ROOKIE Me Central’s 2024 Talent League Girls Team of the Year has been confirmed. The 24 players selected – as well as three emergencies – have been locked in with the top three sides combining for nine of those representatives.

While the official Coates Talent League Team of the Year will come later on in the month and includes form from the national championships, the Rookie Me Central Team of the Year focuses on purely Talent League performances. Based around our Team of the Weeks each round, the 24-player squad features 12 of the 13 full-time clubs.

Last week, our 48-player squad was released, with each representative needing to have played more than 50 per cent of the season (seven games). From the 48-player squad, the final 24-strong team would be selected.

>> RM CENTRAL TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR SQUAD

The top three sides on the ladder in Oakleigh Chargers, Tasmania Devils and Eastern Ranges all picked up three representatives in the side, with six other regions recording two players, A further three had a singular representative, while Calder Cannons was the sole team without one.

From the nominations, 19 players made six or more Team of Weeks for automatic entry, with the remaining five based off both selections and overall season form with some seriously unlucky players.

BACKS:

Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)

The Oakleigh skipper has enjoyed another wonderful year in defence, being consistent as always and despite being in a team that has less pressure on its defensive 50 compared to others, still finds a way to get involved. Her ability to hold a high line, intercept and use the ball well both in execution and decision making really stands out.

Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets)

Settling down into the Jets’ defensive 50 and using her aerial prowess to full advantage, McBride-Loane was a regular as a key post in the back 50, clunking some big grabs then rolling into the ruck. Despite being undersized against many rucks, McBride-Loane’s vertical leap allows her to win her fair share of hitouts, and she earned her place in our team.

Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)

Another bottom-ager making it into the side, Stoddart was one of 14 players with seven Team of the Week nominations or more, having played in a variety of roles. Though a natural defender, Stoddart spent considerable time up forward in the second half of the season, and even through the middle, boasting a booming left boot and good strength one-on-one.

HALF-BACKS:

Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers)

Kicking off the line of captains, Murray’s skipper has enjoyed a reliable year in the back 50, providing plenty of rebound out of the back 50. Often under siege in the Bushrangers’ backline, Egan has a nice vertical leap and great evasion techniques that allow her to create her own space and drive the ball forward. Egan also spent time through the middle.

Millie Lang (GWV Rebels)

GWV’s co-captain Lang had some injury interruptions in the back half of the year, but was almost a lock throughout the first half of the season in our key defensive posts. She earned her place in our side with another booming left footer and player who can compete well in the air. Was a shining light for the Rebels, also getting a taste of midfield action and even venturing forward to kick her first career goal.

Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)

The Pioneers’ co-captain can play on all three lines, so due to the strength of the midfield, Painter’s versatility sees her move to half-back in the hypothetical team. She had eight Team of the Week nominations – the same as Tallariti and Egan – and is as powerful as they come, with some match-winning abilities.

CENTRES:

Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) (c)

One of two co-captains in the side, Poustie earned the honour through receiving an equal league-high 11 Team of the Week nominations. Never playing a bad game, few have the consistency that Poustie had through the year as she developed from a hard-running winger into a pure onballer. Like Painter, the strength of the midfield, and the versatility of the Chargers top-ager sees her out on a wing, and she can impact wherever she goes.

Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)

Last year’s league best and fairest and Rookie Me Central Medallist finds herself in a familiar position, named in the centre of the Team of the Year. Often bringing her own ball to the games, Howley has no trouble finding the pill, and her ability to cover the ground and win the ball multiple times in the one play is paramount to her game. A high metres-gained player.

Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons)

A deserving member of our Team of the Year and specialist winger, Howden can run all day and worked hard back into the defensive 50 for the Dragons. Good overhead and able to kick the ball long, Howden covers the ground well and can compete with most other players. Her work rate and consistency lead her to being one of the regular wingers in our sides.

HALF-FORWARDS:

Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) (c)

The other co-captain alongside Poustie also earned 11 players in our Team of the Week, and while she cemented her place in the Stingrays’ midfield, still got her chances up forward. That versatility earned her a place on the flank, and she will undoubtedly have an influence be it inside 50 or on-ball. Her clean hands at ground level and ability to burst from a stoppage are among her strengths, while she has developed her first-possession winning ability in 2024.

Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)

The pick one contender had a few setbacks throughout the season including illness, injury and even being heavily tagged one match, but her class throughout the year shone through. Boasting some massive games with 30-plus or even 40-plus disposals as well as multiple goals, Centra is a clean user and elite in her decision making and execution.

Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)

The Knights star played on all three lines throughout the course of the season, but is a natural midfielder-forward, and the latter is where she finds herself in the Team of the Year. Hargreaves was among a host of Knights who had consistent seasons to guide Northern to another finals series, but she ended up being named in eight Team of the Weeks to solidify her spot.

FORWARDS:

Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges)

What a top-age season Belloni had in 2024, moving from a forward who pinch-hit in the midfield to the other way around. Her form at the national carnival inside 50 was outstanding, and backed up her Coates Talent League form. A really consistent player who could win the ball in all manner of ways, Belloni was one of a host of Eastern Ranges who really stood up this year.

Ava Read (Tasmania Devils)

Winning the league goalkicking, Read was the easy choice for the full-forward spot, booting 25 goals in 12 games at better than two per match. Only once did Read not hit the scoreboard, with two or more goals in nine of her 12 games. It followed on from 20 goals from 14 games last season, and the top-ager is usually a straight set shot.

Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)

Read’s teammate who is often around her feet or more accurately working to create her own space, Barwin had a big first season at the Devils. The bottom-ager provides pressure, but also wins her own ball which makes her a well-balanced forward. She has footy IQ, leads into the right spots and is a natural distributor going inside 50 too. Can play midfield as well.

RUCKS:

Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons)

No player came close to the amount of hitouts Peck had, with 367 for the season at an average of 28.2 per match. A full 100 more than her nearest rival, the Geelong Falcons over-ager did her draft chances – and future draft chances – no harm. She is a strong contested mark and not afraid to get her hands dirty at ground level as well.

Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges)

Another player who notched up eight Team of the Week nominations, McMillan had a wonderful bottom-age year to best set her up for 2025. As clean as they come and incredibly tough, McMillan uses the ball well and is able to hit target through lowering the eyes going forward. Having the rare ability to find teammates while at speed makes her a well-rounded prospect.

Sierra Grieves (Western Jets) (vc)

Vic Metro’s MVP also had a ridiculous Coates Talent League Girls season, and earned the vice-captaincy in our Team of the Year. Grieves had 10 Team of the Week nominations – only behind Poustie and Reynolds – and was a shining light the entire year for the Jets. A clearance specialist, Grieves also worked on her outside game to impact consistently with her run and carry, and ability to get forward and hit the scoreboard too.

INTERCHANGE:

Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)

A constant clearance player around the ball, then went forward and could kick goals as well, Bowering’s year was highlighted by a remarkable 47-disposal game. She was everywhere and won the ball at will, which is different to her usual 20-25 disposals, the bulk of which are either clearances or effective handballs to free teammates. One of the top talents for next year.

Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)

Speaking of next year, Bown followed up her double bottom-age season with a magnificent bottom-age campaign, stepping up for Oakleigh both up forward and through the midfield. A powerful left-footer who can also use her right effectively, the tall talent uses her frame both in the air and at ground level to make an impact. Explosive and strong make for an exciting combination.

Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays)

The second Stingray in the side, Dalgleish adds that forward pressure and flair to the team. Recording five Team of the Week nominations, the forward-midfielder had some big games with bags of goals, or rolling through the midfield and setting up her teammates. An elite athlete with great footy smarts to-boot. One with plenty of upside for the future.

Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)

Deserving of a place in the side off her work rate and consistency throughout the year, Davies always puts in 100 per cent effort. A player who does not backdown from a challenge, the midfielder/defender rarely put out a bad game and kept digging in even when the going got tough. Earned seven Team of the Week nominations for her troubles.

Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers)

The sole 2008-born player in the side, Green had some mammoth games for the Bushrangers in a struggling side. She has played just about everywhere, but did her best work rotating between midfield and half-back. With a few of the Bushrangers’ midfielders ageing out or heading off to the AFLW, Green will take hold of that on-ball spot next year.

Georgia Knight (Eastern Ranges)

It was impossible to ignore Knight who fell one goal short of Read’s goalkicking effort in the Coates Talent League. Often just missing out of Team of the Week nominations due to the sheer strength of her side, Knight kicks goals for fun and has elite forward craft and smarts. Will be a key player in the Ranges’ attempts to go one better in the finals series.

EMERGENCIES:

Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers)

The Pioneers defender is as tough as they come, and her tackling pressure and technique is among the best in the league. Douglas spent time through the midfield and held her own, with her burst and power enabling her to impact on-ball as well as stand up in big marking contests down back.

Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers)

Really unlucky not to make the side, the talented key position player rotated down back late in the season – as well as in patches in certain games – and showed off her versatility. A top 10 player on talent, she had a really strong season across the board and only marginally missed out.

Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)

Had some big games throughout 2024, and another to only marginally miss out, Sowden played her role as a midfielder-forward. she could find the ball through the middle, use either side of her body, then run hard and find space inside 50 to hit the scoreboard on multiple occasions.

2024 RM CENTRAL TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEAR:

B: Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers) – Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets) – Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)
HB: Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers) – Millie Lang (GWV Rebels) – Lou Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
C: Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers) – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons) – Scout Howden (Sandringham Dragons)
HF: Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays) (c) – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power) – Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
F: Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges) – Ava Read (Tasmania Devils) – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
R: Hayley Peck (Geelong Falcons) – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets (vc)
INT: Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils) – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) – Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays) – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers) – Georgia Knight (Eastern Ranges)

EMG: Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers) – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)

2024 RM CENTRAL TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS 2ND TEAM OF THE YEAR:

B: Mackenzie Williams (Tasmania Devils) – Claire Mahony (GWV Rebels) – Jemmika Douglas (Bendigo Pioneers) (c)
HB: Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges) – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers) – Holly Ridewood (Northern Knights)
C: Evie Parker (Eastern Ranges) – Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons) – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)
HF: Stasia Stevenson (Eastern Ranges) – Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers) – Jasmine Sowden (Gippsland Power)
F: Marlo Graham (Northern Knights) – Abby Hobson (Gippsland Power) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)
R: Sienna Hobbs (Bendigo Pioneers) – Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons) – Maggie Mahony (Oakleigh Chargers)
INT: Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) – Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays) – Kyla Forbes (Calder Cannons) – Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights) – Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers) – Abbey Vicino (Oakleigh Chargers)