ROOKIE Me Central’s 2025 Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Year has been revealed with the initial 48-player squad cut down to just 24 names. It was a difficult process as always with the decisions coming down to the Team of the Week nominations throughout the course of the season.

Every player with six nominations earned a guaranteed spot in the 24-strong side, and those 10 of whom who had five nominations, four earned spots in the side, three were emergencies and a further three missed out to be in the Second Team of the Year with the emergencies.

>> FULL SQUAD: Rookie Me Central 2025 Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Year

The key difference between our Team of the Year and the official Coates Talent League Team of the Year is only factoring in performances from the competition itself. While the official team includes output from the AFLW Under 18 Championships, our side is only looking at the Talent League and based around our Team of the Week nominations. It also just focuses on pure performance.

Looking at the team, three players earned a competition-high nine Team of the Week nominations, with Oakleigh Chargers star Chloe Bown chosen as captain. The other two players – Scarlett Johnson and Ellie Hall – were named as co-vice-captains after sensational seasons.

Dandenong Stingrays, Eastern Ranges and Murray Bushrangers earned three representatives in the squad, while Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, GWV Rebels, Oakleigh Chargers, Tasmania Devils and Western Jets all managed a couple of players. Of the remaining sides, Bendigo Pioneers, Calder Cannons and Northern Knights each had a representative, with only Sandringham Dragons missing out. They fielded one of three emergencies however.

Oakleigh skipper Chloe Thorn was one of a number of unlucky players to miss out on the first side, but was named as an emergency with Jordyn Allen and Maya Duane, and captain of the Second Team of the Year. Duane was also the only 2009-born prospect in the 27 players profiled in the article.

BACKS

BP: Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)

The National Academy member started the season a little slow, but once she found her best form, maintained it for the rest of the year, finishing with six Team of the Week nominations, and having the fourth most rebounds of any Team of the Year nominee. She would have had more, but also spent time up forward late in the season, averaging 18.8 disposals, 2.9 marks and 4.6 rebound 50s throughout the Talent League. Makes it two in a row after earning a spot in the side last year.

FB: Ava Read (Tasmania Devils)

Last year’s competition leading goalkicker returned as an over-ager in 2025 as a key defender who did drift forward and even played ruck and a little on-ball, improving her versatility to remarkable levels. From our Team of the Year nominees, Read recorded the third most rebound 50s while also kicking the most goals of any defenders (eight). She was an easy choice for full-back, having notched up seven Team of the Week nominations.

BB: Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)

The star midfielder just made the eligibility for the squad with nine games across the course of the season after an interrupted 2024 campaign. She won a remarkable eight Team of the Week nominations from those nine matches to be the equal second most nominee. She put up figures of 33.1 disposals, 5.8 marks, 4.8 tackles and 8.3 clearances. She would normally be a lock for the midfield, but with only the eight games, Baker-West was the one to drop to defence, and she did average the most rebound 50s across the 48-player squad (7.7).

HALF-BACKS

HB: Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers)

Vice-Captain

The over-ager had a huge season with the Murray Bushrangers, amassing the most disposals of any player in the Team of the Year squad. Starting the season with the Giants Academy, she returned to the Bushrangers where she racked up a plethora of nominations, averaging 31.3 disposals, 5.3 marks, 8.3 tackles, 4.6 clearances, 5.6 inside 50s and 2.5 rebound 50s throughout the season. Given her versatility and ability to drop behind the ball, she has been named at half-back, her secondary role. Steps up from the Second Team of the Year in 2024 to be the vice-captain in 2025.

CHB: Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets)

Another returning member of last year’s Team of the Year, McBride-Loane was a regular feature in the back six throughout the season, recording seven Team of the Week nominations from 10 games. She averaged 17.4 disposals, 3.0 marks and 5.0 rebound 50s as she honed in on being that pure athletic tall defender. While named at full-back last year, it made sense for the highly-aggressive McBride-Loane to move to centre half-back with plenty of forward forays started from her initial disposals in defence.

HB: Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers)

The ultra-consistent Pioneer has been utilised in a number of roles over the journey, and while she most commonly was found in the middle, has shown she can play off half-back as well. In a team that struggled throughout the season, Nihill was a shining light, picking up a team-high five nominations throughout 2025, and recording the fourth most total disposals of squad members. The only starting player to run out in all 14 matches, Nihill averaged 22.1 disposals, 4.8 marks, 5.1 tackles, 3.6 clearances, 3.1 inside 50s and 2.1 rebound 50s. A promising bottom-ager for next season.

CENTRES

W: Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights)

Vice-Captain

After showing glimpses of talent in her bottom-age season, Johnson’s move to a wing/defender role in 2025 had her go to another level altogether. The Northern Knights jet consistently found the ball and used it well, recording the third most marks in the squad. She finished the season averaging 24.2 disposals, 5.9 marks, 4.9 tackles, 3.6 inside 50s and 3.5 rebound 50s, while also getting forward to boot seven goals, albeit four came in the last round of the season. Like Hall, Johnson had nine nominations and shared the vice-captaincy.

