Live stream: Gippsland Power host Greater Western Victoria Rebels in boys/girls Coates League twin bill

Greater Western Victoria boys continued their late season resurgence with a big win, while Gippsland Power girls showed off their strength in depth. Check out the boys and girls REPLAYS.

Greater Western Victoria Rebels are on the move.

After a slow start to the season, the boys are suddenly hiting top form in the Coates Talent League.

The 103-79 success over Gippsland Power was their third win in four games and keeps them alive in the race for the finals. Two wins in their final games against Oakleigh Chargers and leaders Geelong Falcons and anything is possible.

This victory was built around outstanding first half performances at both ends of the ground.

While the forwards did their part by kicking nine goals, the defence was equally as effective, even keeping the Power to a solitary point in the second quarter.

GWV Rebels v Gippsland Power (Girls)—AFL Coates Talent League Round 15

Top-four Coates League girls aspirants Gippsland Power flexed their considerable muscle to trounce Greater Western Victoria Rebels by 70 points on Saturday.

Ava Deszcz and Ella Stoddart kicked three goals apiece while Ashley Centra, Acacia Sutton and Mia Smith-Clark added two each as the Power landed 15 goals and nearly cleared the century mark.

PREVIEW

Greater Western Victoria Rebels hope the inclusion of up to 14 players to their squad in the last week or so will be the catalyst for a late Coates Talent League boys finals run.

It’s been a tough season for the Rebels with a host of their best players out either through injury, playing for Victoria Country at the nationals or other commitments.

On Saturday, they take on a Gippsland Power side who are now entrenched in the top five on the back of two very important wins.

Catch the action from the boys/girls double header LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV from 11.30am. Check the LIVE STREAM schedule below for full details.

At times, the Rebels have missed more than half of their regular players and they won just one of their first nine matches.

Recently though, players have returned and they have won two of their past three matches.

They currently sit 12th on the ladder.

Ollie Hannaford ’has had a really good year’.

It should have been three from three, but inaccuracy cost them dearly against Calder Cannons last weekend.

“We should have won last week, we kicked ourselves out of it, especially early,” Rebels coach David Loader said.

“About seven minutes to go before halftime we’d kick 3.9 and they’d kicked 1.2.

“Calder got up and running in the second half.”

Loader said 10 players returned for the clash against the Cannons and most will be back in action against the Power.

The team will also welcome back AFL draft prospect Floyd Burmeister this week. Potential top-10 draft pick, Sam Lalor, is a likely inclusion against Oakleigh Chargers the following week.

“He’s (Burmeister) had a fantastic year,” Loader said.

“He’s really grown into his role for a guy who has played hardly any footy.”

Loader was full of praise for a handful of players who have stepped up to make a real mark.

Floyd Burmeister (left) facing WA earlier this year.

“Harry Charleson has been awesome this year as a rebounding half back,” he said.

“And Ollie Hannaford has had a really good year. He played the three national games.

“We’ve got Jonty Faull and Rhys Unwin back in the past couple of weeks.

“Their best is still in front of them, but both have had impact at national level.”

Loader said the Power would provide a stern test.

“Gippsland have got a coupe of awesome midfielders,” Loader said.

“We’ll need to make sure that our midfield group is certainly giving some two-way running.

“They also have some talented young forwards who can mark the ball.

“Our backline will be put under the pump a bit.

“That will be okay.

“It will be more about what we do, rather than what the opposition do.”