BIG WINNERS in Round 1 of the Coates Talent League Girls competition, Dandenong Stingrays and Eastern Ranges boast four representatives apiece in our first Team of the Week for 2025. An absolutely stacked side across all three lines, there is a host of Vic Metro and Vic Country hub members, as well as a few fresh faces who impressed over the weekend.

The forwardline alone booted 26 goals between them – at an average of 4.3 per person – headlined by this week’s skipper, Bailee Martin. The Oakleigh Chargers bottom-ager slammed home nine goals against Northern Knights to be our Player of the Week and don the captain’s armband in this hypothetical team, trumping an equally impressive six-goal haul from Murray Bushrangers’ Rose Bell.

Continuing the theme of bottom-age goal hauls, Dandenong Stingrays’ Alice Cunnington slotted four majors in her side’s 109-point belting of Gippsland Power. She was one of three Stingrays named inside 50 with Evelyn Connolly (three goals) and Nalu Brothwell (25 disposals, one goal) both outstanding in the win. Both Brothwell twins made the side with Mizuki being the fourth Stingrays player, named at half-back.

The final member of the forward 50 is Maggie Johnstone who did just about everything for GWV Rebels with three goals from 21 touches, five marks, nine tackles and eight clearances playing on all three lines. She was the sole representative for her side, just like Western Jets defender Alex McBride-Loane who had 23 disposals, three marks and 11 rebound 50s.

A couple of Dragons feature in the back six despite the loss to Eastern, with Isla Tucker (33 disposals, eight rebound 50s) and Chloe Williams (17 disposals, six marks and five rebound 50s) both impressing. Completing the back six was Oakleigh Chargers’ Chloe Thorn (22 disposals, seven tackles and five rebound 50s) and Northern Knights’ Scarlett Johnson (25 disposals, five marks, four tackles and six rebound 50s).

Eastern Ranges also had a league-high four representatives, with a ruck-rover combination between Josephine Bamford and Brylee Anderson. Bamford narrowly took first ruck spot from Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb who was named on the bench as both players stood tall in their respective matches, while Anderson notched up 31 touches, six tackles, seven clearances and seven inside 50s to be a lock on-ball.

The only player who picked up more than her in midfield was Chloe Baker-West with a remarkable 38 disposals, five marks, seven tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s. Meanwhile the other two Ranges in the team were Tayla McMillan (27 disposals, eight tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s) who was named in the centre, and Emily Rankin who slotted two majors and earned a place on the bench.

Unlucky not to earn a starting spot – due to the strength and skill of both the midfield and attack – Jade McLay was the other Calder player in the side, racking up 31 disposals and being strong across the field. She was named on the bench alongside fellow ball-winners Stella Huxtable and Chloe Bown who both had considerable impact on their respective matches.

The depth of the inside brigade was huge in Round 1, which forced at least one of them out to the wing. Marlo Graham (29 disposals, 10 tackles, seven clearances, six inside 50s and a goal) was enormous for the Knights, while Ava Bilyk (28 disposals, seven marks, four clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal) was terrific largely as a forward.

Completing the squad of 24 is Murray Bushrangers midfielder/forward Nikhita Spiteri who was fierce across the four quarters finding plenty of the ball. Though equally impressive and unlucky to be squeezed out of the squad are the three emergencies in Eastern Ranges’ Jordyn Allen, Bendigo Pioneers’ Olivia Lacy and Geelong Falcons’ Georgia Tyrrell.

2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 1

B: Isla Tucker (Sandringham Dragons) – Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets) – Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)
HB: Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights) – Chloe Williams (Sandringham Dragons) – Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)
C: Marlo Graham (Northern Knights) – Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges) – Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons)
HF: Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels) – Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) – Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
F: Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers) – Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers) (c) – Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays)
R: Josie Bamford (Eastern Ranges) – Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges) – Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)
INT: Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) – Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb (Northern Knights) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons) – Jade McLay (Calder Cannons) – Emily Rankin (Eastern Ranges) – Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers)

EMG: Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges) – Olivia Lacy (Bendigo Pioneers) – Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)