LADDER leaders Gippsland Power joined major Round 9 winner Eastern Ranges in contributing a high of four players to our Coates Talent League Team of the Week. The Power held firm against Greater Western Victoria (GWV), while Eastern notched a round-high margin of 63 points against Northern. See who made the cut for this week’s 24-player squad.

>> CTL Round 9: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Avery Thomas (TD) – Jonah Walker (GP) – Billy Wigmore (WJ)
HB: Tom Evans (BP) – Harry Dean (MB) – Oskar Taylor (ER)

Murray Bushrangers defender and Carlton father-son prospect Harry Dean has become a regular in our Teams of the Week. He was again a brick wall in his side’s third consecutive victory, clunking 10 marks – nearly all of which were intercepts – as the Bushies beat Western Jets by 47 points.

The Jets were not without their own impressive performers. Billy Wigmore (30 disposals, 10 marks) and Finnegan Davis (29 and six, interchange) were prominent in the face of Murray’s 47 forward 50 entries, helping intercept and repel the wealth of play that came their way.

Tasmania’s Avery Thomas was another who stood tall in a loss. He returned to action with an inspired 17 disposals and nine marks as the Devils were pipped by Dandenong. Thomas provided ample fold for Allies representative Toby Callow, who was one of four Tasmanians to earn call-ups.

Elsewhere, Gippsland Power tall Jonah Walker again impressed with his intercept ability while doubling for stints in the ruck. Oskar Taylor was Eastern Ranges’ go-to out of defence, racking up 20 disposals as his side comfortably beat Northern to the tune of 63 points.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Flynn Penry (GWV) – Cody Walker (BP) – Callum Smith (DS)
C: Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves (DS) – Thomas Burton (WJ) – Zac O’Keefe (GP)

A stacked on-ball group features another Carlton father-son gun in Cody Walker. The Bendigo Pioneers midfielder tried everything to drag his side over the line, ending up with 31 disposals, six clearances and 10 inside 50s. It backs up his Player of the Week performance last time out.

Joining him at the centre bounces are Round 9 Player of the Week Thomas Burton and Vic Country squad member Callum Smith. The former accumulated 35 disposals, 10 marks and seven clearances to continue his outstanding form, while the latter had 24 touches and a goal in a tight win over Tasmania.

Smith’s captain Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves kicked the winning goal to continue his knack for coming up clutch in big moments. He features out on the wing despite mostly playing on-ball, much like Gippsland’s Zac O’Keefe who kicked two goals from 23 touches in a narrow win over GWV.

Speaking of the Rebels, their over-age ruck Flynn Penry rounds out the on-ball group after another imposing outing. The 203cm bigman stuffed the stats sheet with 22 disposals, seven tackles, 28 hitouts and 10 clearances to earn our starting spot once again this season.

FORWARD

HF: Ricky Theodoropoulos (SD) – Toby Hunt (MB) – Marcus Prasad (DS)
F: Max Bartlett (ER) – Cooper Glenwright-McGuane (GWV) – Lachy Dovaston (ER)

A pair of Eastern Ranges feature across the full forward line among a notably short front six. GWV Rebels top-ager Cooper Glenwright-McGuane booted four goals and is the tallest selected forward at 190cm, while fellow four-goal hero Toby Hunt spearheads a speedy half-forward line.

Ranges Max Bartlett (16 disposals, 4.4) and Lachy Dovaston (nine tackles, two goals) earned their spots with plenty of impact in their side’s comprehensive win over Northern. Creative smalls Ricky Theodoropoulos and Marcus Prasad were also lively in three-goal shifts to make the cut.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Brodie Atkins (GP), Xavier Bamert (SD), Finn Davis (WJ), Josiah Landy (ER), Blake Newton (MB), Cody Templeton (GP)

Crash and bash Gippsland Power midfielders Brodie Atkins (26 disposals, 11 tackles, eight clearances) and Cody Templeton (24 disposals, 10 clearances, one goal) dominated around the contest to headline our Round 9 interchange. Both have been reliably hard workers this season.

Sandringham Dragons captain Xavier Bamert also gave his all with 26 touches and a goal, while Eastern’s Josiah Landy booted two goals from 22 disposals and six clearances to feature once again. Elsewhere, Murray’s Blake Newton worked hard off half-forward to make his maiden appearance.