AN EVEN spread of talent sees all 12 Coates Talent League regions who took the field in Round 16 boast at least one representative in our Team of the Week. Victors Eastern Ranges and Northern Knights contributed a high of three players apiece to the 23-player squad – see who made the cut!

>> CTL Round 16: Snapshot | Player of the Week | Scouting Notes | Votes

DEFENCE

B: Finn Davis (WJ) – Jasper Noorbergen (SD) – Oskar Taylor (ER)
HB: Xavier Taylor (ER) – Darcy Szerszyn (DS) – Toby Sinnema (DS)

Two regions are represented twice apiece in this week’s defence, with Dandenong and Eastern teaming up to take the majority of spots. Outside that quartet, Western’s Finn Davis remains a mainstay, while Sandringham bottom-ager Jasper Noorbergen was resolute in his side’s heavy defeat to the Ranges.

Eastern put up a pair of Taylors – Oskar and Xavier – this week. The former was full of rebound run en route to 23 disposals and six tackles, while the latter balanced his offensive traits with robust defensive acts to win 18 disposals and five rebound 50s. They are two of Eastern’s three representatives this week.

Dandenong bottom-ager Darcy Szerszyn was a lock alongside teammate Toby Sinnema. The bottom-ager was the cleanest player afield with 16 disposals and seven marks, while Sinnema proved industrious with 25 touches. The Melbourne Next Generation Academy member also tallied six forward 50 entries.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Zac Harding (MB) – Cody Walker (BP) – Josiah Landy (ER)
C: Blake Justice (CC) – Ryder Corrigan (MB) – Hunter Holmes (OC)

Player of the Week Ryder Corrigan lines up on-ball alongside fellow Murray Bushranger Zac Harding, who is our starting ruck. The midfield bull racked up 32 touches, eight clearances and two goals, while his tall teammate was just as prominent with 24 disposals, 22 hitouts, and eight clearances.

Both players were standouts in their side’s win over Western, with similar to be said about the likes of Eastern’s Josiah Landy (26 disposals, nine clearances, three goals) and Oakleigh’s Hunter Holmes (23, four, and one). The latter played through the middle but is a makeshift wingman in out lineup.

Calder bottom-ager Blake Justice was also squeezed out to the wing, but was hard to deny a spot in the side for his 24 disposals and seven clearances in a tight win over Bendigo. Pioneers gun Cody Walker was best afield in that game to also earn selection, gathering 38 disposals and eight marks.

FORWARD

HF: Jack Miller (TD) – Floyd Burmeister (GWV) – Liam Farrar (NK)
F: Nick Thompson (BP) – Nathaniel Jenkins (CC) – Cody Templeton (GP)

A shootout between Gippsland’s Cody Templeton (5.4) and Northern’s Liam Farrar (5.2) sees both players selected in this week’s forwardline. The former, who usually plays midfield, was best afield in his side’s loss. The latter helped the Knights kick away with three of his goals coming in the fourth term.

The theme of pairs continued with 15-year-old Calder debutant Nathaniel Jenkins (four goals) helping his side hold on to defeat Nick Thompson‘s Bendigo. Thompson bagged 3.3 from 14 touches and eight marks, playing above his 190cm standing as a makeshift key forward. The Pios fell only five points short.

Tasmania was another side to fall just shy of a comeback victory, with Jack Miller‘s 20 disposals and three goals not enough to overrun Greater Western Victoria (GWV). The Rebels are represented by athletic over-ager Floyd Burmeister, who kicked 1.3 from 17 disposals and five forward 50 entries.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Jack Dalton (SD), Nicholas Driscoll (NK), Doug Kerr (OC), Rylee McHenry (TD), Seb Murphy (NK), Zac O’Keefe (GP)

Northern Knights round out a trio of representatives with two on the bench: midfield duo Nicholas Driscoll and Sebastian Murphy. Their adversary Zac O’Keefe was hard to deny and appears in another TOTW, while Oakleigh’s Doug Kerr and Tasmania’s Rylee McHenry put up strong numbers to be best afield in winning sides. Sandringham workhorse Jack Dalton also stood tall in Round 16, but couldn’t prevent the Dragons from being handily defeated by Eastern.