BOTH NSW/ACT Academies picked up wins in Round 2 of the Coates Talent League Girls, while the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Dandenong Stingrays bounced back from Round 1 losses to defeat a pair of Round 1 winners.

GWV Rebels proved too good for Bendigo Pioneers, resulting in both sides finishing the round with a 1-1 win-loss record. After booting the only three goals of the first term, the Rebels held back a Pioneers resistance as the visitors booted the only two goals for the second term. Stepping back up to the plate, GWV slotted 4.5 to 1.1 to run away with the 7.8 (50) to 3.3 (21) victory.

STANDOUT:

Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)

The small midfielder/defender had another busy day out, named best-on for the Rebels as she went about accumulating the ball across the ground. A kick-first player who can take grass, she is someone with some nice moves in transition and finished with four inside 50s to go with a team-high 27 disposals. Though not big in stature at 160cm, she has a huge impact on games and is a creative type for the Rebels.

OTHERS:

Tall defender Millie Lang backed up her memorable debut with 21 disposals, five marks, four tackles, three inside 50s and six rebound 50s on the weekend. Tall Laila Lappin worked hard around the ground, while the likes of talented duo Molly Walton and Jessica Rentsch were productive. For the Pioneers, bottom-ager Lucia Painter had the ball on a string with 28 disposals and laying eight tackles as well as four inside 50s and four rebound 50s, while Steph Demeo and Jemmika Douglas laid 21 tackles between them.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)
4 – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels)
3 – Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
2 – Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Molly Walton (GWV Rebels)

Sydney Swans Academy continued its raid of the Coates Talent League premiership points collecting another four against Murray Bushrangers to remain undefeated from two matches this season. The Swans slammed home five goals to nil in the first term to race out to a 31-point quarter time lead, and while Murray reduced the bleeding in the second term, the visitors kicked away after half-time to record an 11.14 (80) to 1.2 (8) victory.

STANDOUT:

Olivia Morris (Swans Academy)

The inside midfielder captained from the front with a massive game, collecting a round-high 34 disposals. She was clean with ball-in-hand, tough and competitive, able to feed the ball out to teammates and clear the ball well from the stoppage. Along with her impressive ball-winning abilities, Morris was able to thump it inside 50 and set up scoring plays by putting pressure on the opposition defence.

OTHERS:

Sydney Swans Academy had no shortage of impressive players across the game, with over-age talent Asha Turner Funk (22 disposals, four marks, three tackles and five inside 50s). Up forward, Kendra Blattman and Charlotte Watton both booted three goals apiece playing inside 50. For the Bushrangers, Kloe McElhinney and Kaylea Kobzan combined for 32 disposals and eight had eight rebound 50s.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Olivia Morris (Swans Academy)
4 – Asha Turner Funk (Swans Academy)
3 – Kendra Blattman (Swans Academy)
2 – Charlotte Watton (Swans Academy)
1 – Kloe McElhinney (Murray Bushrangers)

In a tight affair at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds as Dandenong Stingrays bounced back from a Round 1 defeat to the Swans Academy to put away Geelong Falcons by 10 points. The Stingrays trailed at quarter time and only lead by four points at the main break, but remained clear in the second half with 5.3 to 4.3 to win, 8.5 (53) to 6.7 (43).

STANDOUT:

Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons)

Despite being on the losing side, Adams was again industrious with her work in the midfield, not only being tough at the stoppages, but also spreading well to take a game-high seven marks. She finished with 25 disposals, five tackles, five inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a goal, as the Vic Country hub member continued her fantastic start to the 2023 season.

OTHERS:

Sharing the ball with her partner-in-crime, Adams was well supported by Sara Howley in the loss, as last week’s Player of the Week racked up a game-high 31 disposals, six marks, three tackles, five inside 50s and three rebound 50s in the match. Other Falcons to impress were runners, Mekah Morrissy and Lucy Marescuk who found their fair share of the football. For the winners, Meg Robertson again provided plenty of drive to be one of the Stingrays’ best, while up forward, over-age draft hope Brooke Smith (two goals from 17 disposals) and tall forward Sophie Butterworth (four goals from 15 disposals) both did a lot of damage on the scoreboard. Jemma Reynolds was another who impressed yet again.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Meg Robertson (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Brooke Smith (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Sophie Butterworth (Dandenong Stingrays)

GWS GIANTS Academy bounced back from a Round 1 loss to Tasmania Devils to post an impressive 45-point victory over Gippsland Power at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Sunday. The GIANTS were inaccurate at times booting 6.11, but held the Power scoreless until the fifth minute of the final term. Even then, Gippsland only managed the two behinds as the GIANTS kicked a couple of last quarter goals to make it 6.11 (47) to 0.2 (2)

STANDOUT:

Melanie Staunton (GIANTS Academy)

The AFLW Academy member lead from the front again with an even bigger game than the week before. Hitting the scoreboard though missing a few chances with 1.3, Staunton finished with the 25 touches and five inside 50s, working hard around the ground, particularly in the forward half for her side to get on top from the get-go. A contested bull, Staunton showed off her power through the midfield.

OTHERS:

Similar to the Swans, the GIANTS Academy had plenty of standout players, including defender Cleo Buttifant (19 disposals, two marks, seven inside 50s and four rebound 50s) and Ashley Patton who only had the eight touches but oozed class. Tamika Rourke (20 disposals, five marks, five tackles, four inside 50s and 1.3) also had plenty of the ball. For Gippsland Power, Shanae Hawker had 19 disposals and thee marks, with bottom-ager Ash Centra finishing with 22 disposals, four marks and six tackles. Alisha Molesworth and Amber Schutte shared in 47 disposals.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Melanie Staunton (GIANTS Academy)
4 – Cleo Buttifant (GIANTS Academy)
3 – Shanae Hawker (Gippsland Power)
2 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
1 – Ashley Patton (GIANTS Academy)