Gippsland Power midfielder Brodie Atkins and Oakleigh Chargers ball magnet Chloe Bown were crowned the 2025 Coates Talent League best and fairest winners
2025 Coates Talent League best and fairest winners Brodie Atkins and Chloe Bown.
Gippsland Power midfielder Brodie Atkins and Oakleigh Chargers ball magnet Chloe Bown were crowned the 2025 Coates Talent League best and fairest winners.
Bown made history as the first player from the Oakleigh Chargers to win the Coates Talent League Girls best and fairest award.
She polled 24 votes to finish four ahead of Maggie Johnstone from the GWV Rebels. Rain Dodd from the Murray Bushrangers was third on 19 votes.
Bown was dominant in her third season representing the Chargers, averaging 29 disposals per game, along with seven inside-50s and six tackles.
A premiership player with the Chargers last year, she was named captain of the 2025 Coates Talent League Team of the Year, having also been selected in the team in 2024.
It capped an outstanding season for Bown, who last month was crowned the best and fairest player of 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships and was selected as All Australian captain after steering Victoria Metro to back-to-back title wins.
She also claimed the best on ground medal when representing the Australia U18 team as part of the Marsh AFL National Academy in its clash with the All Stars in April.
Atkins became the second-consecutive Gippsland Power player to win the Morrish Medal as the best and fairest player in the Coates Talent League Boys competition, following in the footsteps of 2024 winner Xavier Lindsay.
He polled 20 votes to finish two ahead of teammate and Team of the Year captain Willem Duursma, with GWV Rebels full forward Charlie McKinnon third on 17 votes.
A regular in Gippsland’s team as a bottom-ager last year, Atkins elevated his game even further this season, averaging 24 disposals per game, along with seven tackles and five inside-50s.
He featured in the umpires’ votes in seven of his 13 matches, which included receiving three votes on six occasions.
Atkins represented Victoria Country at this year’s Marsh AFL National Championships, which included a starring performance in the win over the Allies at IKON Park.
Elsie Day from the GWV Rebels and Phoenix Janover from the Sandringham Dragons were presented the Personal Growth Awards, which celebrate players who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and contribution to their community.
A proud Indigenous leader and the school captain of Phoenix College in Ballarat, Day has been at the forefront of designing her school’s Indigenous sports uniform, a Welcome to Country video and a cultural garden.
Her tireless work in promoting inclusivity and equity has made a significant impact not only within her school and football club, but also in the broader community.
Janover was recognised for his involvement in community-based activities through several volunteer roles at Kids in Philanthropy, All Things Equal and Flying Fox.
In these roles he helps assemble care packages for people experiencing homelessness, supports inclusive employment for individuals with disabilities and assists in running camps and activities for children with disabilities.
The Coates Talent League Teams of the Year were also announced. Selection takes into consideration a player’s entire season, including performance in the Coates Talent League, National Championships and VFL/W.
COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS BEST AND FAIREST
Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers) – 24 votes
Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels) – 20 votes
Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers) – 19 votes
Olivia Gorman (Northern Knights) – 13 votes
Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons) – 12 votes
Issy Boulton (Bendigo Pioneers) – 12 votes
MORRISH MEDAL (COATES TALENT LEAGUE BOYS BEST AND FAIREST)
Brodie Atkins (Gippsland Power) – 20 votes
Willem Duursma (Gippsland Power) – 18 votes
Charlie McKinnon (GWV Rebels) – 17 votes
Jos Landy (Eastern Ranges) – 14 votes
Jack Dalton (Sandringham Dragons) – 12 votes
COATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS TEAM OF THE YEARCOATES TALENT LEAGUE BOYS TEAM OF THE YEARCOATES TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS PERSONAL GROWTH AWARD
Winner: Elsie Day (GWV Rebels)
Other finalists: Charlotte Hewitson (Dandenong Stingrays), Eliza Fraser (Bendigo Pioneers) and Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)
COATES TALENT LEAGUE BOYS PERSONAL GROWTH AWARD
Winner: Phoenix Janover (Sandringham Dragons)
Other finalists: Jesse Mellor (Geelong Falcons), Jonah Walker (Gippsland Power), Mason Porter (Eastern Ranges) and Tom Sullvan (Dandenong Stingrays)