RMC MEDAL | Dominant Devil darts clear after eight rounds
COMPILING 14 of a possible 15 votes across her first five games, it might be a case of good luck stopping Matilda Lange. A pick one contender in next year’s AFLW Draft, Lange has taken over the reins from Priya Bowering in the midfield and been the most dominant player across the Talent League Girls competition and that is reflected in the Rookie Me Central Medal vote count.
With eight rounds down – albeit the most recent one only containing a sole game – Lange has polled 14 votes to be five ahead of the nearest player who can catch her. Fellow top-end talent for 2027, Ameleia Murray has amassed 13 votes – having played two extra games – but now the Lions Academy has wrapped up its Talent League stint for 2026.
Likewise, double bottom-age jet Lily Moana (nine votes, equal third) and Lions top-agers Zoe Petrides and Molly Ferguson (seven votes, equal eighth) also won’t poll again, however Giants Academy forward Majella Day has the chance to add to her seven votes, now returning to the Murray Bushrangers.
The closest player to Lange who can catch her is Bendigo Pioneers utility Lacey Nihill. Having played on-ball, wing and in defence thus far, Nihill has polled nine votes – including two best on grounds during Rounds 2 and 3 – to be equal third with Moana on the leaderboard.
Following that pair, three players sit in equal fifth with eight votes, as Peggy Rock (GWV Rebels/Northern Territory) and Oakleigh Chargers duo Cleo Barbakas and Isabella Mazzei are within striking distance. Alongside Day, Eastern Ranges skipper Emily Rankin and Geelong Falcons ball-winner Ava Bilyk are also on seven votes. Before the voting really opens up, Dandenong Stingrays defender-turned-midfielder and Northern Knights speedster Maddison Meagher have managed six votes this season.
The Rookie Me Central Medal has changed its voting to a 3-2-1 format in 2026 to align with the way the boys’ voting is compiled, and therefore a five-vote lead is more significant than under the previous 5-4-3-2-1 method.
Past winners of the award are Zarlie Goldsworthy (Murray Bushrangers), Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons), Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) and Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers), with Lange gunning to become the first player from outside Victoria to win the medal.
ROOKIE ME CENTRAL MEDAL LEADERBOARD: AFTER ROUND 8
1st. Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils) – 14 votes
2nd. Ameleia Murray (Lions Academy) – 13 votes
Eq. 3rd. Lily Moana (Suns Academy) – 9 votes
Eq. 3rd. Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers) – 9 votes
Eq. 5th. Cleo Barbakas (Oakleigh Chargers) – 8 votes
Eq. 5th. Isabella Mazzei (Oakleigh Chargers) – 8 votes
Eq. 5th. Peggy Rock (GWV Rebels/Northern Territory) – 8 votes
Eq. 8th. Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons) – 7 votes
Eq. 8th. Majella Day (Giants Academy/Murray Bushrangers) – 7 votes
Eq. 8th. Molly Ferguson (Lions Academy) – 7 votes
Eq. 8th. Zoe Petrides (Lions Academy) – 7 votes
Eq. 8th. Emily Rankin (Eastern Ranges) – 7 votes
Eq. 13th. Maddison Meagher (Northern Knights) – 6 votes
Eq. 13th. Zoe Zach (Dandenong Stingrays) – 6 votes
RMC MEDAL | Dominant Devil darts clear after eight rounds
COMPILING 14 of a possible 15 votes across her first five games, it might be a case of good luck stopping Matilda Lange. A pick one contender in next year’s AFLW Draft, Lange has taken over the reins from Priya Bowering in the midfield and been the most dominant player across the Talent League Girls […]
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