IN one of the toughest rounds to pick our Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week, ladder leaders Oakleigh Chargers boasted a league-high four players, with each of the 12 regions in action represented. Eastern Ranges and Geelong Falcons both had three players apiece in the side, with the other nine teams recording between one to two representatives.

The Round 11 captain is bottom-ager Tayla McMillan after winning our Player of the Week nomination, and the Eastern Ranges dynamo headlines a stacked midfield that includes 30-plus disposal winners from the weekend, Sierra Grieves and Sara Howley.

Howley’s Geelong Falcons teammate Hayley Peck was chosen as the starting ruck after an enormous 43 hitouts against Murray Bushrangers, while Oakleigh Chargers duo Sarah Poustie and Chloe Bown flank Howley in the centreline, pushed out to wings due to the strength of the midfield.

Inside 50, another couple of Chargers loom large in key forward Emma McDonald and four-goal hero Bailee Martin in the pocket. Also kicking four goals in Round 11 was Dandenong’s Evelyn Connolly who played at both ends. Versatile midfielder forwards Sophie McKay and Stasia Stevenson were named at half-forward, while Geelong Falcons debutant Greea McKeegan slotted into full-forward.

Looking to defence and just one player from a winning side made it in, with Tasmania Devils utility Mackenzie Williams playing on all three lines, but in this side was named at centre half-back. A couple of Murray Bushrangers in Holly Egan and Rose Bell find themselves deeper in defence, while Sandringham Dragons wing Scout Howden has been dropping back and helping out the defence. Ella Stoddart and Lou Painter both played in multiple roles on the weekend but for this team were named at half-back.

The bench is incredible deep with sole representatives Olivia Gorman – showing the incredible depth of the Knight having a huge win but the one representative due to the evenness of the side – and Maddison Albrecht. Tasmania Devils’ Mischa Barwin, Eastern Ranges’ Georgie Brisbane, Gippsland Power’s Grace Dillow and Dandenong Stingrays’ Jemma Reynolds complete the six-player interchange.

The three emergencies chosen amongst a tack of possibilities were another Stingray in Makhaela Bluhm, Tasmanian midfielder Priya Bowering and Geelong wing Lucy Marescuk.

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 11

B: Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers) – Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers) – Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons)
HB: Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power) – Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils) – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
C: Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
HF: Stasia Stevenson (Eastern Ranges) – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons)
F: Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays) – Greea McKeegan (Geelong Falcons) – Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers)
R: Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons) – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) (c)
INT: Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons) – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils) – Georgie Brisbane (Eastern Ranges) – Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power) – Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights) – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)

EMG: Makhaela Bluhm (Dandenong Stingrays) – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils) – Lucy Marescuk (Geelong Falcons)