A HANDFUL of Bendigo Pioneers feature in our Coates Talent League Team of the Week after their side’s thumping 111-point victory over Murray. Geelong Falcons also won big to contribute four players to the 24-player squad, which has a representative from all 10 regions who took the field in Round 15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
>> CTL Round 15:<\/strong> Snapshot<\/a> | Player of the Week<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n B: <\/strong>Tom Evans (BP) – Gus Papal (CC) – Kobe George (GF) Arguably the biggest selection squeeze came in defence this week, with plenty of accumulators filling their boots. No player did so more than Bendigo Pioneers over-ager Tom Evans<\/a>, who racked up 38 disposals for the second game running, taking his season average up to 30.7 in 10 appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oakleigh’s Aaron Sharkie<\/a> made a statement with 26 touches and six rebound 50s having been rotated out of the Vic Metro side, although couldn’t help the Chargers overcome Greater Western Victoria. He still beat out a pair of Rebels for that final spot at half-back, resigning them to the bench this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Geelong Falcons boast two representatives in the backline. Tall utility Jett Elek<\/a> with 16 disposals and three marks, potentially pushing for a Vic Country recall. Over-age teammate Kobe George<\/a> led all comers in the Falcons’ win over Western, gathering 31 disposals and eight marks with plenty of run-and-carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Joining Elek in the key position posts is Calder high-flyer Gus Papal<\/a>, who rose for eight marks among his 18 disposals in an upset win over Gippsland. Dandenong bottom-ager Gus Kennedy<\/a> also made the cut for his 27 disposals and seven rebound 50s in a move to defence, helping set up the Stingrays’ play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n FOL: <\/strong>Zaydyn Lockwood (BP) – Zac O\u2019Keefe (GP) – Sonny Beasy (BP) The midfield is headlined by Zac O’Keefe<\/a> (Gippsland) and Sam Harris<\/a> (Calder), who enjoyed a great battle in the Cannons’ upset win. O’Keefe picked up a game-high 27 disposals, while 2026 North Melbourne father-son hopeful, Harris kicked a clutch late goal from his 26 touches and nine marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the weekend’s most dominant performances came from over-age Bendigo ruck Zaydyn Lockwood<\/a>. The athletic 198cm talent posted 29 disposals, 10 marks, eight tackles and 24 hitouts in Bendigo’s resounding win over Murray, standing out with his aerial ability around the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teammate Sonny Beasy<\/a> was another who caught the eye, collecting a personal-best 24 disposals, seven marks, seven inside 50s and two goals. The bottom-ager has been building since returning to the fold in Round 13 and utilised his penetrative left-foot kicking to open Murray up at Queen Elizabeth Oval.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was impossible to choose just one of the outstanding wingmen from Sandringham’s win over Dandenong. Dragons bottom-ager Gus Teixeira<\/a> earned his spot with 24 disposals, eight marks and eight inside 50s alongside Stingrays top-ager Jasper Russell<\/a> (32 disposals, 12 marks, seven rebound 50s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n HF: <\/strong>Angus Ford (GF) – Jack Pickett (GF) – Jonty Davis (BP) Player of the Week Jack Pickett<\/a> spearheads the attack on the back of his seven-goal haul against Western. The bottom-ager ran at 100 per cent efficiency from 10 touches and clunked six marks. He lines up next to teammate Angus Ford<\/a>, who was lively with 20 disposals, six marks and four goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respective five-goal hauls saw mercurial Sandringham bottom-ager Arki Butler<\/a> and stay-at-home GWV top-ager Charlie McKinnon<\/a> essentially select themselves on the full forward line. McKinnon leads the competition for goals with 36 in nine games, boasting 14 more majors than the next best player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet another bottom-ager in the squad is Jackson Watkins<\/a>, who locked in a spot with six marks and three goals for Calder. The forwardline is rounded out by yet another Pioneer in Jonty Davis<\/a>, who provided plenty of energy and run en route to racking up 29 disposals, eight marks and a goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n INT: <\/strong>Tanner Armstrong (MB), Riley Holloway (GWV), Jaidi Jackson-Leahy (BP), Sam Niklaus (GWV), Jai Saxena (OC), Billy Wigmore (WJ)<\/p>\n\n\n\n GWV Rebels pair Riley Holloway<\/a> and Sam Niklaus<\/a> were too good across half-back to be denied a spot in the squad, so make their way in off the bench. Similar can be said for Oakleigh’s Jai Saxena<\/a> off a three-goal haul, while Bendigo’s Jaidi Jackson-Leahy<\/a> very nearly nabbed a starting wing spot. Bottom-agers Billy Wigmore<\/a> (Western) and Tanner Armstrong<\/a> (Murray) also made the cut for standing tall in tough losses. Both are the sole representatives from their respective regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nDEFENCE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HB: <\/strong>Aaron Sharkie (OC) – Jett Elek (GF) – Gus Kennedy (DS)<\/p>\n\n\n\nMIDFIELD<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
C: <\/strong>Jasper Russell (DS) – Sam Harris (CC) – Gus Teixeira (SD)<\/p>\n\n\n\nFORWARDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
F: <\/strong>Arki Butler (SD) – Charlie McKinnon (GWV) – Jackson Watkins (CC)<\/p>\n\n\n\nINTERCHANGE<\/h2>\n\n\n\n