niklaus were too good across half-back to be denied a spot in the squad, so make their way in off the bench. Similar can be said for Oakleigh’s Jai Saxena off a three-goal haul, while Bendigo’s Jaidi Jackson-Leahy very nearly nabbed a starting wing spot. Bottom-agers Billy Wigmore (Western) and Tanner Armstrong (Murray) also made the cut for standing tall in tough losses. Both are the sole representatives from their respective regions.