Bendigo Pioneers 2024 Coates Talent League girls list breakdown
The Bendigo Pioneers girls team were one of the standouts last year with three players drafted to AFLW. We analyse every player in the 2024 squad.
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The Bendigo Pioneers girls team is hoping last year’s success at the AFL women’s draft, which made them the best country Coates Talent League team, can be replicated this year.
And the program believes it has the depth and girls to do it again.
The Pioneers had three players selected in the AFL women’s draft, the most out of the four Victoria Country programs.
Lila Keck (pick seven), Bridie O’Rourke (pick 23) and Keely Fullerton (pick 36) all found homes at AFLW clubs.
Pioneers coach Whitney Kennedy said the success was testament to the program the club did.
“It did validate we can take great belief and confidence in our processes,” she said.
“It might not have been reflective on the scoreboard but in the background the work we were doing was valuable and it set the three girls up incredibly well (to be drafted)
“We hope throughout that phase last year we were setting this year’s crop up well and then we get another 12 months under their belt and continue what we’ve done.”
Kennedy said this year’s talent is capable of great things.
“We’re really confident with the talent and the depth of talent that we’ve got this season within the playing group and the girls list.
“We’ll keep on developing them not only as footballers but as players and individuals as well and setting them up so at the end of the year the prospects we’ve got are held in high regard by AFL clubs.”
Here is a look at all the players in the Pioneers team for this year as coach Kennedy breaks them all down.
Jemmika Douglas, Bambill
Reads the play well, is competitive and her defensive work is a key strength.
Demi Zanoni, Bambill
Is a dual sport player who is very athletic. We are likely to see her play later in the season.
Lola Modoo, Bambill
A strong and powerful player who reads the play well defensively. She loves to rebound out of defensive 50 aggressively.
Lavinia Cox, Eaglehawk
An athletic, dual sport player who also plays basketball. She is strong in the fundamental skills, particularly kicking, which is her key strength. She delivers the ball into the inside 50 beautifully.
Sienna Hobbs, Eaglehawk
A key forward who is likely to play as well in the ruck. Her overhead marking and goal sense is exciting to watch.
Shaleah Cooper, Echuca
A competitive player. Her kicking is very well refined.
Kasey Camera, Gol Gol
A small forward who is dangerous around goal.
Gabby Drage, Golden Square
A key forward who thrives off hitting the scoreboard. Watch out for her goal kicking routine.
Gemma Roberts, Golden Square
She has great game knowledge and her understanding of the game is a key strength. A good user of the ball by foot.
Jayda Lockwood, Golden Square
A quick player who loves to burst away from traffic by foot and gain metres.
Eliza Coutts, Kyneton
Has an athletics background and is an impressive vertical jump. She has shown a good ability to work well defensively throughout pre-season.
Charlotte Pennefather, Kyneton
Can play as a small at either end of the ground and displays good speed endurance.
Jasmine Short, Kyneton
A tall, athletic and competitive player. She has displayed excellent growth and development over the past 12 months.
Ella Jeffrey, Kyneton
A strong, powerful, competitive player with very impressive fundamentals. In particular her kicking ability is great.
Alexis Gregor, Moama
A tall, strong overhead player with a thumping kick. She could be a key position player at either end of the ground.
Kaitlyn Davidson, Moama
Has displayed some great improvements in her fundamental skills and fitness since coming into the program late last year. Competitive.
Bree Church, Moama
Has good running ability, which allows her to get to repeat contests around the ground. Has displayed a positive level of development since coming into the program late last year.
Matilda Cooke, Moama
Is a small who can play at either end of the ground. She’s always willing to get into a contest at ground level.
Ella Plattfuss, Moama
Has had a really good pre-season and her training intensity is very good. She is a great teammate who is always willing to do the hard work in order to help out and win a contest.
Issy Boulton, Nyah Nyah West
Is a dual sport athlete. Boulton also plays cricket. She is a quick small forward who can be dangerous inside 50.
Ava Bibby, Sandhurst
She is a tall ruck who is a beautiful kick. Bibby is an excellent teammate who loves the game.
Charlotte Scanlon, Sandhurst
A competitive player who loves to rebound and drive the ball forwards. She is always happy to complete follow up work.
Ava Franklin, Sandhurst
A tough, competitive player who is always willing to do the hard work at ground level and lay a tackle. She is a brilliant teammate.
Olivia Lacy, Sandhurst
She is smooth and slick off halfback with beautiful kicking execution. She will provide plenty of stability and confidence coming out of defensive 50.
Scout Carmody, Sandhurst
Is a fast and explosive player with ball in hand.
Jerrah Caruso, Shepparton Swans
She is a small forward who provides x-factor inside her own attacking 50.
Tessa Skipper, Strathfieldsaye
She is a committed player who has worked hard on developing the fundamentals of her game. She is competitive and strong.
Shanika Kirby-Wilson, Werrimul
She is quick and explosive. Kirby-Wilson loves to explode off half back and drive the ball forwards.
Caitlin Evans, White Hills
She has strong, good game knowledge and understanding. Evans will benefit from an additional season in the Talent League, combined with training one night per week with Essendon VFL women’s side.
Lucia Painter, White Hills
A strong, powerful and explosive player who is very good at ground level and in contested situations. Is generally an efficient ball user.
Nadia Peebles, White Hills
She is quick and can work well both offensively and defensively.
Sasha Pearce, White Hills
She is a tall, key ruck and has the ability to cover the ground exceptionally well. She is also beginning to see more high speed in her game.
Tahlia Kendall, White Hills
She is a competitive player who is brilliant in one-on-one battles. Kendall is also a strong tackler.
Nevaeh Roberts, Woorinen
She is a dual athlete, also competing in netball. Roberts is a raw talent so looking forward to seeing how much development we can achieve.
Sam Johnston, Woorinen
She is a tall player and has returned to our program as a big improver. Johnston is keen to learn and develop further, leading goal kicker at local level last season.
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