TASMANIA Devils and Murray Bushrangers both had big wins over the weekend and deservedly earned a league-high share of four representatives in our Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 13. Of the 12 teams in action, 11 had players in the side, with Dandenong Stingrays and Gippsland Power (three apiece) the other notable clubs.

Captaining the side off the back of a mammoth 37 disposals, five marks, four clearances, nine inside 50s and two goals is Tasmanian midfielder Mia Anderson. She and fellow Allies representatives Mischa Barwin (22 disposals, five marks, nine tackles, four inside 50s and two goals) and Priya Bowering (18 disposals, six clearances, four inside 50s and a goal) all hit the scoreboard. Over-age defender Ava Read also slotted into full-back after 17 touches, six marks, five tackles, four inside 50s and seven rebound 50s.

They were not the only Allies players in the side however with bottom-age duo Rose Bell (21 disposals, six marks, five inside 50s and four rebound 50s) playing off half-back, and Majella Day (12 disposals, five marks, four tackles and three goals) playing a key role up forward.

Like Read, Ellie Hall is a former Allies rep and is enjoying a great season, picking up another 27 disposals, six marks, seven tackles, eight clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal in the win over Calder. Vic Country representative Nikhita Spiteri slotted into half-forward with 30 disposals, five tackles and 13 inside 50s in the game.

Dandenong Stingrays stepped up against the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels with top-age duo Matilda Argus (23 disposals, four marks, five tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and four rebound 50s) and Evelyn Connolly (11 disposals, five marks and three goals) prominent once more. Bottom-age star Alice Cunnington kicked a couple of goals from 21 touches, six marks, seven inside 50s and four rebound 50s as well for the Stingrays.

On the other wing is over-age Geelong Falcon Chloe Bryant who had a big performance in her return game, collecting 30 disposals and showing her experience in a hard-fought win over Northern Knights. She was joined in the side by another 2006-born player in ruck Kate O’Brien (21 disposals, six marks, 30 hitouts, four clearances and five inside 50s, while Northern had a sole representative in Katelyn Busuttil (30 disposals, seven clearances and five rebound 50s)

Speaking of sole representatives, GWV talent Maggie Johnstone (21 disposals, four tackles, five clearances, 10 inside 50s and four rebound 50s) was enormous in the Rebels’ loss, while Chargers defender Tatyana Perry (21 disposals, three marks and seven rebound 50s) and Eastern’s Ashleigh Thatcher (24 disposals, five marks, six tackles and four inside 50s) were the others who earned single spots for their clubs in defeats.

Gippsland Power’s incredible winning streak rolled on and were rewarded with three faces in the Team of the Week. Ella Stoddart (31 disposals, five marks and nine rebound 50s) was outstanding from the back half, while centre half-forward Abby Hobson (18 disposals, seven marks, four inside 50s and two goals) and midfielder/forward Chelsea Sutton (23 disposals, seven marks, four tackles and four inside 50s) were the other Power players.

In the tight contest between Bendigo Pioneers and Western Jets, each side produced two Team of the Week representatives. For the successful Pioneers, defender/midfielder Ella Jeffrey (18 disposals, four marks) was named in the back pocket, while Lacey Nihill (24 disposals, three marks, five tackles and a goal) was among the interchange players. For Western Jets, forward Kiara Boyd clunked six marks from 13 disposals and booted two goals to find her way into a forward pocket, as Tayla Olivieri (24 disposals, nine tackles, eight clearances and five inside 50s) also starred.

2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 13

B: Tatyana Perry (Oakleigh Chargers) – Ava Read (Tasmania Devils) – Ella Jeffrey (Bendigo Pioneers)
HB: Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers) – Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power) – Matilda Argus (Dandenong Stingrays)
C: Chloe Bryant (Geelong Falcons) – Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels) – Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
HF: Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers) – Abby Hobson (Gippsland Power) – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
F: Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays) – Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers) – Kiara Boyd (Western Jets)
R: Kate O’Brien (Geelong Falcons) – Mia Anderson (Tasmania Devils) (c) – Chelsea Sutton (Gippsland Power)
INT: Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils) – Katelyn Busuttil (Northern Knights) – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers) – Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers) – Tayla Olivieri (Western Jets) – Ashleigh Thatcher (Eastern Ranges)

EMG: Phoebe Hargreaves (Northern Knights) – Beth Morris (Bendigo Pioneers) – Jessica Owen (Oakleigh Chargers)