DANDENONG Stingrays and Geelong Falcons have recorded the most members in the Draft Central NAB League Girls Team of the Week for Round 3, following terrific victories. In one of the most even spreads thus far, only Bendigo Pioneers and Western Jets had one player in the team, while the other eight sides contributed two players.

Stingrays’ full-back Zoe Hill makes the team for the third consecutive week, joined in this week’s side by fellow defender Brooke Vernon, and St Kilda pre-listed recruit, Isabella Shannon. For the Falcons, Paige Sheppard and Laura Gardiner slot onto the wings, while Mia Skinner‘s four goals ensure she makes the forward line. Also in attack is forward pocket regular Britney Gutknecht, who like Hill, makes her third consecutive side. Gutknecht is joined in the team by Gabby Newton who has been named in midfield. The other two players to have been named in each Team of the Week so far, are Western Jets’ captain, Elisabeth Georgostathis and Calder Cannons’ Georgie Prespakis – who this week is joined in the side by teammate Krystel Petrevski.

There are plenty of debutants in the Round 3 Team of the Week, with Gippsland Power defenders, Maddison Shaw and Matilda Van Berkel both making the side, as did Eastern Ranges forwards, Riley Hall and Emma Horne. Oakleigh Chargers onballer, Charlie Rowbottom – sister of Sydney’s James – had her best game so far, named in the side with the slick Gemma Lagioia. Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels ruck, Isabelle Rustman also makes her debut in Team of the Week, joined by Team of the Week regular, Sophie Molan.

Olivia Barber is the presence at full forward after a couple of goals on the weekend, with the Murray Bushrangers’ bottom-ager named for the first time this year, while midfielder Abby Favell backs up her debut from Round 2. Two players who have become comfortable with the Draft Central Team of the Week are Sandringham Dragons duo, Alice Burke and Sarah Hartwig. Hartwig was named in the Team of the Week in Round 1 and is back at centre half-back again this week, while Burke was named for the second time this year for her terrific effort through midfield.

Round 3 was a tough round to pick a side, with Bendigo Pioneers’ Brooke Hards, Dandenong Stingrays’ Tyanna Smith, GWV Rebels’ Ella Wood, Western Jets’ Isabella Grant and Eastern Ranges’ Tarni Brown all in contention for a place in the team, but the strength of the midfielders this week was unbelievable.