WINNERS | 2025 Coates Talent League awards

HISTORY has repeated with a second straight Gippsland Power player taking out the Morrish Medal in tonight’s virtual ceremony. Midfielder Brodie Atkins took out the honour with 20 votes, two ahead of teammate and Coates Talent League Team of the Year captain Willem Duursma.
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Atkins follows in the footsteps of Xavier Lindsay, who nabbed the award last year. He averaged 23 disposals and seven tackles across his 15 games this year, claiming three votes on six occasions. Atkins’ form was enough to also see him break into the Vic Country side, where he played thrice.
Meanwhile, Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Chloe Bown added to her brimming medals collection by taking out the girls best and fairest award. Having earned the same honour at this year’s Under 18 National Championships, she firms as a high-end pick for the upcoming AFLW Draft.
Bown averaged 29 disposals and seven inside 50s across 13 games in what was her third season with the Chargers. She was a premiership player last year and broke new ground as a top-ager, amassing as many as 39 disposals in her quarter final outing, which also yielded a high of three goals.

2025 MORRISH MEDAL LEADERBOARD
1. Brodie Atkins (Gippsland Power) – 20 votes
2. Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power) – 18
3. Charlie McKinnon (GWV Rebels) – 17
4. Jos Landy (Eastern Ranges) – 14
5. Jack Dalton (Sandringham Dragons) – 12
2025 CTL GIRLS B&F LEADERBOARD
1. Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) – 24 votes
2. Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels) – 20
3. Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers) – 19
4. Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights) – 19
eq. 5. Issy Boulton (Bendigo Pioneers) – 12
eq. 5. Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons) – 12

The Coates Talent League Team of the Year was also revealed on Wednesday night, captained by Duursma. Form from the Talent League, National Championships, and even state league berths were considered when selecting the 24-player team, which features nine All-Australians.
All 13 full-time regions are represented, with the Eastern Ranges and Murray Bushrangers boasting a high of three members. Eastern is preparing to do battle with three-time reigning premiers Sandringham Dragons in Saturday’s Grand Final, set to get underway at 1:00pm at IKON Park.
2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE BOYS TOTY
B: Kye Fincher – Harry Dean – Xavier Taylor
HB: Sam Grlj – Willem Duursma (c) – Josh Lindsay
C: Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves – Riley Onley – Thomas McGuane
HF: Adam Sweid – Cooper Duff-Tytler – Cody Walker
F: Jesse Mellor – Charlie McKinnon – Lachy Dovaston
FOL: Zac Harding – Oliver Greeves – Brodie Atkins
INT: Thomas Burton, Talor Byrne, Jack Dalton, Jack Miller, Sebastian Murphy, Callum Smith
>> 2025 Rookie Me Central Team of the Year
The girls Team of the Year also consists of 24 players, and was compiled with the same selection criteria in mind. Bown captains the side and features on the followers line, as one of three Chargers in the squad. Grand Finalists Eastern Ranges and Dandenong Stingrays also boast an equal-high of three representatives in the side, making up strong Vic Metro and Country contingents. Three Tasmanians earned selection, too, making up a group of four Allies to make the cut.
2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TOTY
B: Ella Jeffrey – Zara Neuwirth – Alex McBride-Loane
HB: Chloe Baker-West – Mizuki Brothwell – Jordyn Allen
C: Alice Cunnington – Tayla McMillan – Scarlett Johnson
HF: Maggie Johnstone – Abby Hobson – Mischa Barwin
F: Jovie Skewes-Clinton – Bailee Martin – Majella Day
FOL: Josie Bamford – Chloe Bown (c) – Priya Bowering
INT: Mia Anderson, Nalu Brothwell, Rain Dodd, Olivia Gorman, Georgia Tyrrell, Macy Watkins
2025 BOYS PERSONAL GROWTH AWARD
Winner: Phoenix Janover (Sandringham Dragons)
Finalists: Jesse Mellor (Geelong Falcons), Mason Porter (Eastern Ranges), Tom Sullivan (Dandenong Stingrays), Jonah Walker (Gippsland Power)
2025 GIRLS PERSONAL GROWTH AWARD
Winner: Elsie Day (GWV Rebels)
Finalists: Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers), Eliza Fraser (Bendigo Pioneers), Charlotte Hewitson (Dandenong Stingrays)