GEELONG Falcons captain Mekah Morrissy stepped up in the wet to help guide the Falcons to an important win over Gippsland Power, getting up by 14 points at La Trobe University, Bundoora on the weekend which earned our Coates Talent League Girls Player of the Week nomination.

The hard-running winger who is more than capable of playing inside, stepped up in the absence of teammate Sara Howley and had a huge game which included a massive 40 disposals. Her previous best this season was 16 the week before, while averaging 12.7 disposals in 2024. She also laid a massive 11 tackles, had five inside 50s and four rebound 50s, covering the ground incredibly well in the conditions.

Morrissy made her debut for the Falcons way back in 2021, when having just turned 15, played one game for six disposals, two marks and two tackles. Since then, the Falcons talent has been a key member of the squad, managing a further 24 games over the past two seasons, and has played 29 in total across her Falcons career.

By earning a Player of the Week nomination, Morrissy became the second Falcon in three weeks – after Howley in Round 5 – to earn a nomination, and the third consecutive top-ager to receive the gong. The pair also join past Vic Country MVPs Lucia Painter and Ash Centra as nominees thus far this season.

Across the round, Gold Coast Suns Academy had several players who could have earned Player of the Week nomination, but in the end, Morrissy earned the nod for being the clear best on ground. For the Suns, athletic talls Georja Davies (24 disposals, seven marks, four tackles, 16 hitouts, four inside 50s and two goals) and Havana Harris (34 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, seven hitouts, nine inside 50s and two goals) were both superb.

Another player who matched Morrissy’s 40-disposal effort, albeit in a loss, was Western Jets’ Sierra Grieves who finished with the 18 kicks and 22 handballs, as well as four marks, seven tackles, four inside 50s and six rebound 50s. In the same game, last week’s Player of the Week nomination in Maggie Mahony recorded another 30 touches.

Dandenong Stingrays’ Jemma Reynolds had another 30 touches – also in a loss – against Brisbane Lions Academy, while Georgia Knight booted 3.2 from 17 disposals and five marks in Eastern Ranges’ win over Tasmania Devils. From the Rebels-Knights game, Isabella Davies continued her fine form with 25 disposals, four marks, 11 tackles and six rebound 50s in the Rebels’ tight win over Northern.

2024 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
Round 2 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
Round 3 – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
Round 4 – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
Round 5 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
Round 6 – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 7 – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)