NAB League Girls: Oakleigh Chargers finalise list ahead of 2022 season

An exciting mix of talent and emerging stars will fuel the Oakleigh Chargers’ premiership defence in the 2022 NAB League Girls season.

Oakleigh Chargers celebrate winning the 2021 NAB League Girls premiership. Picture: Cameron Grimes/AFL Photos

Reigning premiers Oakleigh Chargers have turned into the hunted going into the 2022 NAB League Girls season.

But that’s just fine, according to Chargers regional manager Jy Bond.

“It’s good for our girls to experience that different mindset this year,” he said.

“It puts a bit more pressure on the girls which is good, for those girls who want to be drafted.”

Oakleigh Chargers lost only one game last in 2021 as they hoisted the premiership flag.

A resounding 37-point win over Geelong Falcons in the grand final capped a dream season.

The excitement continued for the Chargers when captain Charlie Rowbottom was the number one pick in the AFLW draft in July, joining Gold Coast.

Seven months on and the Oakleigh Chargers are ready to put it all on the line again.

Bond said the 2022 Chargers would be driven by a mix of experience, talent and emerging stars.

He said opportunities will abound at Oakleigh.

“We’ve retained 90 percent of the list and the girls who played in that grand final team,” Bond said.

“We’ll still be fairly strong, hopefully, but we will bring in a lot of younger girls and give them an opportunity which is really exciting.”

AFL Academy member Jasmine Fleming will be a key player for the Chargers again this year.

The daughter of Australian cricket great Damien Fleming was one of the Chargers’ best players in last season’s grand final and is touted as a top 10 pick in this year’s AFLW Draft.

“She would arguably be one of the top talents in the NAB League if not the country at the moment,” Bond said.

“She’s an exceptional athlete. She plays a very high level of cricket, too, so she’ll have a decision to make.

“But she’s loving her footy and she’s a fantastic player so we are very fortunate to have her.”

The talented Jemma Rigoni, daughter of former Melbourne player Guy Rigoni, is on the Chargers’ list although she will miss the entire season after having a knee reconstruction.

She’s already attracted interest from the Demons.

“She did well enough to show her talents last year,” Bond said.

“She got injured in the preliminary final and missed the grand final.”

Lily Hart, Amelie Smith and Charlotte Taylor are other members of the Chargers squad who have earned selection in the Vic Metro under 19 hub this season.

They will be key figures as the Chargers look to hit the ground running, starting on Sunday with an away game against Northern Knights at Bundoora.

As for the suggestion Oakleigh Chargers go into the season as favourites, Bond said the girls were just focused on having fun.

“We don’t want to put any pressure on ourselves,” he said.

“The girls just want to have fun. As long as they develop over summer and have fun hopefully the wins will come.

“I think a lot of the other teams will have improved over summer as well.”

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS NAB LEAGUE GIRLS SQUAD

1 Lily Hart, Canterbury

2 Grace Osborne, Canterbury Cobras

3 Keeley James, St Mary’s Salesian 

4 Alexandra McCulloch, Old Scotch/Ruyton

5 Abbey Vincino, Ashburton

6 Ruby Puls, Bulleen

7 Charlotte Taylor, Old Marcellin

8 Emily Harvey, Glen Waverley Rovers

9 Charlotte Van der Vlies, Blackburn

10 Jasmine Fleming, Ashburton

11 Zara Klein, Glen Waverley Rovers

12 Catia Coccia, Kew Rovers

13 Lucia Bancovich, East Malvern

14 Jorja Jackson, Camberwell Sharks

15 Amelie Smith, Scotch Stars

16 Erin Woodford, Blackburn/Box Hill High

17 Lucy Cronin, Kew Comets

18 Rianna Thiele, Surrey Park

19 Jade McCormack, Montrose

20 Felicity Vanin, Camberwell Sharks

21 Sarah Poustie, Kew Comets

22 Alli Libertone, Kew Bears

23 Caitlin Matthews, Camberwell

24 Holly Kenealy, East Malvern

26 Gabriella Rawlings, Ashburton

27 Kristen Smith, Kew Rovers

28 Sienna Tallariti, Whitehorse Colts

29 Lucinda Smith, Vermont

30 Charlotte Brewer, Caulfield

31 Lara Hausegger, Doncaster

32 Emily Tassiopoulos, Old Scotch

33 Maggie Mahony, Glen Iris

34 Lily Skinner, Caulfield

35 Roxy Maslin, Richmond JFC

36 Amy Cariss-Brett, Kew Rovers

37 Ella Royal, Templestow

38 Jamie Piperkos, Whitehorse Colts

39 Emma Robbins, Camberwell Sharks

40 Laiema Bosenavulagi, Waverley Park Hawks

41 Sophie James, St Peters

44 Carmen Lia Smith, Richmond JFC

45 Mikayla Lee, Donvale

46 Lara Stevens, Kew Rovers

47 Anabelle Gangi, Kew Comets

48 Amelie Gladman, Surrey Park

47 Jacinta Baxter, Vermont

48 Ellie Brown, Kew Rovers

49 Maiya Stobie, Kew Rovers

50 Evie King, Kew Comets

Mia Clift, Kew Comets

Jemma Rigoni, Ashburton/Siena

Sarah Cato, Old Scotch

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS

Fixture: Northern (A), Sandringham (A), Tasmania (A), Geelong (A), Eastern (A), GWV (A), Lions Academy (N), Dandenong (A), bye, Calder (A)