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.
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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)
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