DANDENONG Stingrays were back in business thanks to a big win over Bendigo Pioneers in Round 9, and experienced seventh heaven with a league-record number of Team of the Week nominees. The Stingrays boasted a ridiculous seven players in our team, with Geelong Falcons (four) the other side to register more than two players. Each of the 10 teams had at least one representative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fittingly a Stingray captained the side with our Player of the Week for Round 9, Alice Cunnington<\/a> earning the nod after an incredible 16-disposal, eight-mark and six-goal performance against the Bendigo Pioneers. Cunnington had half a dozen teammates alongside her including top-ager Lillian Snow<\/a> (16 disposals, six marks, four clearances and two goals) inside the forward 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other Stingrays were Scarlett Marsh<\/a> (13 disposals, three marks and six tackles) and Nikita Harris<\/a> (19 disposals, eight tackles, three clearance and three rebound 50s) in the defensive half, while Marlee Black<\/a> (19 disposals, five marks, six tackles, two clearances, eight inside 50s and a goal) was pushed to a wing. Ruby Geurts<\/a> and Kiara Triep<\/a> rounded out the Dandenong contingent for Round 9 on the bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Geelong Falcons had the next most representatives with four, as skipper Georgia Tyrrell<\/a> starred with a league-high 38 disposals – the only player to accrue more than 30 touches in Round 9 – as well as seven tackles and eight clearances. She was joined in the team by forward Greea McKeegan<\/a> (20 disposals, five goals), and fellow Vic Country hub members Stella Huxtable<\/a> (21 disposals, four marks and a goal) and Ava Bilyk<\/a> (23 disposals, three marks, seven clearances and six inside 50s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tasmanian ruck Taia Lette<\/a> (14 disposals, 33 hitouts, five clearances and six tackles) earned her first spot in the Team of the Week with tall utility Ava Read<\/a> (27 disposals, four marks, four inside 50s and nine rebound 50s) slotting in at centre half-back. They beat Murray Bushrangers who also had the two representatives being Nikhita Spiteri<\/a> (27 disposals, 10 marks, four clearances and four inside 50s) and Ellie Hall<\/a> (25 disposals, three marks, seven tackles, four clearances and three inside 50s) who were named on a wing and at half-back respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also splitting representatives at two apiece, Western Jets picked up their first win of the Talent League Girls season over Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels. Jets defender Alex McBride-Loane<\/a> (21 disposals, two marks, six tackles and three rebound 50s) was named at full-back, alongside GWV’s Elsie Conroy<\/a> (17 disposals, three marks and 11 rebound 50s). Isabella Davies<\/a> (29 disposals, 12 tackles, eight clearances, eight inside 50s and a goal) had the second most touches for the round and was named in the centre, while Tayla Olivieri<\/a> recorded a league-high 10 clearances and made her debut in the team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gippsland Power was the other with a couple of representatives, them being skipper Rebecca Fitzpatrick<\/a> (26 disposals, three marks, five tackles and a goal) and Baia Pugh<\/a> (22 disposals, eight tackles and two goals), while their opponents Northern Knights had midfielder Katelyn Busuttil<\/a> (24 disposals, six tackles and six clearances). Calder Cannons’ Shauna McElligott<\/a> and Bendigo Pioneers’ Ella Jeffrey<\/a> rounded out the 24-strong squad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The three emergencies chosen for Round 9 were Geelong Falcons’ Addison Baars<\/a>, Western Jets’ Jazmine Dalli<\/a> and Bendigo Pioneers’ Lacey Nihill<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2025 COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE WEEK: ROUND 9<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n B: <\/strong>Scarlett Marsh (Dandenong Stingrays) – Alex McBride-Loane (Western Jets) – Elsie Conroy (GWV Rebels) EMG: <\/strong>Addison Baars (Geelong Falcons) – Jazmine Dalli (Western Jets) – Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers)<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
HB:<\/strong> Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers) – Ava Read (Tasmania Devils) – Nikita Harris (Dandenong Stingrays)
C: <\/strong>Nikhita Spiteri (Murray Bushrangers) – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels) – Marlee Black (Dandenong Stingrays)
HF: <\/strong>Lillian Snow (Dandenong Stingrays) – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons) – Shauna McElligott (Calder Cannons)
F: <\/strong>Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays) (c) – Greea McKeegan (Geelong Falcons) – Baia Pugh (Gippsland Power)
R: <\/strong>Taia Lette (Tasmania Devils) – Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons) – Tayla Olivieri (Western Jets)
INT: <\/strong>Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons) – Katelyn Busuttil (Northern Knights) – Rebecca Fitzpatrick (Gippsland Power) – Ruby Geurts (Dandenong Stingrays) – Ella Jeffrey(Bendigo Pioneers) – Kiara Triep (Dandenong Stingrays)<\/p>\n\n\n\n