THREE closely run contests were counteracted by a pair of comfortable victories in Round 9 of the Coates Talent League. The five fixtures coincided with the start of the Under 18 National Championships, which saw six players from Tasmania and the Murray Bushrangers represent the Allies.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS 3.1 | 4.2 | 5.6 | 9.9 (63)
TASMANIA DEVILS 1.2 | 6.2 | 9.2 | 9.2 (56)

IN A SENTENCE:

Tasmania Devils coughed up a 21-point lead heading into three-quarter time, held goalless in the final term by Dandenong Stingrays who were dragged over the line by a clutch late goal to captain Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Dandenong Stingrays won the disposals (265-237), clearances (44-32), and inside 50s (40-33).

BY THE NUMBERS:

Dandenong Stingrays

Callum Smith – 24 disposals, 6 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal
Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves – 18 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 1 goal
Marcus Prasad – 13 disposals, 8 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 goals

Tasmania Devils

Max Roney – 20 disposals, 6 tackles, 8 clearances
Avery Thomas – 17 disposals, 9 marks, 7 rebound 50s
Rylee McHenry – 15 disposals, 7 clearances, 2 goals

WHERE THEY SIT:

Dandenong Stingrays – 5-3 | 111.4% | WWWLL
Tasmania Devils – 3-5 | 83.9% | LLWWL

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 0.0 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 8.2 (50)
EASTERN RANGES 3.1 | 8.4 | 14.7 | 17.11 (113)

IN A SENTENCE:

Having piled on the first six goals of the game for a 31-point head start, Eastern Ranges went on to defeat Northern Knights to the tune of 63 points with constant scoreboard pressure.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Eastern Ranges won the tackles (61-53), inside 50s (48-32), and scoring shots (28-10).

BY THE NUMBERS:

Northern Knights

Hugh White – 24 disposals, 5 marks, 8 clearances
Ryan Commandeur – 23 disposals, 7 marks, 6 rebound 50s
Sean Tyrrell – 19 disposals, 15 hitouts, 8 clearances

Eastern Ranges

Josiah Landy – 22 disposals, 6 clearances, 2 goals
Lachy Dovaston – 17 disposals, 9 tackles, 2 goals
Max Bartlett – 16 disposals, 5 marks, 4 goals

WHERE THEY SIT:

Northern Knights – 4-4 | 87.7% | LWLWW
Eastern Ranges – 4-3 | 113.6% | WWLLW

BENDIGO PIONEERS 2.3 | 3.5 | 6.9 | 9.12 (66)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 2.3 | 6.4 | 8.6 | 10.8 (68)

IN A SENTENCE:

After having their 23-point third quarter lead cut to the slimmest of margins six minutes into term four, Sandringham Dragons held on to beat Bendigo Pioneers by two points in a game of momentum shifts.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Bendigo Pioneers won the disposals (313-287), marks (72-60), and scoring shots (21-18).
Sandringham Dragons won the rebound 50s (37-34).

BY THE NUMBERS:

Bendigo Pioneers

Tom Evans – 33 disposals, 7 marks, 10 rebound 50s
Cody Walker – 31 disposals, 6 clearances, 10 inside 50s
Hunter Wright – 23 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 goal

Sandringham Dragons

Xavier Bamert – 26 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal
Sacha Levine – 22 disposals, 7 clearances, 1 goal
Ricky Theodoropoulos – 19 disposals, 6 inside 50s, 3 goals

WHERE THEY SIT:

Bendigo Pioneers – 3-4 | 90.4% | LLWLL
Sandringham Dragons – 4-3 | 106.2% | WLLLW

GIPPSLAND POWER 2.0 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 9.9 (63)
GWV REBELS 2.1 | 4.1 | 7.2 | 9.3 (57)

IN A SENTENCE:

Gippsland Power got the chocolates in a tight game with several lead changes, kicking clear on the back of three goals in four minutes to start the final quarter before holding on to beat GWV Rebels by six points.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Gippsland Power won the tackles (81-75) and clearances (41-30).
GWV Rebels won the marks (62-37) and inside 50s (43-40).

BY THE NUMBERS:

Gippsland Power

Brodie Atkins – 26 disposals, 11 tackles, 8 clearances
Cody Templeton – 24 disposals, 10 clearances, 1 goal
Zachary O’Keefe – 23 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

GWV Rebels

Flynn Penry – 22 disposals, 28 hitouts, 10 clearances
Wilbur Shea – 21 disposals, 9 tackles, 8 inside 50s
Cooper Glenwright-McGuane – 10 disposals, 6 marks, 4 goals

WHERE THEY SIT:

Gippsland Power – 6-1 | 145.2% | WWWLW
GWV Rebels – 2-4 | 103.0% | LWLLL

MURRAY B’RANGERS 3.4 | 5.6 | 10.7 | 12.13 (85)
WESTERN JETS 2.2 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 5.8 (38)

IN A SENTENCE:

Murray Bushrangers restricted Western Jets to a single goal throughout the second and third terms while piling on seven of their own to set up a comfortable 47-point victory – their third in a row.

WHERE IT WAS WON:

Murray Bushrangers won the inside 50s (47-39) and scoring shots (25-13).
Western Jets won the disposals (348-285), marks (99-81), and tackles (50-35).

BY THE NUMBERS:

Murray Bushrangers

Harry Dean – 18 disposals, 10 marks, 1 tackle
Toby Hunt – 18 disposals, 5 marks, 4 goals
Zac Harding – 15 disposals, 22 hitouts, 1 goal

Western Jets

Thomas Burton – 35 disposals, 10 marks, 7 clearances
Billy Wigmore – 30 disposals, 16 marks, 5 rebound 50s
Thomas McGuane – 28 disposals, 6 clearances, 1 goal

WHERE THEY SIT:

Murray Bushrangers – 3-4 | 90.7% | WWWLL
Western Jets – 1-5 | 60.8% | LLWLL