THE EAST and West of the Coates Talent League account for nine of the 23 members in our Round 14 Team of the Week. Leading the way with five representatives are the Ranges, while the Jets contributed four players to the 23-man squad after their big win over Bendigo. See who made the cut!

>> CTL Round 14: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Oskar Taylor (ER) – Josh Shepherd (OC) – Oscar Roberts (MB)
HB: Mitchell Gillan (ER) – Finn Davis (WJ) – Sam Niklaus (GWV)

A pair of Ranges headline a defence full of keen ball users, with the efficient Mitchell Gillan (28 disposals, 11 marks) and speedy Oskar Taylor (26 disposals, eight rebound 50s) showing out in their side’s three-point win over Oakleigh. Together, they kickstarted several counterattacks from the back half.

In the same game, Chargers swingman Josh Shepherd spent the first half down back where he took many of his nine marks, before swinging forward to almost help snatch the win. He fills a key position slot alongside Western playmaker Finnegan Davis, who intercepted well for 30 disposals and nine marks.

Balancing out the largely Metro influence are Oscar Roberts and Sam Niklaus. The former took the game on with 17 touches in Murray’s 43-point loss to Calder, while the latter took up aggressive positions and provided plenty of run for a game-high 26 disposals in GWV’s 25-point win over Sandringham.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Harry Van Hattum (NK) – Patrick Blake (BP) – Charlie Whitehead (OC)
C: Angus Ford (GF) – Lachlan Hicks (WJ) – Coen Ainsworth (MB)

Player of the Week Lachlan Hicks headlines a fresh-faced midfield after his monster performance against Bendigo. The Western Jets bottom-ager booted 3.4 from 34 disposals and 10 marks, showcasing a clean set of hands to compete overhead, solid stoppage craft, and terrific work rate in the attacking phase.

Pioneers high-flyer Patrick Blake joins him in the on-ball mix after soaring for a pair of speccies en route 18 disposals and two goals. He also laid eight tackles. Oakleigh accumulator Charlie Whitehead rounds out the rovers after racking up 26 disposals and eight inside 50s as his side went down to Eastern.

Rucking to them in our hypothetical side is bottom-age man mountain Harry Van Hattum. Playing just his second game at the level this season, the Northern Knights prospect posted 18 disposals, six marks, five clearances, and 31 hitouts to help his side beat Geelong Falcons by 18 points at Preston City Oval.

Falcons midfielder Angus Ford earned a spot on the wing for his 19 disposals and 10 inside 50s in that game, named best afield by his coaches. On the opposite wing, despite playing on-ball, Murray over-ager Coen Ainsworth also looked lively with 17 touches, eight marks, and a goal in the Bushies’ loss.

FORWARD

HF: Max Bartlett (ER) – Sullivan Robey (ER) – Oskar Ainsworth (WJ)
F: Tyson Gresham (NK) – Taj Robinson (CC) – Arki Butler (SD)

Two more Ranges players make up a third of the forwardline after teaming up to good effect against Oakleigh. Emerging 192cm tall Sullivan Robey impressed with 20 disposals and two goals, joining Max Bartlett (15 disposals, seven marks, two goals) as a key connection piece and scoring threat.

The round’s best bag of goals belonged to Western top-ager Oskar Ainsworth, who slotted five for the second time in three outings. That brings his tally to 13.10 in the last month. Powerful Calder tall Taj Robinson also battled hard to earn a spot on the back of 12 touches, two marks, and two goals.

The two players omitted from Vic Metro duties this week, Tyson Gresham and Arki Butler both snared three goals to make the cut. As if playing with a point to prove, Butler showed his class and rare ability while Gresham helped lead the Knights to their first win in over a month with seven scoring shots.

INTERCHANGE

INT: James Allison (NK), Macauli Buck (WJ), Blake Chambers (ER), Riley Dillon (BP), Oliver Watt (CC), Mason Williams (GF)

Six different regions are represented on this week’s hypothetical bench, which boasts an inevitable influx of midfielders. The lone tall in the mix is improving Western Jets ruck Macauli Buck, who had his best game at the level with 16 disposals, 33 hitouts and five inside 50s against Bendigo.

Pioneers skipper Riley Dillon worked hard for a team-high 24 touches, eight tackles and 1.4 to make the bench. Others to team up out of the same game include Northern’s James Allison (13 disposals, six tackles, two goals) and Geelong’s Mason Williams, who led all comers with a personal-best 23 disposals.

Vic Metro train-on Blake Chambers again impressed with his move into midfield, gathering 23 classy possessions in Eastern’s tight win over Oakleigh. Meanwhile, it would have been tough to leave out Calder midfielder Oliver Watt, who managed 25 touches and eight tackles in his side’s win.