WITH the Easter festivities done and dusted, it is time for the TAC Cup Girls to get back in action for what is set to be an jam-packed round four. All games will take place on Tuesday this week at plenty of locations around Victoria. As it sits, there are four undefeated teams and three winless teams who all have tough games coming up in the round ahead.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS V. SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS

Round 4 – Tuesday, April 3, 12pm
Robinson Reserve, Doveton

Dandenong has had a tough start to the season with games against the Northern Knights, Eastern Ranges and Geelong Falcons, who are all undefeated teams in the competition. Surprisingly the Stingrays sit at the bottom of the ladder despite the likes of Jordyn Allen and Shelley Heath playing some stellar football.

The round four encounter between the Stingrays and the Sandringham Dragons is anyone’s game, with the teams evenly poised after three rounds of the TAC Cup Girls competition. The Dragons put up a huge fight against the top-of-the-ladder Knights last week, with Eleanor Brown running a muck all over the ground. She was complemented by Eliza McNamara who got more dangerous as the game went on. If these two are up and firing, the Stingrays midfield will have a lot on their hands. Others that have impressed this season include Winnie Laing and Sarah Hartwig.

However, their bookends have been doing their job in the first three rounds and will look to trouble the Dragons outfit at Doveton. Eloise Allen-Burns, Lucinda Cripps and Courtney Jones are doing some solid work in defence while Shelley Heath and Brooke Struylaart do not stop working up forward.

BENDIGO PIONEERS V. EASTERN RANGES

Round 4 – Tuesday, April 3, 1pm
Epsom Huntly Reserve, Bendigo

The young Bendigo Pioneers have a real challenge on their hands with an in-form Eastern Ranges side looking to continue their dominance away from home. Exciting forward Sophie Kerridge is undoubtedly a big loss for Bendigo but expect Maeve Tupper and Shelby Knoll to give their all in the front half of the ground.

They could be road-blocked by Ranges Georgia Macpherson and Lauren Szigeti though, as they have both been a revelation for Eastern down back. Macpherson in particular has one of the best sets of hands in the competition, with plenty of intercept marks already in the competition’s first three rounds. Kate Douglass has also been playing some wonderful footy in defence for the Pioneers and will look to continue her form on Tuesday.

Eastern’s Laura McClelland is currently the competition’s leading goal-kicker after bagging four majors last week in the Ranges’ win over Oakleigh. Her and Olivia Meagher are a very dangerous duo and could give the Bendigo defence a few headaches at Epsom Huntly Reserve. Co-captain, Emerson Woods played one of her best games of the season last week and was prolific in helping McClelland and Meagher take the game away from the Chargers early on Sunday.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS V. WESTERN JETS

Round 4- Tuesday, April 3, 1.45pm
Memorial Oval, Euroa

The Murray Bushrangers are still undefeated in the TAC Cup Girls competition, but had to split the points in a draw against Gippsland Power last week. They would undoubtedly be looking to bounce back from the tough encounter at RAMS Arena and will have an opportunity to do so at Euroa.

The Western Jets have been extremely competitive in the first three rounds of the competition, making some significant developmental progress. Elizabeth Georgiostathis was a star against the Cannons, using the space on the wing to create scoring opportunities for her side. Isabella Pritchard also did some nice things in defence, as she has been doing for the first three rounds of the competition.

Pritchard could have her hands full against Murray’s Julia Harvey, who was a great contributor in their draw last week. Murray’s firepower is in the middle of the ground as Rebecca Webster, Tamara Smith and Chelsea Knight playing some A-grade football. Webster in particular is a multiple AFL Draft Central TAC Cup Girls’ Team of the Week member and could back up her efforts again this week.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS V. GWV REBELS

Round 4 – Tuesday, April 3, 2.45pm
Mill Park Lakes Recreation Reserve, Mill Park

The Northern Knights have been a revelation in the competition so far with an even spread of players getting them three straight wins to kick-start their season. Greater Western Victoria (GWV) enjoyed a nice win against the Pioneers last week and would be looking to back up its efforts against a formidable Knights outfit this week.

Ellie McKenzie made her debut for the Knights last week and was one of the best players on the ground. Despite being just 15 years of age, McKenzie was a brute down back and created plenty of run out of defensive 50. But she will have AFLW Academy member, Rene Caris sitting at full-forward, ready to prevent the Knights from getting any run out of defence.

Caris comes in for her first game of the season and joins fellow AFLW Academy members, Georgia Clarke and Sophie Van De Huevel. Clarke was one of the best players on the ground in Ballarat last week, making her presence known at half-back. But this week, she will have to come up against Nell Morris-Dalton, who is one of the strongest players in the competition. Morris-Dalton can make an impact both in the forward line and in the middle of the ground so it will be interesting to see whether Clarke moves with her up the ground when she gets dangerous.

GIPPSLAND POWER V. CALDER CANNONS

Round 4 – Tuesday, April 3, 2.45pm
Morwell Recreation Reserve, Morwell

Gippsland goes into this game with all the momentum, after getting its first win in the TAC Cup Girls competition in round two and drawing against the undefeated Murray Bushrangers in round three. But the Calder Cannons also have some momentum going into the game after recording their first win of the season last week.

The battle that everyone will keep their eye on will undoubtedly be between Gippsland’s Tyla Hanks and Calder’s Madison Prespakis. The players have extremely similar features, with both being small midfielders, AFLW Academy members and game-changers for their sides. It will be a fantastic match-up that could ultimately decides which team wins or loses at Morwell.

Cannon Eleanor Cornish will test her versatility by lining up at centre half-back. The former basketballer usually plays up forward and in the ruck, so it will be interesting to see how she matches up against Gippsland’s Nikia Webber who has been named at centre-half forward. Webber played wonderfully last week and will be looking to continue her dominance in that position.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS V. GEELONG FALCONS

Round 4 – Tuesday, April 3, 2.45pm
Warrawee Park, Oakleigh

The Chargers will get to suit up against Geelong at home this week in a bid to regain the form they showed in round one when they knocked off Gippsland Power – who have managed a six points from a possible eight since. But the Falcons are no easy-beats, as they currently sit undefeated and are in wonderful form ahead of round four.

Isabella Gietzmann is set to play her first game of the season for Oakleigh on Tuesday. Gietzmann comes from a cricket background and will be able to show her footy skills in the forward pocket this week. But she will have to come up against the ever-consistent Denby Taylor, who has been a rock in defence for Geelong. She will be complemented by Abbey Chapman and Mia Sheppard, who together could be a damaging trio at Warrawee Park.

Despite Katie Lynch missing in action for Oakleigh, Gemma Lagioia, Alana Porter and Charlotte Moon will undoubtedly step up in her absence. But the Falcons are aware of the Chargers’ firepower in the middle of the ground and have thrown captain, Lucy McEvoy in the centre to prevent the Oakleigh midfielders from running away with the game.