THERE was no shortage of outstanding individual performances in Round 2 of the Coates Talent League, but one stood above the rest, with that being Gippsland Power’s Ash Centra. The potential pick one fancy had a ridiculous day out against Murray Bushrangers, amassing 47 disposals and booting four goals as the Power crushed the Bushrangers 87-0 in the opening round of the season.

No one would have been surprised that Centra was capable of such a performance, with the Gippsland Power star coming off a bottom-age campaign that included the Vic Country MVP and All-Australian honours at the national carnival. Boasting elite foot skills, decision making, clean hands and vision, Centra is the ultimate footballer in that sense.

Able to play on all three lines, Centra did her damage rotating midfield and forward, where her statline read 47 disposals (26 kicks, 21 handballs), 11 marks, four tackles, seven inside 50s and four goals. In what was only her second competitive match this year after fronting out for the AFLW Academy last week, the Gippsland Power talent has wasted no time asserting herself for her club in the competition.

Centra was well supported by teammate Jasmine Sowden (24 disposals, three marks, eight tackles and seven inside 50s) who impressed in her own right, while bottom-age forward Abby Hobson clunked five marks and kicked 2.2 from 18 disposals.

She was not the only big ball-winner of the weekend though, with Calder Cannons’ bottom-ager Chloe Baker-West (37 disposals) and top-ager Kyla Forbes (33) both returning to the side to put up big numbers. The pair did that in the loss to Bendigo Pioneers, with Western Jets’ Sierra Grieves (31 disposals, three marks, 11 tackles, 10 inside 50s and two goals) also stepping up despite her side going down to Sandringham Dragons.

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
Round 2 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)