A NEW season of Coates Talent League Girls football is less than two months away, and in readiness for the year, we profile the players in the Victorian hubs. Up first is the Vic Country hub, followed by the Vic Metro hub next week.

TOP-AGERS:

Matilda Argus (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder | 166cm | 06/01/2007

After getting a taste for it with a game in her double bottom-age season, Argus had an impressive year in 2024, playing 14 games and averaging 11.2 disposals through the middle. In a stacked on-ball group, Argus got her chances, with her thumping left boot a weapon that catches the eye. The Stingrays midfielder is capable of playing both inside and outside.

Ava Bibby (Bendigo Pioneers)
Key Forward | 184cm | 09/05/2007

After a quiet start to the season, Bibby came alive against the Geelong Falcons slamming home five goals, then finished off the year strongly with a call-up to the Under 17 Futures squad providing a focal point in a crunch game. One of the most reliable set shots for goal, Bibby has a relaxed routine and once she gets her hands on it, makes opposition defenders pay.

Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 170cm | 22/10/2007

One of two twins in the Stingrays program, Mizuki is the defensive sibling often seen running from half-back. Though able to nullify a defender one-on-one, her aerial ability and athleticism to move quickly off the mark catches the eye. From season start to finish, she came a long way and positioned herself so well she earned a National Academy invitation.

Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)
Forward | 170cm | 22/10/2007

Playing up the other end to her sister, Nalu is seen as that medium-tall half-forward who is strong enough in the air, but like her sister is capable of beating a lot of bigger opponents at ground level. She got better as the season went on and had some big bags of goals and impact in front of goal, all in her first season at the level.

Maya Crestani (Gippsland Power)
Ruck | 183cm | 02/07/2007

In a squad that lacks height – just two players are above 180cm – Crestani is the frontrunner for the Vic Country ruck spot after a bottom-age campaign with the Power. She learnt a lot throughout the year, and though the ruck depth in the squad is definitely short, it gives Crestani the opportunity to improve her craft and impact at Talent League level this year.

Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)
Defender/Wing | 165cm | 13/01/2007

One of three Dodd sisters to represent Murray, the middle sibling of the trio has rolled between being a running defender and a wing. She has some nice traits that catch the eye, and while others have had bigger numbers, she is a high impact-per-possession player. Could well be a surprise packet in her top-age season as Dodd has some terrific upside.

Rebecca Fitzpatrick (Gippsland Power)
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 31/01/2007

A tough leader who was vice-captain of the Gippsland squad in her bottom-age season, Fitzpatrick looks set to predominantly play as an inside midfielder, but can go forward as well. She is strong one-on-one and finds space well, working hard to impact up and down the ground. A lead by example type, Fitzpatrick will once again be one of the key players for the Power.

Abby Hobson (Gippsland Power)
Tall Forward | 174cm | 11/09/2007

One of the top tall forwards in the Talent League, Hobson has velcro-like hands and a penchant for goals. She provides strong leads, is hard to match one-on-one and is mobile to be able to win the ball in play even after a marking contest. A booming kick allows her to put pressure on the opposition defence, and is another player who with a full year injury-free, could only get better.

Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 22/12/2007

One of the more readymade prospects in the Vic Country lineup, Huxtable has long been part of the Geelong Falcons setup. She is a good size, strong in the middle and has fantastic hands overhead for a midfielder. She has truly shown her forward craft to go with that of her midfield work, which will enable her to impact in a number of different ways this year.

Ella Jeffrey (Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder/Defender | 166cm | 09/08/2007

A pure midfielder who added a defensive role to her repertoire in 2024, Jeffrey is tough and does not back down from a challenge. She will attack the contest be it in the air or at ground level, and averaged six tackles per game from 10 touches last year. Given Lou Painter has moved up to the AFLW, a spot on-ball is likely to beckon for the top-ager.

Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels)
Tall Utility | 170cm | 06/06/2007

Johnstone is cut from a similar cloth to now-Tiger Zoe Hargreaves. Over the last couple of seasons, Johnstone has proven herself across all three lines, has a nice burst of speed and is strong in the air or at ground level. While still rounding out her game and fine tuning some elements – similar to Hargreaves 12 months ago – her enormous upside is as high as anyone’s elses in the group.

Olivia Lacy (Bendigo Pioneers)
Defender/Midfielder | 167cm | 15/06/2007

Class with a capital ‘C’ is the way to describe Lacy whose Under 17s Futures call-up was impacted due to injury. Still named in the squad, she can play as a rebounding defender or through the middle, and her skills and decision making really shine. She adds a point of difference to teams and is a player to get the ball in the hands of to make plays happen.

