ROUND 10 saw the Carlton Blues take home their first win since round two, while NT Thunder continues to bounce back convincingly from its two losses. Our writers watched the Blues take on the Seagulls and the Falcons go head-to-head against the Thunder this week, and took notes on some admirable performances.

Darebin vs. NT Thunder 

By: Taylah Melki

Darebin:

#8 Nat Exon

She was clever at the stoppages, working hard to keep the ball moving forward. Exon wasn’t afraid to put her body on the line and competed hard all game, showcasing her strength around the hips to shake off a tackle and then chip kick it to a leading player into Darebin’s attacking 50. Her game really elevated in the second half, getting more involved in the third quarter and utilising her booming long kick to create forward 50 thrusts.

#14 Meghan McDonald

McDonald impressed down back for the Falcons, taking a number of strong intercept marks throughout the game. She showed good composure while under pressure, using her beautiful long penetrating kick to get her team out of trouble. She laid a good smother in the second quarter to stop the forward thrust of the Thunder and wasn’t afraid to put her body on the line. Her ability to hit targets was also important helping to release the pressure down in defence.  

#28 Anna Morrow

Morrow really impressed, named among the best afield which was credit to her strong marking ability and good hands under pressure. Her composure was second to none, making clever decisions and hitting up leading teammates. Her work around the stoppage was also important, working tirelessly all game to win the footy.

#30 Elise O’Dea

She had a relatively quiet start but worked her way into the game. She demonstrated her strong marking ability and cleanliness around the ground, especially in the forward 50. O’Dea’s creativity with ball in hand and footy smarts were paramount to her good performance.

#43 Hannah Mouncey

Mouncey had a relatively quiet game as she was unable to hit the scoreboard. In saying that, she did demonstrate a strong set of hands and competed well in the air. She used her footy smarts to create strong leads into space as well as position well to hold space for the ball drop. Mouncey took a strong mark but much like her teammates was unable to convert, missing her set shot from about 25 metres out on an angle.  

NT Thunder:

#3 Angela Foley

It was another impressive game for Foley who continues to perform well this season. She demonstrated good run and carry through the middle of the ground, breaking lines and propelling her team forward. Foley cleanly picked up the footy multiple times and her quick hands to release teammates was pivotal to keeping the Thunder moving. She showcased her strong marking ability and applied good tackling pressure to keep the footy trapped in their forward half.

#13 Lisa Roberts

She was really solid all game and had some moments of brilliance, laying a crunching tackle in the first quarter resulting in a holding the ball call. Roberts used the footy well throughout the match, showcasing her beautiful strong kick of the footy and ability to read the play.

#14 Courtney Cramey

Cramey continued her impressive ways down back, taking heaps of intercept marks and nullifying her opponent. Her ability to cleanly pick up the footy was important and she provided some good run out of the back half. She is a real smooth mover and was able to dance her way through traffic and dispose of the ball effectively.

#24 Georgia Bevan

Bevan showed some good tackling pressure and follow-up work across the ground. She used her speed to break away from her opponent and try and set up a scoring opportunity for her teammates. Her agility and ability to turn on a dime was important as it helped to create space across the ground. Bevan’s good use of the footy and strong leads also created an overlap run for the Thunder.

#26 Abbey Holmes

Holmes was damaging in front of goal, slotting four majors for the game. Her clever kicks and accuracy by foot was a key feature of her game. More importantly, she showed a good ability to read the play and created scoring opportunities for her teammates. In the last quarter, she ran onto the ball and kicked a good goal to top off her impressive game. Holmes scrapped hard to win the footy at ground level and was clean in and around the contest with her quick hands.  

#29 Marijiana Rajcic

Rajcic took a beautiful strong contested mark on the wing, ran into open space and opened up the forward 50 for her teammates to stream forward. Her footy smarts were on display throughout the game with her clever use of the ball and ability to hit up a target.

#31 Jessica Sedunary

Though she was not as dominant in terms of goals sheet this week, Sedunary was still a force to be reckoned with up forward, going in hard to extract the footy at the stoppages. Her quick hands helped to release teammates into space and she provided plenty of good leads into space for her teammates to hit up. A key asset of her game was her ability to apply forward pressure and keep the footy trapped in their attacking 50. Sedunary worked tirelessly all game.

#32 Katie Streader

She was strong around the contest, displaying her clean hands. In one play in particular she showcased her strength to shrug off a tackle and then dispose of the footy cleanly. Streader was good in traffic and created good space across the ground. She put her body on the line continuously throughout the game with a really good strong tackle in the third quarter, signalling her intent to win the footy and winning a free kick for it. She also impressed with her good footwork to move around her opponent.

#52 Ebony Marinoff

Marinoff was in good form, highlighting her long clearing kick. She was strong through the congestion, showcasing her good side step and agility to dodge a few players and create space. Marinoff showed some good footy awareness to put the ball into damaging positions while under immense tackling pressure and applied plenty of physical pressure herself, laying strong tackles throughout the match.

