AFTER significant victories in Round 5, Tasmania Devils and Sandringham Dragons lay claim to a high of four players each in our Coates Talent League Team of the Week. With all five Northern Academies in action, there are plenty of fresh faces in the squad of 24. See who made the cut!

>> Coates Talent League Round 5: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Nicholas Andreacchio (SS) – Riley White (ER) – Zai Millane (GC)
HB: Zak Johnson (NK) – Lennox Hoffman (SD) – Lachlan Carmichael (SS)

While height has dominated previous instalments of our Team of the Week back line, Riley White is the tallest player in our Round 5 defence a 192cm. The Eastern Ranges top-ager takes up a key position slot alongside Sandringham and St Kilda NGA prospect Lennox Hofmann (190cm).

A pair of Swans Academy backmen starred to also make the cut. Nicholas Andreacchio was undeniable on the back of his round-high 37 disposals against Eastern, while bottom-ager Lachlan Carmichael showed his class with 27 touches and eight marks having previously played in midfield.

Two games were played up in Queensland this week, with Zai Millane (23 disposals, eight marks) contributing to Gold Coast’s 57-point win over Oakleigh, while Zak Johnson (27 disposals, two goals) dominated in each third as Northern held on to beat the Lions Academy.

MIDFIELD

C: Jai Murray (GC) – Ned Hawkins (SS) – Liam Ling (TD)
FOL: Taj Murray (NT) – Josh Dolan (SD) – Daniel Annable (BL)

A trio of Northern Academy bottom-agers headline our Round 5 midfield group. Prolific Lions Academy midfielder Daniel Annable led all comers with 29 touches in his side’s loss and takes up a spot in the middle, while Suns wingman Jai Murray and Northern Territory ruck Taj Murray also make the cut.

Murray – of the Jai variety – was slick as ever on the outside for his 23 disposals in a strong win, while Taj was again among the best players afield despite the NT Academy losing by 85 points. The latter posted 18 disposals, six tackles, 28 hitouts and a goal in the Thunder’s second and final game.

Joining Annable at the centre bounces are Swans Academy over-ager Ned Hawkins (36 disposals, eight inside 50s) and hard-running Sandringham Dragons prospect Joshua Dolan (28 disposals, six inside 50s), while versatile Tasmanian Liam Ling (28 disposals, 12 marks) slots in on the wing.

FORWARD

HF: Zeke Uwland (GC) – Billy Richardson (BL) – Oliver Depaoli-Kubank (TD)
F: Ricky Theodoropoulas (SD) – Bailey McKenzie (SD, c) – Lenny Douglas (TD)

Four members of this week’s front six booted four or more goals in Round 5, making for a collecting haul of 25 overall. Player of the Week Bailey McKenzie led all comers with 7.3 from 23 disposals and 13 marks, pipping Suns Academy bottom-ager Zeke Uwland‘s effort of 25 disposals and six goals.

McKenzie’s Sandringham teammate Ricky Theodoropoulas filled his boots with four final quarter majors for five overall, while Tasmania’s Lenny Douglas doubled his tally in the fourth term to finish with four. Fellow Devil Oliver Depaoli-Kubank (32 disposals, two goals) was also prolific in the big win.

Rounding out the forward line is Lions Academy big man Billy Richardson – clearly the tallest member of the attack at 195cm. McKenzie measures up at 191cm, but the remaining four forwards come in at an average of 176cm, clearly proving that if you’re good enough, you’re big enough.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Cody Anderson (ER), Daniel Cooney (TD), Kane Emery (OC), Tom Gillett (BL), Logan Smith (GWS), Taj Stanley (NT)

As is always the case, a few prolific midfielders have spilled onto the bench. Oakleigh’s Kane Emery, Eastern’s Cody Anderson, and Northern Territory’s Taj Stanley all stood up in difficult losses to earn a spot this week, racking up plenty of possessions for their on-ball efforts.

A couple of bigmen also feature in the form of Lions Academy ruck-forward Tom Gillett and Giants Academy ruck Logan Smith, both of whom showed promise in losses. Daniel Cooney rounds out the six-player bench having looked lively with three goals in Tasmanian colours.