The Talent League Girls (also known as the Coates Talent League Girls under naming rights and previously as the NAB League Girls and TAC Cup Girls) is an under-19 Australian rules football representative competition held in Australia. It is based on geographic regions throughout country Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with each team representing twelve Victorian regions, while a thirteenth team from Tasmania was introduced in 2019.
The league is one of the leading competitions for female footballers to be recruited to AFL Women's (AFLW) clubs. An identical competition for male footballers, known as the Talent League Boys, is also contested on an annual basis.
History The league was inaugurated in 2017, the same year as the first AFL Women's premiership season was held. All NAB League Boys clubs entered teams and shared training grounds. Reaction to the establishment was positive, with Fiona Richardson, Victorian Minister for Women, praising the league for its encouragement of women's sports. vice-captain Madeline Keryk said the competition helped equalise opportunities for boys and girls in junior football.
The first season was a five-round competition. The Calder Cannons won all five of their matches and overcame the Murray Bushrangers on percentage to claim the inaugural premiership. The second season was a nine-round competition culminating in a grand final. The inaugural grand finalists were the Geelong Falcons and the Northern Knights. The Falcons won 32–21, completing an unbeaten season. The competition has since grown in fixture length and incorporates a team from Tasmania. The 2020 season was abandoned due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league was known as the TAC Cup Girls in 2017 to 2018, NAB League Girls in 2019 to 2022, and since 2023 it has been known as the Coates Talent League Girls.
Age eligibility The competition was originally classified as an under-18 competition, though in 2021 the competition was classified as an under-19 competition. The draft age for both the AFL and AFLW Draft is 18. Since 2023 the league has been primarily by under-18 players, with a selection of under-19 players also listed.
Clubs ClubColoursStateSeasonsPremiershipsTotalTotalRecentBendigo PioneersVICQueen Elizabeth Oval1993201790−Brisbane Lions (A)QLDBrighton Homes Arena201020206Not eligibleCalder CannonsVICHighgate Recreation Reserve19952017912017Dandenong StingraysVICShepley Oval19922017912026Eastern RangesVICKilsyth Recreation Reserve19922017912025Geelong FalconsVICChirnside Park19922017912018Gippsland PowerVICMorwell Recreation Reserve1993201790−Gold Coast Suns (A)QLDCarrara Stadium201020206Not eligibleGreater Western Sydney Giants (A)NSWSydney Showground Stadium201020214Not eligibleGreater Western Victoria RebelsVICEureka Stadium1993201790−Murray BushrangersVICNorm Minns Oval, Wangaratta1993201790−Northern KnightsVICPreston City Oval19922017912019Northern Territory ThunderNTMarrara Oval197920206Not eligibleOakleigh ChargersVICWarrawee Park19952017932024Sandringham DragonsVICTrevor Barker Beach Oval1992201790−Sydney Swans (A)NSWSydney Cricket Ground201020214Not eligibleTasmania DevilsTASBellerive Oval; York Park2019201970−Western JetsVICWilliamstown Cricket Ground19922017912022
Premiers SeasonPremiersRunners-upGrand Final scoreVenueRef.Best on Ground2017Calder CannonsMurray BushrangersNoneNo venueNone2018Geelong FalconsNorthern Knights4.8 (32) – 3.3 (21)Avalon Airport OvalDenby Taylor2019Northern KnightsCalder Cannons6.3 (39) – 0.6 (6)Ikon ParkJess Fitzgerald2020No premiership awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021Oakleigh ChargersGeelong Falcons11.5 (71) – 5.4 (34)Avalon Airport Oval Amanda Ling2022Western JetsDandenong Stingrays7.5 (47) – 5.11 (41)Avalon Airport OvalAmber Clarke2023Oakleigh ChargersEastern Ranges6.7 (43) – 5.6 (36)Ikon ParkSienna Tallariti2024Oakleigh ChargersEastern Ranges5.7 (37) – 2.7 (19)Ikon ParkSienna Tallariti2025Eastern RangesDandenong Stingrays10.8 (68) – 4.6 (30)Ikon ParkTayla McMillan 2026Dandenong StingraysOakleigh Chargers9.3 (57) – 3.9 (27)Whitten OvalZoe Zach
Best and Fairest Award
SeasonWinnerClubRef.2017Chloe MolloyCalder CannonsBridie KennedyDandenong Stingrays2018Maddy PrespakisCalder CannonsNina MorrisonGeelong Falcons2019Georgie PrespakisCalder Cannons2020Not awarded due to the COVID-19 pandemic2021Georgie PrespakisCalder Cannons2022Amber ClarkeDandenong Stingrays2023Sara HowleyGeelong Falcons 2024 Ash Centra Gippsland Power2025Chloe BownOakleigh Chargers2026Peggy RockGWV Rebels
External links Official website
References