C: Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)

The Geelong Falcons skipper was a mirror of consistency throughout the year, stepping up to win the Vic Country MVP when she went to the national championships. At Talent League Girls level, Tyrrell recorded the most clearances of top-age player, amassing 68 across 12 games at an average of 5.7, as well as 25.2 disposals and a league-high 11.6 tackles per game. Earning seven Team of the Week nominations, Tyrrell is the sole Country region player on-ball.

W: Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)

A hard-running bottom-ager with plenty of upside and an ability to find the goals, Cunnington split her time between the wing and half-forward, and finished with an impressive 24 majors in the process. She averaged 17.5 disposals, 3.5 marks and 3.8 inside 50s throughout her 11 games, going at better than two goals per match. Cunnington makes her maiden appearance in the Team of the Year, having notched up six nominations between the wing, half-forward and forward pocket in season 2025.

FOLLOWERS

R: Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges)

An easy selection for the number one ruck role, Vic Metro’s leading player in the position had eight Team of the Week nominations from just nine games, running at the same efficiency as Baker-West. She had the second most hitouts in the squad, but found a stack more of the ball with 17.4 disposals and 5.0 tackles, while going forward to boot eight goals. She spent time inside 50 often in 2025, but her overall impact around the ground was undeniable. Another first-time Team of the Year representative.

RR: Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)

Captain

The Oakleigh Chargers ball magnet and Vic Metro MVP jumps off the page with her overall impact, earning nine Team of the Week nominations from 11 games. That was the same efficiency as Johnson, while also putting up some ridiculous numbers which earned her the team captaincy. Bown averaged 28.8 disposals, 4.6 marks, 5.5 tackles, 5.7 clearances and 7.1 inside 50s for the Chargers and was among the best just about every game she played. It was an incredibly memorable 2025 season, and she adds another accolade to a trophy-laden year. A second Team of the Year effort after being named on the interchange last season.

ROV: Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)

The bottom-ager secured a spot on-ball thanks to averaging the most clearances of any player with 10 or more games (13) across the 48-strong squad. She notched up 5.9 per match to go with 24 touches and 7.9 tackles, and while she was considered for the half-back spot and switched with either Hall or Baker-West, Anderson’s clearance numbers pushed her ahead to be in the starting midfield. A similar trajectory to Bown beckons for the Ranges talent next year. Had seven Team of the Week nominations and also spent time up both ends.

HALF-FORWARDS

HF: Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels)

Much like Johnson, Johnstone had a huge 2025 year after showing plenty of promising signs in her bottom-age campaign. Rotating between midfield and attack, the Rebels top-ager booted 14 goals from her 13 games, and was a consistent force around the stoppages. Johnstone averaged 21 disposals, 3.4 marks, 4.4 tackles, 4.2 clearances and 4.7 inside 50s, and gained eight Team of the Week nominations along the way. She was also the only player in the 48-strong squad to have more than 250 disposals and kick 10-plus goals.

CHF: Abby Hobson (Gippsland Power)

The top-ranked marking machine across the competition, Hobson overcame a mid-season injury to finish the year off strong with 17 goals from 12 games. She stepped up for another three in the elimination final, though from her regular season matches, picked up six Team of the Week nominations. Hobson’s 71 marks ranked her first from the squad at 5.9 per game, while also having 17.3 touches per match. Like a few others in the team, Hobson was named in the Second Team of the Year in 2024, and has made the jump up to the main side.

HF: Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)

Huxtable was another player unlucky not to be named in the middle, but her ability to go inside and provide a target made her a good choice for half-forward, booting nine goals from her 11 games. She averaged 26.5 disposals, 6.2 tackles and 5.9 clearances, and though she had a couple less Team of the Week nominations which also saw her nudged to half-forward, Huxtable still managed six in a side that had some up-and-down form throughout the course of the 2025 season. Fittingly was beside Hobson in the Second Team of the Year last season, and is again in the main squad this year.

FORWARDS

FP: Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers)

The New South Wales-based Bushranger started with the Giants Academy and finished with Murray, kicking 27 goals on the season to make her the second most prolific goalkicker in the competition. She mostly stayed deep and provided a clever target both in the air and at ground level, with her eight games played being the least amount of any representative in the squad. Given her dominant performance in front of goal across such a short space of time however, Day was an easy choice for the spot. Her first Team of the Year inclusion.

FF: Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers)

Martin booted no less than three goals in every game she played, and despite only running out in nine matches, kicked 42 majors for the year. Currently out of Oakleigh’s side, if she returns she could potentially hit the half century, though she already passed the season record back in Round 5. Martin averaged 14.7 disposals and 5.2 marks to go with her mind-boggling goal average of of 4.7 per game. As the competition’s leading goalkicker, she was an easy choice to be named at full-forward. Martin was another player with eight Team of the Week nominations from nine matches.