Meg Lappin (Geelong Falcons)
Forward/Ruck | 178cm | 21/09/2007

Brisbane Lions fans might keep one eye on the daughter of triple premiership player Nigel, with Meg having come on in leaps and bounds last season. Incredibly raw at season start, by the end of the year, Lappin was taking some good scalps as a forward/ruck, kicking 10 goals from 12 games all up. A fascinating watch in 2025 given her size and growth already.

Molly Reimers (Dandenong Stingrays)
Forward | 169cm | 25/07/2007

Reimers was a player who caught the eye in a stacked Stingrays forwardline, always playing her role week-in, week-out. She presented as a target, and though not a key position type, is good enough to impact in the air. She kicked eight goals in 12 games and perhaps most impressively showed outstanding defensive pressure, willing to work both ways.

Jovie Skewes-Clinton (GWV Rebels)
Tall Defender | 174cm | 15/11/2007

One of the most impressive as an Under 16s player, Skewes-Clinton found a home in defence at the Rebels last year. Though capable of playing on all three lines, she is a reliable ball user coming out of the back 50 and will compete well against opponents. Will likely settle as a third tall intercepting type, though could roll into the midfield as well.

Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder | 169cm | 10/07/2007

One of the key inclusions for the Stingrays early in the season, Snow had a memorable debut year at Talent League level. She has a powerful left foot kick and loves to swing onto it, while also getting her hands dirty around the coalface. She attacks it hard and played a key role as a bottom-ager, so expect her to combine with some of the names on this list through the middle in 2025.

Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers)
Midfielder | 169cm | 20/07/2007

A tackling machine who does not fear anything, Spiteri is one of the best pressure players going around. Her hands at the coalface standout and she can make her teammates better with her clean hands under pressure. While still tidying up her polish by foot, Spiteri ticks a lot of boxes having impressed for Murray over the last couple of seasons, averaging 16 disposals and seven tackles as a bottom-ager.

Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)
Tall Defender | 173cm | 30/01/2007

The 2023 Vic Country Under 16s MVP, Stoddart expanded her defensive rebounding role to include some time both through the middle and up forward. While still very much a home and housed defender thanks to her reading of the play and long left foot, Stoddart improved her opposite side in 2024 and earned a place with Vic Country as a bottom-ager. One of the top Country prospects this year.

Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder | 168cm | 04/08/2007

Another readymade inside midfielder from Geelong Falcons, Tyrrell will work alongside Huxtable as a strong one-two punch both at the Falcons and for Vic Country. She is so strong overhead and clean by hand, and as she showed through the Victorian Under 17s Futures match, can rack up the ball against her peers. A key cog on-ball.

BOTTOM-AGERS:

Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons)
Defender/Midfielder | 167cm | 07/07/2008

The reigning Vic Country Under 16s MVP, Bilyk is hard to miss with her combination of play and helmet running around for both the Falcons and Country. She can play on all three lines, though the rotation between defence and midfield is where she has played the majority of her football, stepping up to Under 18s level easily. Like a few of these bottom-agers, finds the ball with ease.

Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
Wing/Forward | 172cm | 30/06/2008

Another smooth-moving, classy operator, Cunnington came out of the Under 16s program to have an instant impact for the Stingrays at Talent League level. She will likely develop into an inside midfielder but has shown she can play off a wing or up forward, and makes good decisions with high impact-per-possession. Upside enormous, definitely one to watch over the next two years.

Ruby Geurts (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 169cm | 17/09/2008

A reliable ball user with great decision making, Geurts was tasked with distributing the ball from defence for the Stingrays fresh off an Under 16s campaign with Vic Country. A consistent source of rebound, Geurts held her own against bigger and stronger opponents, and no doubt over the next two seasons will work her way up the field as well.

Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers)
Midfielder/Defender | 171cm | 22/11/2008

Basically bringing her own footy to most games, Green was a ball magnet for Murray Bushrangers, coming in and impacting immediately despite being one of – if not the – youngest on field. She slotted on-ball easily, then went to half-back and provided some run there. Averaged 21.5 disposals, 3.1 marks, 6.2 tackles and 2.9 rebound 50s for the Bushrangers.

Zoe Zach (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 165cm | 09/12/2008

There is always a bit of an unknown thrown in the mix and bottom-ager Zach is just that. Clearly talented, she only managed to crack in for the one game for the Stingrays as a late inclusion, but no doubt the December-born Zach will get plenty more chances in 2025 and being a member of the Vic Country pathway will fast-track her development, having caught the eye in the Under 16s carnival.