NOT for the first time this season, the Oakleigh Chargers lead all-comers in our Rookie Me Central Team of the Week for Round 12. The reigning premiers recorded a league-high five players in the team, one ahead of fellow winners Geelong Falcons and Northern Knights.

The tight contest between GWV Rebels and Murray Bushrangers resulted in both sides having three nominees, as did Western Jets, while Eastern Ranges and Sandringham Dragons had the one.

Leading from the front was bottom-ager Chloe Bown who was the clear standout across Round 12, collecting 35 disposals and booting two goals, as well as taking eight marks and having 11 inside 50s. She was named captain of the side, and being one of five Chargers in the team.

She was joined in the side by sharpshooters Lucy Murphy and Bailee Martin who were named inside 50, while Giants Academy double bottom-ager Zoe Curry had a big day out, and hard-running midfielder Sarah Poustie was also impressive. Sandringham Dragons’ Tiger Doultree was the sole representative from the opposition after a strong performance in the back 50.

Geelong Falcons piled on a huge score in the win over Eastern Ranges and had a few different names in the Round 12 team. Midfielders Georgia Tyrrell and Stella Huxtable both made the side, as did skipper Mekah Morrissy who kicked two goals from a wing. Geelong Falcons defender Ava Bilyk also slotted into the back pocket. The sole Eastern player in the side was double bottom-ager Brylee Anderson.

Northern Knights had a quartet of players in the team with rotating midfielder/forwards Zoe Hargreaves and Olivia Jesser playing on-ball and going forward to hit the scoreboard. Running off a wing and winning it all over the ground, Scarlett Johnson made the Round 12 team, as did defender Kiara Keenan.

GWV Rebels and Murray Bushrangers combined for six players in the Team of the Week after their even low-scoring contest. Vic Country representatives Millie Lang and Elise Cook feature in defence, while Rebels bottom-ager Maggie Johnstone made it onto the interchange. Holly Egan earned a spot in the back pocket, with wing Rain Dodd and midfielder Sophia Green making the side again.

Rounding out the Round 12 team is a trio of Western Jets, with key defender/ruck Alex McBride-Loane slotting into the latter starting role, with teammate and AFLW Academy member Sierra Grieves named on-ball. She and midfield partner-in-crime Olivia Castello both racked up 30-plus disposals in a dominant effort to deserve spots in the side.

The trio of players to marginally miss out on the side but were named as part of the emergencies were Eastern Ranges’ Isla Baldwin, Geelong Falcons’ Sara Howley and Oakleigh Chargers’ Chloe Thorn.

2024 TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 12

B: Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers) – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons)
HB: Elise Cook (GWV Rebels) – Tiger Doultree (Sandringham Dragons) – Kiara Keenan (Northern Knights)
C: Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers) – Georgia Tyrell (Geelong Falcons) – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)
HF: Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons) – Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
F: Lucy Murphy (Oakleigh Chargers) – Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers) – Olivia Jesser (Northern Knights)
R: Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets) – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) (c) – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)
INT: Olivia Castello (Western Jets) – Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers) – Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers) – Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights) –  Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels) – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)

EMG: Isla Baldwin (Eastern Ranges) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)