A NEW Coates Talent League season means our first Team of the Week for 2024 has been locked in, after an eventful opening round over the weekend. The bumper Oakleigh-Eastern clash, which featured a handful of top 10 prospects, produced a high of six players to the squad. See who made the cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
>> Snapshot:<\/strong> 2024 Coates Talent League – Round 1<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n B: <\/strong>Cooper Trembath (ER) – Matt Whitlock (MB) – Wil Rantall (GWV) The talls are a key feature of this week’s defence, with Matt Whitlock<\/a> (197cm), Luke Trainor<\/a> (194cm), Wil Rantall<\/a> (192cm), and Cooper Trembath<\/a> (193cm) all starting their seasons on high notes. Trainor’s ball use at centre half-back was particularly outstanding in Sandringham’s win over Calder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rantall and Whitlock showcased their athleticism as Greater Western Victoria and Murray both suffered losses, while over-ager Trembath was dominant aerially with seven marks as Eastern beat Oakleigh. All together, they’d be hard to beat and help turn defence into attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A couple of Country flankers light up the half-back line. Bendigo’s Tobie Travaglia<\/a> racked up 30 touches and 10 marks to earn his spot, while Dandenong dasher Ben Hopkins<\/a> had 27 and five. Travaglia also plied his trade at centre bounces to be one of the more impactful players afield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n FOL: <\/strong>Louis Emmett (OC) – Jagga Smith (OC) – Christian Moraes (ER) This week’s centre bounce quartet comprises solely of players from the Oakleigh-Eastern clash. The side’s centrepiece is captain and Player of the Week Josh Smillie<\/a>, who stood up when it mattered to post 24 disposals and two goals in the Ranges’ 28-point win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He’s joined by teammate Christian Moraes<\/a> (25 disposals, two goals) and fellow top 10 prospect Jagga Smith<\/a> in the middle, while Chargers ruck Louis Emmett<\/a> takes up the ruck duties. A renowned rower, Emmett took three marks and won a game-high 18 hitouts in the losing side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The wings boast plenty of class in Round 1, with arguably no prospect personifying that trait quite like Sandringham’s Murphy Reid<\/a>. Playing inside and out, he collected 28 disposals and 10 marks. Northern’s Lucas McInerney<\/a> matched his disposal haul and kicked two goals to slot in on the opposite side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n HF: <\/strong>Joshua Murphy (MB) – Thomas Sims (NK) – Harvey Langford (DS) There are plenty of goals among the forwards this week, headlined by 12 majors shared equally between a trio of Murray Bushrangers. Tall Jack Whitlock<\/a> was the centrepiece of his side’s win over Tasmania alongside the powerful Joshua Murphy<\/a> and crafty Joe Berry<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Northern Knights ruck-forward Thomas Sims<\/a> snagged a round-high five goals, including three in a row to help turn the game in term three. The 199cm top-ager clunked seven grabs with a clean set of hands and converted his chances over the mark with aplomb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rounding out the starting side, Dandenong Stingrays co-captain Harvey Langford<\/a> showcased a vice-like set of hands as he booted three goals from 21 disposals against Geelong. Bendigo’s James Barrat<\/a> also gets the not for snaring three goals from eight scoring shots in a win.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n INT: <\/strong>Tom Gross (OC), Lachlan Hogan (BP), Damon Hollow (CC), Lachie Jaques (GF), Zak Johnson (NK), Nathaniel Sulzberger (SD)<\/p>\n\n\n\n A tight battle for midfield spots has spilt over to the bench, which includes Vic Metro guns Tom Gross<\/a> and Zak Johnson<\/a>. Potential Allies squad inclusion Nathaniel Sulzberger<\/a> showcased his power to earn a spot, while Calder captain Damon Hollow<\/a> played a key role through the middle to also be recognised. Bendigo’s Lachlan Hogan<\/a> and Geelong’s Lachie Jaques<\/a> racked up the ball down back to get nods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nDEFENCE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HB: <\/strong>Tobie Travaglia (BP) – Luke Trainor (SD) – Ben Hopkins (DS)<\/p>\n\n\n\nMIDFIELD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
C: <\/strong>Lucas McInerney (NK) – Josh Smillie (ER) – Murphy Reid (SD)<\/p>\n\n\n\nFORWARD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
F: <\/strong>James Barrat (BP) – Jack Whitlock (MB) – Joe Berry (MB)<\/p>\n\n\n\nINTERCHANGE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n