FP: Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays)

The most damaging small-medium forward in the league, Connolly was the the third member o the podium after 25 goals from her 10 games. She left a lot out there as well, kicking 22 behinds in the process, with the potential to have been pushing well into the 40s with a bit of luck. Aside from the inaccuracy, Connolly averaged 13.9 disposals, 4.1 marks and 3.1 tackles from 10 games with the Stingrays, and earned six Team of the Week nominations. Connolly was named on the interchange of the Second Team of the Year in 2024.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)

Once again making the Team of the Year on the interchange, the impact Bowering has on matches is far greater than stats might suggest. She does all the team things and sacrifices her own game to make others better, while being able to be thrown around across all three lines. She earned six Team of the Week nominations from her nine matches, averaging five clearances per match with similar tackle numbers and 20.4 disposals per game.

INT: Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)

Another over-ager with Hall who earned a spot in the side, Davies also picked up six Team of the Week nominations to ensure all those with half a dozen got into the 24-player side. She ran out for 11 games and rolled between on-ball, the wing and up forward, though also drifted back when required, being the ultimate utility. Davies averaged 26.7 disposals, 6.3 tackles, 4.6 clearances and 4.4 inside 50s, while booting eight goals.

INT: Tayla Olivieri (Western Jets)

It was stiff to leave Olivieri out of the midfield, but the bottom-age talent’s season was too good to miss out altogether. Recording the most clearances of any squad member with 79, the Western Jets onballer was a shining light, amassing 19.0 disposals at a whopping 70 per cent contested rate, to go with her 5.6 clearances and 8.9 tackles per match. Was the only other player with Nihill to run out in all 14 games and secured her bench spot for consistency.

INT: Emily Rankin (Eastern Ranges)

Arguably the most unlucky not to be in the starting squad, Rankin had seven nominations, the most of any interchange player. Unfortunately the strength of the midfield meant she had to start on the interchange, though she has the ability to be an impact player when near the ball. The bottom-ager averaged 23.2 disposals, 5.9 tackles, 4.5 clearances and 3.5 inside 50s, hardly putting a foot wrong all year for the Ranges.

INT: Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays)

Got the nod for a spot on the interchange over half a dozen others including a couple of National Academy members thanks to her consistency throughout the course of the season. Picking up five nominations for the year, Snow showed her ability both on-ball and up forward, clunking 4.4 marks from 17.5 disposals, and laying 5.4 tackles. Also had 4.1 clearances, 3.4 inside 50s and kicked five goals.

INT: Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers)

The last but not least member of our 24-player Team of the Year side is another member of the Bushrangers. Spiteri split her time between midfield and up forward, but recorded a massive 25.6 disposals and laid 8.9 tackles per game. Her defensive attributes always stand out and she thrives in that pressure half-forward role, earning five Team of the Week nominations and the most inside 50s (80) of any squad member.

EMERGENCIES:

EMG: Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)

The National Academy member and hard-running wing is probably a touch stiff to miss out, and would be the next-in based on overall impact. She played the 10 games for five nominations, and though others might have won more of the ball, her impact-per-possession is enormous. Averaged 4.7 inside 50s and 3.5 rebound 50s to go with her 19.3 disposals, and would be a wing/half-back in the side.

EMG: Maya Duane (Sandringham Dragons)

An incredibly rare honour for the double bottom-ager who booted 19 goals across 12 games for the Sandringham Dragons. She came into the season after her Under 16s carnival and held her place throughout, proving a tricky matchup in the air or at ground level with her athleticism. Duane had five nominations and averaged 16.3 disposals, 3.4 marks, 3.9 clearances and 4.9 inside 50s.

EMG: Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)

Starting the year in defence, moving on-ball then even spending time forward, Thorn did a little bit of everything. The Oakleigh Chargers captain was another player with five nominations, and while when in defence she did not always have a lot to do given her side’s dominance, she still managed the 17.6 disposals, 5.8 tackles, 2.6 inside 50s and 3.4 rebound 50s in season 2025.

2025 RM CENTRAL TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR:

B: Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power) – Ava Read (Gippsland Power) – Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)
HB: Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers) (vc) – Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets) – Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers)
C: Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights) (vc) – Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons) – Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
HF: Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels) – Abby Hobson (Gippsland Power) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)
F: Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers) – Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers) – Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays)
R: Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges) – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) (c) – Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
INT: Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils) – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Tayla Olivieri (Western Jets) – Emily Rankin (Eastern Ranges) – Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays) – Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers)

EMG: Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges) – Maya Duane (Sandringham Dragons) – Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)

2025 RM CENTRAL TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS 2ND TEAM OF THE YEAR:

B: Issy Boulton (Bendigo Pioneers) – Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers) – Ella Jeffrey (Bendigo Pioneers)
HB: Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) – Chloe Williams (Sandringham Dragons) – Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers (c)
C: Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges) – Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights) – Matilda Argus (Dandenong Stingrays)
HF: Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) – Maya Duane (Sandringham Dragons) – Sienna Sharp (Sandringham Dragons)
F: Jovie Skewes-Clinton (GWV Rebels) – Scarlett Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
R: Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb (Northern Knights) – Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils) – Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power)
INT: Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers) – Shauna McElligott (Calder Cannons) – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) – Lily Milner (Gippsland Power) – Teagan Murtic (Oakleigh Chargers) – Macy Watkins (Sandringham Dragons)