EASTERN Ranges made it three wins from four matches to start the Coates Talent League Girls season with a hard-fought victory over a gallant Gold Coast Suns Academy outfit. The Suns were missing a couple of key stars for the clash, but nonetheless put up a fight throughout the four quarters before Eastern came away to win by 17 points.

Eastern Ranges overcame a 19-point deficit to start the game, before booting 6.9 (45) to 1.3 (9) in the last 67 minutes to secure an impressive victory over the Gold Coast Suns Academy. While the Suns were missing top stars Ava Usher and Dekota Baron, the Ranges were also without key wing Zoe Vozzo for the clash at Box Hill City Oval.

Early days it looked like the Suns Academy were going to run away with the match as forward Alannah Welsh – who only briefly made an appearance in Round 3 before going down with injury – looked on fire, slotting two of the three goals alongside debutant and Under 16s talent Tara Nieass who looked lively in attack. The return of Tayla McMillan to the starting midfield helpd the Ranges alongside bottom-agers Scout Semple, Emily Rankin and Brylee Anderson, while Jordyn Allen‘s run from defence was crucial.

Despite the Suns being on top, a late goal to Isabella Lord helped settle the home team’s nerves and they went on with it from there. An early goal to Mathilde Wilkinson followed by a crafty snap to Lara Williams handed the Ranges the lead and they never looked back from there. Despite that fact, theE Suns never quite looked out of it as the talented Georja Davies and Sunny Lappin provided the pace and marking ability, as did Mikayla Nurse who was outstanding in that high half-forward role.

In defence, Rhianna Ingram had the ball on a string, taking the kickouts and racking it up with key rebound 50s and switches on the last line. Aleah Stringer and Annabelle Foat were also important for the Suns, though the same could be said for a heap of Ranges. McMillan (28 disposals, five marks, nine tackles, six clearances and six inside 50s) was best on ground, with Semple and Rankin combining for 10 clearances, while Anderson laid a whopping 14 tackles.

The Ranges had six individual goalkickers in the win, while ruck Josephine Bamford notched up 37 hitouts, 20 more than the Suns side as she used her experience around the stoppages to get first hands to it. Allen’s work in defence which included 18 disposals and five rebound 50s was great, including a terrific run-down tackle.

Eastern will head to Queensland to face Brisbane lions Academy on Saturday at Sandgate, while the Gold Coast Suns Academy also return home to the Sunshine State where they host reigning back-to-back premiers Oakleigh Chargers at People First Stadium.

EASTERN RANGES 1.1 | 3.5 | 5.8 | 6.9 (45)
SUNS ACADEMY 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 4.4 (28)

GOALS:
Eastern: B. Anderson, A. Fearn-Wannan, I. Lord, S. Rushgrove, M. Wilkinson, L. Williams
Suns Academy: A. Welsh 3, T. Nieass

RMC BEST:
Eastern: T. McMillan, S. Semple, J. Allen, E. Rankin, J. Bamford
Suns Academy: G. Davies, S. Lappin. M. Nurse, R. Ingram, A. Welsh

TASMANIA DEVILS 1.3 | 2.8 | 4.10 | 8.12 (60)
LIONS ACADEMY 3.2 | 6.2 | 9.3 | 11.4 (70)

IN A NUTSHELL

Brisbane Lions Academy withstood a late comeback from Tasmania Devils to post a 10-point win down on the Apple Isle and remain undefeated from the Lions’ two games in the Coates Talent League Girls thus far.

KEY PLAYERS

Molly Ferguson (Lions Academy) 26 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles, 8 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Mia Geere (Lions Academy) 21 disposals, 4 marks, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals
Harlee McIlwain (Lions Academy) 15 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 3 goals

Mischa Barwin (Tasmania) 23 disposals, 8 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s
Priya Bowering (Tasmania) 22 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 6 inside 50s
Ava Read (Tasmania) 15 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 4 rebound 50s, 3 goals

NEXT ROUND

Brisbane Lions Academy vs. Eastern Ranges @ Sandgate AFC
Tasmania Devils vs. GWS Giants Academy @ Twin Ovals Kingston

CALDER CANNONS 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.3 (15)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 5.4 | 10.6 | 15.9 | 16.12 (108)

IN A NUTSHELL

Oakleigh Chargers dominated for an hour against Calder Cannons, slamming home 15 goals to one in the opening three quarters before a far more even final term which saw the two sides break even with a major apiece.

