GEELONG Falcons and Tasmania Devils kicked off their Coates Talent League seasons with a bang, picking up the four points in Round 1 of the 2023 season over the weekend. Funnily enough, four is the exact number of players each club has represented in our Rookie Me Central Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week.

Geelong Falcons bottom-ager Sara Howley is our captain in the hypothetical team after being named the Player of the Week for Round 1. She slotted in on-ball with her partner-in-crime Chloe Adams named in the centre. Also in the team is half-forward Madeline Seebeck, while Sesia White holds down the full-forward position.

Tasmania is headlined by key forward Georgia Clark at centre half-forward, with fellow forward Ava Read in the pocket. The Devils have no shortage of firepower on-field with Grace White named on the bench, while bottom-ager Mackenzie Williams at half-back.

The GIANTS Academy went down to the Devils but still had three representatives, with two of those three being defenders. Amy Frost and Cleo Buttifant impressed in their respective debuts and both earned a spot on-field, while AFLW Academy member Melanie Staunton made it onto the bench.

Sydney Swans Academy picked up an upset win over last year’s grand finalists, Dandenong Stingrays. The Swans were headlined by three-goal talent Ella Parker who was named on a wing in the Team of the Week, while over-age midfielder Asha Turner Funk (rover) and AFLW Academy member Olivia Morris (interchange) were both named in the side.

Bendigo Pioneers were the other Round 1 winner and had the three players made the team, with star midfielder/forward Lila Keck the vice-captain of this team and also named at half-forward. She was joined in the side by starting ruck Sasha Pearce, and the speedy Bryde O’Rourke.

The other team to have three representatives in the 24-player squad was Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels, with a couple of defenders making the cut. Bottom-age tall Millie Lang was named at full-back following a starring debut, as teammate Isabella Davies was named at half-back. Forward Lily Jordan completed the trio named, listed at half-forward.

Both Murray Bushrangers and Dandenong Stingrays had the two players apiece in Round 1. Kloe McElhinney and Holly Egan scored a spot from the Bushrangers, while Dandenong Stingrays duo Meg Robertson and Jemma Reynolds completed the 24-player team. Their teammate Kayla Dalgleish was named as one of three emergencies alongside Chloe Bryant and Tamika Rourke.

RMC TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 1

B: Amy Frost (GIANTS Academy) – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – Kloe McElhinney (Murray Bushrangers)
HB: Mackenzie Wiliams (Tasmania Devils) – Cleo Buttifant (GIANTS Academy) – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)
C: Meg Robertson (Dandenong Stingrays) – Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons) – Ella Parker (Swans Academy)
HF: Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers) (vc) – Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils) – Madeline Seebeck (Geelong Falcons)
F: Ava Read (Tasmania Devils) – Sesia White (Geelong Falcons) – Lily Jordan (GWV Rebels)
R: Sasha Pearce (Bendigo Pioneers) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) (c) – Asha Turner Funk (Swans Academy)
INT: Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers) – Olivia Morris (Swans Academy) – Bryde O’Rourke (Bendigo Pioneers) – Mel Staunton (GIANTS Academy) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Grace White (Tasmania Devils)

EMG: Chloe Bryant (Geelong Falcons) – Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays) – Tamika Rourke (GIANTS Academy)