OPENING round of the Coates Talent League Girls season is done and dusted and while there were many standout individual performers, the first Rookie Me Central Player of the Week for the season goes to Northern Knights bottom-ager Marlo Graham.

The midfielder/forward showed her class and quick hands around, getting involved consistently with the play and even when forward was able to convert a couple of majors in what was a relatively low-scoring contest. The Knights talent had plenty of support around her as Northern overcame Calder Cannons by 24 points at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Saturday.

Graham would finish the match with 28 disposals – 12 kicks and 16 handballs – three marks, three tackles and an inside 50, but critically produced two of her side’s five goals in the win. A member of Vic Metro’s Under 16s side last year, Graham played five games in her double bottom-age year for the knights, averaging 15.4 disposals, and 7.6 tackles.

Despite being small in stature, Graham is not afraid to throw her body around, and she did just that on the weekend. In the absence of Zoe and Phoebe Hargreaves, Graham took control in midfield alongside the likes of Katelyn Busuttil and Holly Ridewood, and got on top of the Cannons to kick off the Knights’ year with a win.

Her fellow bottom-age opponent Jade McLay was also one of the best for the weekend, racking up 29 touches and laying six tackles to go with four inside 50s and three rebound 50s. In other games, Eastern Ranges duo Molly Paterson and Isla Baldwin both came under consideration, while Scout Howden was the clear standout for the Dragons.

On the Apple Isle, Abbey Vicino was the main player under consideration as the acting captain romped her way to 33 disposals in Oakleigh’s win over Tasmania. Throwing back to Easter Thursday, and any one of Claire Mahony (17 disposals, seven marks and two goals), Millie Lang (31 disposals, six marks, four tackles, five inside 50s and 11 rebound 50s) and Sara Howley (33 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, five inside 50s and a goal) would have been fitting.

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)