KEY PLAYERS

Bailee Martin (Oakleigh) 20 disposals, 13 marks, 4 tackles, 7 goals, 4 behinds
Chloe Bown (Oakleigh) 31 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 10 inside 50s
Scarlett Bown (Oakleigh) 19 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 hitouts, 4 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 3 goals, 3 behinds

Chloe Baker-West (Calder) 24 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s
Shauna McElligott (Calder) 14 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 5 clearances
Edith Kavanagh (Calder) 14 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

NEXT ROUND

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Gold Coast Suns Academy @ People First Stadium
Calder Cannons vs. Bendigo Pioneers @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

BENDIGO PIONEERS 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 (6)
GEELONG FALCONS 5.1 | 9.4 | 11.6 | 14.6 (90)

IN A NUTSHELL

Geelong Falcons bounced back from two heavy defeats to inflict a big win over its own, proving too strong for Bendigo Pioneers in an 84-point triumph up at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

KEY PLAYERS

Stella Huxtable (Geelong) 30 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 9 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s
Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong) 26 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s
Ava Bilyk (Geelong) 24 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Issy Boulton (Bendigo) 18 disposals, 6 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Lacey Nihill (Bendigo) 16 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles
Ella Jeffrey (Bendigo) 14 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 4 rebound 50s

NEXT ROUND

Geelong Falcons vs. Gippsland Power @ Avalon Airport Oval
Bendigo Pioneers vs. Calder Cannons @ Queen Elizabeth Oval

GWV REBELS 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.3 | 3.3 (21)
NORTHERN KNIGHTS 0.1 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 6.10 (46)

IN A NUTSHELL

Despite drawing within 11 points at the final break, the GWV Rebels could not contain the Northern Knights in the end with the visitors getting up by 25 points at Mars Stadium on Sunday.

KEY PLAYERS

Marlo Graham (Northern) 32 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Scarlett Johnson (Northern) 22 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Olivia Gorman (Northern) 20 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 2inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Isabella Davies (GWV) 19 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s
Maggie Johnstone (GWV) 17 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s
Milly Shortal (GWV) 16 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

NEXT ROUND

Northern Knights vs. Murray Bushrangers @ Genis Steel Oval, Preston
GWV Rebels vs. Sydney Swans Academy @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

WESTERN JETS 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.2 | 7.2 (44)
GIPPSLAND POWER 4.2 | 8.5 | 12.5 | 16.7 (103)

IN A NUTSHELL

Gippsland Power scored their first win of the season in style, kicking an even four goals in each of the quarters to overpower Western Jets in a battle of two of the previously winless sides.

KEY PLAYERS

Ava Deszcz (Gippsland) 22 disposals, 8 marks, 2 inside 50s, 5 goals
Abby Hobson (Gippsland) 24 disposals, 8 marks, 8 inside 50s, 2 goals
Grace Dillow (Gippsland) 20 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

Addison West (Western) 12 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 4 clearances
Caitlyn Volpe (Western) 12 disposals, 11 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s
Tayla Olivieri (Western) 11 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 goals

NEXT ROUND

Gippsland Power vs. Geelong Falcons @ Avalon Airport Oval
Western Jets vs. GWS Giants Academy @ Windy Hill (Round 6)

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 1.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 (27)
GIANTS ACADEMY 2.3 | 4.5 | 7.9 | 11.11 (77)

IN A NUTSHELL

GWS Giants Academy shoot off a first half challenge from Sandringham Dragons to kick seven goals to nil after half-time and run out 50-point winners at RSEA Park.

KEY PLAYERS

Sophia Gaukrodger (Giants Academy) 20 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 4 goals
Zoe Curry (Giants Academy) 18 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 8 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals
Isla Wiencke (Giants Academy) 15 disposals, 9 tackles, 9 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Macy Watkins (Sandringham) 22 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles, 7 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s
Ash Patton (Sandringham) 20 disposals, 3 marks, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s
Amy Smith (Sandringham) 19 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s

NEXT ROUND

GWS Giants Academy vs. Tasmania Devils @ Twin Ovals, Kingston
Sandringham Dragons vs. Dandenong Stingrays @ Shepley Oval