A REMARKABLE six of a possible 10 Coates Talent League regions boast three representatives in our Round 17 Team of the Week. Western and Greater Western Victoria, and Geelong and Bendigo were among them after tight tussles, while ladder leaders Gippsland Power bounced back with a big win.

>> CTL Round 17: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Finn Davis (WJ) – Xavier Ladbrook (GP) – Mitchell Gillan (ER)
HB: Kobe George (GF) – Xavier Taylor (ER) – Archie Taylor (GWV)

Recent Vic Metro teammates Xavier Taylor and Finn Davis have been near-automatic selections each week, and Round 17 was no different. Taylor was just about best afield with 22 disposals and six marks in Eastern’s tight win over Calder, while Davis had 27 touches as Western was overrun by GWV Rebels.

Vic Country representative Archie Taylor was among the Rebels’ best in that game, picking up 23 disposals and 10 tackles. Another backman who balanced his game well was Eastern’s Mitchell Gillan, who had the matchup on Calder’s Hussien El Achkar while notching 18 touches and six marks.

Geelong over-ager Kobe George put his hand up for the three votes with 30 disposals and nine marks in the Falcons’ tense win over Bendigo. Versatile bottom-age tall Xavier Ladbrook rounds out the back six having snared eight marks in Gippsland’s bounceback win over Tasmania, coming in at full back.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Zac Harding (MB) – Tom Burton (WJ) – Seb Murphy (NK)
C: Jack Hilton (GP) – Willem Duursma (GP) – Max Thompson (BP)

An emphatic return to action from top pick contender Willem Duursma sees him feature at the heart of our hypothetical midfield. Also rotating forward, the dynamic prospect amassed 26 disposals, 10 tackles, six inside 50s and two goals in a best afield performance as Gippsland trumped Tasmania.

Bottom-age teammate Jack Hilton flanks him after a breakout game on the wing, posting 25 touches, 12 marks and a goal. On the other wing is Max Thompson, who gathered 26 touches and seven rebound 50s in Bendigo’s narrow loss to Geelong. He was recently crowned Vic Country’s Under 16 MVP.

Joining Duursma on-ball is fellow National Academy member Tom Burton, who racked up 32 disposals in his return game for Western. Northern Knights captain Seb Murphy was similarly industrious with 28 possessions, nine clearances and nine inside 50s to lead his side to a 21-point victory over Murray.

While Murphy stood out to be Northern’s sole representative in our side, the Bushrangers boast two Team of the Week members. Over-age ruck Zac Harding was an easy choice in his role having imposed himself with 26 disposals, 27 hitouts, and five inside 50s. He has been in imperious form of late.

FORWARD

HF: Bailey Lloyd (ER) – Jake Miller (WJ) – Blake Newton (MB)
F: Connor Evans (BP) – Charlie McKinnon (GWV) – Angus Ford (GF)

Three of this year’s Players of the Week feature in our Round 17 forwardline. Bottom-ager Blake Newton earned this week’s nod having kicked five of Murray’s six goals in a loss. He lines up at half-forward alongside Western spearhead Jake Miller (13 marks, three goals), while competition leading goalkicker Charlie McKinnon booted five majors for GWV Rebels to lock in a place at full forward.

Another player to bag five goals was Bendigo over-ager Connor Evans, who nearly dragged his side over the line against Geelong with nine scoring shots and eight marks. Falcons forward Angus Ford snared 3.3 from 18 touches in the same game to earn his spot, while Eastern Ranges mid-forward Bailey Lloyd was a productive member of his side’s win over Calder with 25 disposals, 10 marks and a goal.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Talor Byrne (GWV), Blake Justice (CC), Hugo Mikunda (GF), Max Roney (TD), Adam Sweid (CC), Cody Walker (BP)

While squeezed out of a competitive starting lineup, Calder pair Adam Sweid (27 disposals) and Blake Justice (24 disposals, nine marks, two goals) were must-picks this week. Similarly, Bendigo bottom-ager Cody Walker was terrific with 23 touches from the wing, half-back, and eventually on-ball. The former pair is tied to Essendon’s NGA, while Walker has committed to Carlton as a father-son candidate.

Vic Country teammates Talor Byrne (GWV) and Hugo Mikunda (Geelong) enjoyed being thrust back into midfield having played predominantly forward at representative level. Both were productive on the attack in tight wins. Meanwhile, Max Roney was Tasmania’s sole selection for his 24 disposals, eight marks, and one goal. He continued his strong form as a reliable over-age asset in the Devils’ midfield.