WITHOUT a doubt, the Rookie Me Central Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 9 was the most difficult to pick all season.

The 24-player squad was comprised of players from 12 of the 16 teams that took to the field, with Dandenong Stingrays and Northern Knights each having a league-high four nominees, while Oakleigh Chargers was the only losing side to contribute multiple players.

To put in perspective just how high powered the Round 9 team is, there were a total of 17 multiple goalkickers on the weekend, which meant some of whom kicked three or even four, missed out due to the strength of the side. Similarly in the midfield, there were massive numbers across the board, and players who would normally be walk-up starters on their performances just fell short of making the cut.

Gippsland Power’s Ash Centra was named captain after earning our Player of the Week nomination for Round 9, and the talented tall was in defence alongside her teammate, Ella Stoddart. The Power only had two nominees, but there were three winning teams who remarkably only had the one given their even team contributions.

Those three sides were Eastern Ranges with Grace Belloni, Lions Academy with Jacinta Baldwick and Sandringham Dragons with Sophie McKay. The other sole nominations included Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels defender Millie Lang who filled a need down back. Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils) was beside her in defence, while Western Jets’ Sierra Grieves slotted into midfield.

In the highly-anticipated Gold Coast Suns Academy and Oakleigh Chargers clash, there were five players who made the cut. Returning from last week were Suns Academy young guns Havana Harris and Ava Usher, while Oakleigh tall Emma McDonald retained her spot at centre half-forward. Joining them in the squad this week was another ruck/forward in Georja Davies, while Oakleigh’ Sienna Tallariti was named in defence.

Geelong Falcons had a massive win over Northern Territory and three players secured their spots in the Team of the Week. Maintaining their form of recent weeks, Sara Howley (40 disposals) and Chantal Mason (four goals) were back in again. For Round 9, Falcons’ skipper Chloe Adams earned a place in the side after 31 touches.

Dandenong Stingrays had a remarkable win over Bendigo Pioneers and recorded four players and could have easily have had far more. Mikayla Williamson was pushed back to half-back given the strength of the midfield, while Kayla Dalgleish slotted into half-forward after a best on ground display. Also making it into the team were ruck Elli Symonds and midfielder/forward Meg Robertson.

Northern Knights also a huge win, defeating Murray Bushrangers after a record-breaking first half. The Knights had three players on-field in a huge achievement, with ruck Lauren Jatczak starting in that role ahead of a ridiculous amount of possibilities this week. Up forward, Ava Jordan and Phoebe Hargreaves were named, while Zoe Hargreaves deservedly earned a spot on the bench.

The three emergencies for Round 9 were Oakleigh Chargers’ Maggie Mahony, Dandenong Stingrays’ Jemma Reynolds and Eastern Ranges’ Emma Stilve.

2023 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 9

B: Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils) – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)
HB: Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays) – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power) – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)
C: Ava Usher (Suns Academy) – Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons) – Meg Robertson (Dandenong Stingrays)
HF: Ava Jordan (Northern Knights) – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays)
F: Chantal Mason (Geelong Falcons) – Georja Davies (Suns Academy) – Phoebe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
R: Lauren Jatczak (Northern Knights) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) – 

INT: Jacinta Baldwick (Lions Academy) – Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges) – Havana Harris (Suns Academy) – Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons) – Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)

EMG: Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) – Emma Stilve (Eastern Ranges)