AN INCREDIBLE all-round performance from first round talent Scarlett Johnson earned the Northern Knights utility our final Rookie Me Central Player of the Week. In a match-winning performance, Johnson was the difference between her side and the Calder Cannons, with Northern breaking a run of unlucky results to get up by 17 points, 9.7 (61) to 6.8 (44).

Though she has played wing/defence this year, Johnson went to her routes starting forward and rotating onto a wing, while booting a remarkable four goals from 21 touches, 10 marks and seven inside 50s. Johnson was so dominant, that she could have kicked six goals with one touched on the line and another marked on the line.

Even so, her contribution provided the class the contest needed in what was a hard-fought scrap, clunking two contested marks and being the most consistent player with quarter-by-quarter disposal tallies of five, five, six and five. Her Knights teammate Olivia Gorman produced another big game of 29 disposals, four marks, seven tackles, six clearances and seven inside 50s in the victory as well.

On the opposition side, Chloe Baker-West made her return racking up 31 touches, four marks, eight tackles, seven clearances, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s, albeit still looking a little rusty from significant time off.

Bendigo Pioneers duo Issy Boulton (37 disposals, five marks, five tackles, four clearances, three inside 50s and nine rebound 50s) and Lacey Nihill (31 disposals, nine marks, four tackles, six clearances, five inside 50s and one goal) were both in the mix during their side’s four-point win over GWV Rebels.

As the Bushrangers duked it out with the Falcons, Murray ball-winner Ellie Hall (30 disposals, four marks, eight tackles, four clearances and nine inside 50s) and defender Rose Bell (22 disposals, six marks, five tackles and 10 rebound 50s) were both prominent, as were Geelong duo Stella Huxtable and Georgia Tyrrell who combined for 55 disposals, 20 tackles, 15 clearances and eight inside 50s.

Eastern Ranges’ Emily Rankin (31 disposals, four marks, five tackles, four clearances, five inside 50s and three rebound 50s) put up some big numbers with Vic Metro representatives Jordyn Allen and Josephine Bamford also impressive. On the losing Oakleigh side, defender Zara Neuwirth had career-best numbers of 20 touches and 10 rebound 50s.

The remaining two games between Dandenong and Gippsland, and Sandringham and Western both had an even contribution across the board, with Stingrays pair Lillian Snow and Matilda Argus strong, as was Dragons defender Isla Tucker.

2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 2 – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)
Round 3 – Jovie Skewes-Clinton (GWV Rebels)
Round 4 – Ava Deszcz (Gippsland Power)
Round 5 – Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)
Round 6 – Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)
Round 7/8 – Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
Round 9 – Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 10 – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers)
Round 11/12 – Cleo Barbakas (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 13 – Mia Anderson (Tasmania Devils)
Round 14 – Piper Dixon (Western Jets)
Round 15 – Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 16 – Scarlett Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 17 – Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils)
Round 18 – Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights)