A DOMINANT performance from Dandenong Stingrays rewarded the top seeded country side with four representatives in our last Coates Talent League Girls Team of the Week for Round 18. The Stingrays lead the lead in that regard, with fellow winners Bendigo Pioneers, Eastern Ranges and Northern Knights picking up a trio of talents, with 11 of the 12 regions in action featuring.

Our Round 18 skipper was Northern’s Scarlett Johnson who kicked four goals from 21 disposals and 10 marks, having a huge game to cap off an enormous 2025 season. She was one of three Knights in the side, with ruck Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb (17 disposals, six marks, 22 hitouts and three inside 50s) and and midfielder Olivia Gorman (29 disposals, four marks, seven tackles, six clearances and seven inside 50s) named around the ball.

The other starting midfielder was Geelong Falcons’ Stella Huxtable who made the team alongside teammate and skipper Georgia Tyrrell. The pair combined for 55 disposals, 20 tackles, 15 clearances and eight inside 50s in the tough loss to Murray Bushrangers. On the opposing side, Rose Bell was named in defence after a 22-disposal, six-mark, five-tackle and 10-rebound 50 effort, while tackling machine Nikhita Spiteri was also in the side.

Dandenong’s huge victory over Gippsland yielded a league-high four players as Evelyn Connolly booted two goals up forward, as Nalu Brothwell and Lillian Snow were named next to each other at half-forward. On the bench, Matilda Argus earned her place following a hard-running performance, with opposing midfielder Lily Milner and versatile utility Ella Stoddart also in the 24-strong squad.

Though they only won in the dying moments, Bendigo Pioneers had a stack of top-end performers who stepped up in the 19-player victory over Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels. Issy Boulton (37 disposals, five marks, five tackles, four clearances, three inside 50s and nine rebound 50s) racked the ball up with Lacey Nihill (31 disposals, nine marks, four tackles, six clearances, five inside 50s and a goal) and Olivia Lacy (21 disposals, seven marks, nine tackles, four inside 50s and a goal).

Eastern Ranges’ breakthrough win over Oakleigh Chargers saw the minor premiers pick up three representatives with National Academy member Jordyn Allen kicking two classy goals from 20 touches, three clearances, six inside 50s and four rebound 50s, while midfielder Emily Rankin had a game-high 31 disposals. Ruck Josephine Bamford impressed in the ruck to earn a spot on the interchange. For the Chargers, key defender Zara Neuwirth racked up a season-high 20 disposals and 10 rebound 50s.

Of the remaining starting players, opposing defenders Isla Tucker (19 disposals, six marks and five rebound 50s) and Alex McBride-Loane (18 disposals, five tackles and six rebound 50s) were named in the back six. Completing the full squad was a pair of Calder Cannons with Shauna McElligott named in the forward pocket after booting two goals, while Chloe Baker-West had 31 touches in her return game and included on the bench.

2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 18

B: Isla Tucker (Sandringham Dragons) – Zara Neuwirth (Oakleigh Chargers) – Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers)
HB: Issy Boulton (Bendigo Pioneers) – Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets) – Olivia Lacy (Bendigo Pioneers)
C: Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons) – Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
HF: Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights) (c) – Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays) – Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays)
F: Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power) – Evelyn Connolly (Dandenong Stingrays) – Shauna McElligott (Calder Cannons)
R: Isobella Hishongwa-Gibb (Northern Knights) – Emily Rankin (Eastern Rankin) – Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights)
INT: Matilda Argus (Dandenong Stingrays) – Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons) – Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges) – Lily Milner (Gippsland Power) – Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers) – Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)

EMG: Addison Baars (Geelong Falcons) – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers) – Isabella Mazzei (Oakleigh Chargers)