IN the penultimate round of Coates Talent League Girls action, the metropolitan teams and Tasmania Devils closed out their regular seasons across the board, while the country sides have another chance next week. We recap how Round 16 went down and some of the better performers.

Calder Cannons 0.2 (2) lost to Northern Knights 13.12 (90)

Finals-bound Northern Knights proved far too strong for Calder Cannons at Highgate Recreation Reserve, running out 88-point winners. The Knights produced their biggest score of the year with 25 scoring shots to two, including booting five majors in the last term to blow out the 55-point three quarter time margin.

STANDOUT: Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights)

In a really even contribution across the board from the Knights, skipper Ridewood played a consistent game off a wing and half-forward, showcasing her versatility some more having played inside and off half-back at different points in the season. She converted a set shot goal in the third term and would finish with 19 disposals, six marks, six tackles and seven inside 50s in an impressive display.

OTHERS:

There were stacks of Northern Knights players who could have filled out the votes in the match, with Vic Metro representatives Zoe Hargreaves and Marlo Graham both rotating between midfield and attack and kicking a goal each. Tahlia Plunkett also kicked a classy goal, while Olivia Jesser finished with three, and further afield Olivia Gorman was influential on the inside, and Hannah Scott was ever-consistent working down the ground. For the Cannons, the usual suspects in Maddison Albrecht and Charli Calleia had their moments, while skipper Ava Gerada tried hard all game.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights)
4 – Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
3 – Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
2 – Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights)
1 – Tahlia Plunkett (Northern Knights)

Oakleigh Chargers 11.11 (77) defeated Sandringham Dragons 2.3 (15)

Minor premiers Oakleigh Chargers finished off their regular season with a predictable commanding win over fellow finals-bound side Sandringham Dragons. These two will face off in the first week of the metropolitan division finals series, and Oakleigh grabbed another huge win thanks to 10 goals to one through the first three quarters before the Dragons stemmed the bleeding in the last term.

STANDOUT: Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)

The ultra-consistent midfielder was one of a stack of players who stood up in the big win, working hard on-ball and covering the ground with ease. She finished with 24 touches, seven marks, eight tackles, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s, and could have been any one of a number of Chargers who earned the best afield honours.

OTHERS:

Along with Poustie, there were more than half a dozen Chargers who all shared the load including fellow midfielders Chloe Thorn, Zoe Curry and Chloe Bown. They all rotated in and out of the midfield, while captain Sienna Tallariti and usual forward Emma McDonald provided rebound out of defence. Also creating some speed around the ball were Abbey Vicino and Charlotte Brewer, while Jacinta Baxter booted three goals up forward.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)
4 – Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)
3 – Abbey Vicino (Oakleigh Chargers)
2 – Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers)
1 – Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)

Gippsland Power 9.17 (71) defeated Murray Bushrangers 4.2 (26)

Gippsland Power raced off to a start to kick nine of the first 11 goals and lead by as much as 52 points early in the last term against the winless Murray Bushrangers. However the Bushrangers did not give up, slotting a couple of consolation majors late to win the final quarter and cut the final margin back to 45 points.

STANDOUT: Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)

In a very clear best on ground, Sowden stood up in the absence of teammate Ash Centra to start on-ball then spend plenty of time forward, kicking 4.2 from 31 disposals, seven marks and seven inside 50s, proving a massive headache for the Bushrangers. Sowden’s hurt factor on the scoreboard was enormous, and her performance earned her our Rookie Me Central Coates Talent League Girls Player of the Week nomination.

OTHERS:

Gippsland’s future midfield was on full display through the clash with double bottom-agers Grace Dillow and Lily Milner having huge games and rotating from forward into the middle. Ava Deszcz kicked all of her three goals in the first half to provide a marking target, while Milner and Ella Stoddart finished with inaccurate scorelines of 0.4 though both played well. The win was marred by a knee injury to captain Zali Gallagher who went down early in the last term. For Murray, the two standouts were Holly Egan and Ellie Hall who combined for 61 disposals, 12 marks, eight tackles, four inside 50s and 13 rebound 50s in defeat.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)
4 – Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power)
2 – Lily Milner (Gippsland Power)
1 – Ava Deszcz (Gippsland Power)

Bendigo Pioneers 2.6 (18) lost to Tasmania Devils 9.13 (67)

Closing out their regular season with a win, Tasmania Devils controlled proceedings from early on against the Bendigo Pioneers. Both sides had trouble with accuracy at times, but the Devils kicked seven of the first eight goals to lead by 42 points at the final change, eventually getting the job done by 49 points at La Trobe University in Bundoora.

STANDOUT: Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)

The Tasmanian talent has been rock solid consistent all year and the midfielder was once again among a host of impressive players from the Apple Isle, cracking in and influencing the contest. She started on-ball and then was moved forward later in the game where she was able to kick a goal and show her prowess up forward. Bowering finished with 23 disposals, three marks, four tackles, seven inside 50s, two rebound 50s and a major.

OTHERS:

Bowering and her partner-in-crime Mischa Barwin (20 disposals, six marks, two tackles and five inside 50s) were a couple of standouts, but it was largely a real even performance. Charlotte Barnes found plenty of it as did Ruby Hall, while up forward, Ava Read slotted a game-high four goals and Harriet Bingley and Josie Rose kicked two apiece. Defender Lucah Conkie who moved inside late, as well as wing Natasha Furjanic also had her moments. For the Pioneers, the likes of Lavinia Cox and Lacey Nihill provided ball-winning abilities, while Sienna Hobbs and Lexi Gregor were strong in the air and defended well.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Ava Read (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Lavinia Cox (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers)

Western Jets 8.4 (52) defeated GWV Rebels 0.7 (7)

After a dour first quarter out at Werribee, Western Jets found a spark through Mira Diab who would kick the first two goals off a step in congestion to provide a run of eight unanswered majors through the last three quarters. In an incredible result for the two-win Jets, they finished off their regular season on a high by keeping the Rebels goalless and securing a 45-point win.

STANDOUT: Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)

Hardly playing a bad game, Grieves’ season rolled on off her MVP-winning national campaign with Vic Metro by producing a huge best on ground performance against the Rebels. Dominating around the clearances, Grieves had 33 disposals, seven marks, 11 tackles, seven inside 50s and a goal, as well as a stack of clearances bursting from congestion and even producing a four-bounce run at one stage.

OTHERS:

There was very little surprise who impressed for the Jets, with bottom-age defender/ruck Alex McBride-Loane having a strong day out aerially and finding plenty of the ball around the ground. Finishing with 26 touches, seven marks, seven hitouts, three inside 50s and seven rebound 50s, they teamed up well with skipper Lou-Lou Field (25 disposals, seven marks, five tackles, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s). Diab (three goals), Olivia Castello, Polly Conway and Charlotte Miller were also very good. For the Rebels, Claire Mahony played three quarters in defence and clunked 12 marks from 20 touches, while Maggie Johnstone (15 disposals, four marks) was crucial in the air, and Isabella Davies and Tyla Crabtree both worked hard around the ground.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)
4 – Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets)
3 – Claire Mahony (GWV Rebels)
2 – Lou-Lou Field (Western Jets)
1 – Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels)

Geelong Falcons 4.7 (31) lost to Dandenong Stingrays 8.8 (56)

After a hot start to the game, Dandenong Stingrays were able to kick away and gain ascendancy through the middle two quarters to boot five goals to one and put up a 37-point lead at three quarter time. To Geelong’s credit, the Falcons booted the last two goals of the game and kept the Stingrays goalless in the final quarter, posting a 25-point win in the process.

STANDOUT: Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)

Producing another starring performance, Reynolds was sublime around the ground, but particularly effective at the stoppage. Showing off her clean hands and stoppage craft, Reynolds won a stack of clearances or dished off to allow teammates to extract. She set up multiple scoring opportunities and finished with 10 more disposals than any other player on the ground, being the creator all across the field.

OTHERS:

Going side-by-side with Reynolds in the midfield and then going forward to kick a major herself, Kayla Dalgleish impressive form continued to have 20 touches, five marks, three tackles and a goal in the win over the Falcons. Ruck/forward Elli Symonds worked hard through the ruck, while strong left-footer Lillian Snow and double bottom-age classy wing Alice Cunnington also impressed for the Stingrays. Chloe Bryant was the pick of the Falcons, while Vic Country MVP Sara Howley had an uncharacteristic quiet start to the game but worked into it rotating between midfield and forward. Skipper Mekah Morrissy, and tall duo Hayley Peck (12 disposals, five marks and 22 hitouts) and Meg Lappin (12 disposals, seven hitouts and two goals) were among the best Falcons.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays)
3 – Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays)
1 – Chloe Bryant (Geelong Falcons)