CALDER Cannons, Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels and Northern Knights have all earned thee players in our Draft Central NAB League Girls Team of the Week for Round 6 after impressive wins over the weekend. There were 12 of the 13 sides in action, with this week’s team still only containing the full-time sides (rather than including Northern Academy representatives) for consistency’s sake throughout each week. Outside the top three featured teams, six sides all had two players in the team this week, with winners Oakleigh Chargers and Tasmania Devils, and losers Dandenong Stingrays Eastern Ranges, Geelong Falcons and Western Jets also recording two players this time. Gippsland Power, Murray Bushrangers and Sandringham Dragons had even performances across the board, but earned a single standout player to make the Team of the Week for Round 6. The team also features six Draft Central Team of the Week debutants who were yet to feature in a team this season.

Northern Knights had the comeback win of the season, almost down and out to run over the top of Eastern Ranges in the final term. The Knights had three players in the side this week, with Player of the Week runner-up Ava Jordan named vice-captain and on-ball for her match-winning efforts with two goals. At full-back is Tarrah Delgado whose move into the middle also swayed the game in the Knights’ favour, while Ella Smallacombe was a terrific leading target up forward. In such a close game on the day, Eastern Ranges also had two players making the side, with lively left-footer Alyssia Pisano in a pocket, and the classy Keeley Sherar making it onto the bench due to the strength of the midfield this week. Georgia Campbell was another player close to forcing her way into the side again.

GWV Rebels had plenty of names that could have made the side this week, but Kalani Scoullar picked up the most hitouts of any player this round and took it up to a quality opponent, to earn the starting ruck spot in the team. In defence, Nyakoat Dojiok and Chloe Leonard return to the side to provide plenty of run out of the back half which helped the Rebels put a win on the board. Goalsneak Paige Scott was one of the three emergencies, while Lilli Condon was again agonisingly close to making it after an impressive effort. They knocked off the Western Jets at MARS Stadium, and Charlotte Baskaran assumed her usual role on the wing, while Jemima Woods‘ efforts see her land on the bench and provide back-up ruck support to Scoullar in this hypothetical team.

Calder Cannons’ regular Team of the Week nominee Georgie Prespakis is back again, but this time she is joined by a couple of new faces in Olivia Manfre and Neve Crowley. Manfre played her best game of the season in the midfield, while Crowley slotted three goals as a target up forward. Their opponents Gippsland Power had the one nominee in Lily-Rose Williamson, though Grace Matser and Sunday Brisbane were both very close to making it into the side. Also close to making it into the side was emergency Grace Hay, with the Murray Bushrangers’ defender putting in a strong effort, but the depth of defence this week remarkable, and instead was named as an emergency. Bushrangers’ winger Aurora Smith did make it into the team after another eye-catching performance running around against the GIANTS Academy.

Down on the Apple Isle, Tasmania Devils duo Meghan Gaffney (wing) and Jemma Webster (interchange) were the representatives from the winning Devils side. Webster recorded back-to-back Team of the Week nominations, with Ella Maurer again close to squeezing in, named as an emergency again after a strong effort. They were too strong for Dandenong Stingrays who still had a couple of standouts in the lightning quick Amber Clarke, and reliable defender Zoe Hill who booked their places in the team. While that match was happening, Geelong Falcons had just got down to Sydney Swans Academy, though Tess Craven and Poppy Schaap were outstanding in the loss. Craven earned our Draft Central NAB League Girls Player of the Week for Round 6, and will captain the side for this week, while Schaap will start at half-forward to provide some pressure in attack.

Rounding out the side was the Thursday night blockbuster between Oakleigh Chargers and Sandringham Dragons, with a total of three representatives in the team following an even split across the board. Stella Reid will return to half-back after another huge effort, while fellow rebounder Brooke Vickers also made the side, named on the bench. For the Dragons, Sofia Hurley earned a spot in the team, could not quite squeeze into the midfield but has been named at half-forward given her deserving starting status. Tayla Jones was another Dragon who came close to making the team this round.

DRAFT CENTRAL NAB LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 6

B: Lily-Rose Williamson (GP) – Tarrah Delgado (NK) – Zoe Hill (DS)
HB: Stella Reid (OC) – Nyakoat Dojiok (GWV) – Chloe Leonard (GWV)
C: Meghan Gaffney (TD) – Georgie Prespakis (CC) – Charlotte Baskaran (WJ)
HF: Poppy Schaap (GF) – Ella Smallacombe (NK) – Sofia Hurley (SD)
F: Amber Clarke (DS) – Neve Crowley (CC) – Alyssia Pisano (ER)
R: Kalani Scoullar (GWV) –  Tess Craven (GF) (c) – Ava Jordan (NK) (vc)
INT: Olivia Manfre (CC) – Keeley Sherar (ER) – Aurora Smith (MB) – Brooke Vickers (OC) – Jemma Webster (TD) – Jemima Woods (WJ)

EMG: Grace Hay (MB) – Ella Maurer (TD) – Paige Scott (GWV)

While we had to remain consistent with only naming the NAB League Girls full-time sides to ensure each week had 24 players from those teams for our end of year Team of the Year, it is worth mentioning the Northern Academy members who would have found a way into the team. Up forward, GIANTS duo Hayley Macdonald and the versatile Cynthia Hamilton were lively with a couple of goals each, while Jayde Hamilton was one of the biggest ball winners for the round. For the Swans, Jessica Doyle would have easily made it into the front six after her two goals, while Ella Heads, Danika Spamer and Ruby Sargent-Wilson were the other Swans players who really stood out in an even team spread.