NORTHERN Knights lead the way with three representatives in our Round 2 Talent League Team of the Week, after their thumping 58-point win over reigning premier Eastern. All 14 teams who turned out over the weekend feature in our 23-player squad. See who made the cut.

>> Round 2: Snapshot | Player of the Week

DEFENCE

B: Archie Hill (GC) – William Waller (ER) – Jake Beams (TD)
HB: Harrison Bridge (BL) – Xavier Ladbrook (GP) – Jett Flower (ER)

The Queensland academies locked horns for their opening Talent League appearance on Sunday, with a pair of prolific half-backs finding their way into our back six. Suns Academy standout Archie Hill was busy with 24 touches, 10 rebound 50s and a goal, while Lions over-ager Harrison Bridge showed his class with 21 disposals and six marks.

Eastern Ranges are represented twice in our backline despite suffering a heavy defeat to Northern. On the last line, William Waller (18 disposals, 10 rebound 50s) was reliable as the general of defence, while bottom-ager Jett Flower broke out with 25 touches and nine tackles. He started down back before earning a run on-ball.

Meanwhile, featuring for the second time in as many weeks are Gippsland Power tall Xavier Ladbrook and Tasmania Devils small Jake Beams. The former had his hands full with 16 disposals and eight marks in a 50-point loss to Dandenong, while the latter ran riot in a win over Western, picking up 35 possessions, 10 rebound 50s and a goal.

MIDFIELD

FOL: Lewis Houndsome (NK) – Tanner Armstrong (MB) – Noah Williams (GF)
C: Tom McCallum (TD) – Ethan Drever (GWV) – Albert Macgowan (SD)

A star-studded midfield features a heavy Country influence, headlined by midfielders Tanner Armstrong, Ethan Drever, and Noah Williams. Armstrong, a Richmond Next Generation Academy (NGA) member, accumulated 31 disposals, nine tackles, nine clearances and a goal as Murray settled for a thrilling draw against Bendigo.

Meanwhile over in Ballarat, Drever and Williams went head-to-head as the latter’s Geelong Falcons notched a four-point win over Greater Western Victoria. Drever very nearly proved the hero for his Rebels, booting two goals from 25 disposals and eight clearances. Williams led all comers with 32 touches and 11 tackles.

Tasmanian Tom McCallum earned his spot on the wing after collecting 25 disposals, 12 marks and two goals in the win over Western. On the opposite side, Sandringham’s Albert MacGowan is a repeat entrant after gathering 33 disposals, seven marks and a goal. Rucking this week is Lewis Houndsome, who ably filled the void of Harry Van Hattum‘s absence to contribute 27 hitouts and eight inside 50s for Northern.

FORWARD

HF: Ollie Griffin (SD) – Corey Ah-Mu (DS) – Harvie Cooke (NK)
F: Khaled El Souki (WJ) – Seb Marsic (OC) – Marcus Prasad (DS)

Spearheading our hypothetical forwardline is Player of the Week Sebastian Marsic, whose seven goals helped Oakleigh upset local rival Sandringham. The 194cm second-gamer had an entertaining shootout with Dragons over-ager Ollie Griffin, who pressed his mid-season draft case with 17 disposals, nine marks and four goals.

Bulldogs NGA forward Khaled El Souki slots into the pocket having snared three goals from his 22 touches, while the equally brilliant Marcus Prasad joins him after 24 crafty possessions and 2.3. The latter’s Dandenong teammate Corey Ah-Mu is the second key position pillar having kicked three goals from 17 touches and five marks.

It was a tough ask to leave out some prolific goalkickers this week, but Northern midfielder-forward Harvie Cooke was simply took good to deny a spot. He comes in at half-forward after causing headaches deep inside 50 and in midfield, posting 21 disposals, five clearances and two goals as the Knights thumped Eastern.

INTERCHANGE

INT: Max Downes (NK), Lachlan Hicks (WJ), Harper McCullough (OC), Matthew Owen (BL), Jackson Phillips (DS), Cody Walker (BP)

This week’s bench is full of players who would normally be walk-up starters considering the numbers they produced. Leading the pack is star prospect Cody Walker (30 disposals, 11 clearances, 10 inside 50s), whose triple-double helped drag Bendigo to a draw against Murray. Meanwhile, Western’s Lachlan Hicks led all comers this week with a whopping 39 disposals and 10 marks.

The likes of Max Downes (27 disposals, two goals) and Harper McCullough (22 disposals, 10 clearances) were genuine difference-makers for their sides, while Dandenong’s Jackson Phillips continued his rise up draft boards with 28 disposals and seven clearances. Lions midfielder Matthew Owen rounds out the bench having accumulated 29 touches, seven marks and five clearances.