Carlton vs. Williamstown

By: Julia Montesano

Carlton:

#3 Darcy Vescio

Was the star of the day with four goals on return. Vescio was dispossessed of the ball but then got straight back up and pounced on it, evaded an opponent then dribbled it through for a goal, which was a great second effort. Read the footy well when she took a mark at eye level, simultaneously jumping to her side when she leaped for it. Kicked two goals in the second quarter which asserted her dominance on the game. Executed a great lead to the footy off Katelyn Cox’s kick, which resulted in that third goal off a nice set shot. Also burst well out of the stoppage and executed a nice kick forward.

#5 Danica Pedersen

Pedersen continued to improve as the game went on, as she worked her way into the game after a relatively quiet first quarter. She took a good mark where she did well to come up and meet the ball and caresses it into her hands. Also executed a nice high kick into the forward line and sent it into a clever direction to the boundary line.

#6 Gabriella Pound

Executed a great chase and then balanced herself on the deck to get up and kick it. In one instance, she kicked the ball cleverly to the boundary line for a stoppage, reading the blustery conditions well. Pound also executed a great spin and kick under pressure.

#10 Sarah Hosking

Laid some good tackles and executed some great bursts out of the middle of the ground. Hosking displayed great acceleration out of the stoppage in the forward 50, where she just bullocked through the pack. Showed her footy smarts when she kicked the ball towards the boundary line to reset the forward structure. Also did well to run through the pack and get the ball away while getting tackled by two players.

#27 Katelyn Cox

Did well with two goals on the day, creating chances and converting them herself. Executed a good chip kick to the wing and backed this up by following the ball on the ground and soccering it through for a major. Executed a good pick-up off the deck and did well to get a kick away. Cox also displayed great run and carry and delivered a perfect spearing pass to Darcy Vescio on the lead. Also showed aggression when she laid a really strong tackle on her opponent.

#34 Akec Chuot

Displayed excellent run and carry along the boundary line with her lightning pace. Took a good mark on the boundary line, where she displayed strong hands. Chuot also took an excellent leap to tap the ball out of bounds.

#40 Kristi Harvey

Displayed good hands to Chloe Dalton on the outside and executed a good pick-up off the deck. Followed this up with a nice centering handball, demonstrating clean hands throughout the day. The skipper showed good intent to grab the ball and just kick it, continually creating forward penetration. Had a lovely kicking action and split the middle with her long kick from a set shot. Harvey displayed good body work and did well to get the ball on the deck after the ball spilled out of her hands while going for the mark.

#55 Chloe Dalton

Dalton played probably her best game in Carlton colours, with her fierce tackling standing up in the win. Executed an excellent chase-down tackle on Kaitlin Smith, which got everyone up and about. Moments later, she laid another excellent tackle on Jess Duffin inside forward 50, which is hard to do considering Duffin’s exceptional skills. Dalton also delivered a nice kick towards forward 50, complementing her tackling with her kicking. She was able to lay a good tackle to send Morgan Lowe over the boundary line with aggression, which again generated a warm round of applause from teammates and the crowd.

Williamstown:

#2 Jess Duffin

Duffin was amazing as usual, never giving up in a bid to win the ball for her side. Gave off a nice handball in close in the middle of the ground then backed it up moments later with excellent run and carry from the full back kick in, displaying her elite endurance. In one instance, Duffin used the space she had well and took a couple of bounces, running along the boundary line. Gets herself involved with a couple of one-twos with teammates, allowing swift ball movement and a chance to compose the ball movement as well. Laid a nice tackle on Katelyn Cox in the middle of the ground and mopped up well off a Darcy Vescio kick, hacking it towards the boundary line.

#4 Emily Paterno

Laid a great tackle to dispossesses her opponent and followed this up with another great tackle and a nice kick forward. Paterno also executed a clean pick-up off the deck and gave off a nice handball, demonstrating her clean hands.  

#17 Sarah Chapman

A highlight of her game was when she spun one way then the other then got the kick away. Took a nice uncontested mark while leading to the ball and had good awareness to spot Jenna Bruton behind her to handball it off after a free kick was awarded her way.

#22 Morgan Lowe

Laid an excellent tackle and followed it up with a nice kick to the wing. Did the little one per centers throughout the day, such as when she smothered Danica Pedersen’s kick. Lowe displayed excellent run and carry and showed great agility as well, side-stepping her opponents. After this effort, she timed the kick perfectly as she just got it away before she got tackled. Also displayed good pace to chase the ball as it was bouncing over the boundary line, highlighting her desperation to win the footy.

#36 Megan Williamson

Williamston laid a great tackle to dispossess her opponent, and was lively when she got the ball in hand. Displayed great run and carry and executed a nice kick out into space, playing her role well on the day.

#39 Sharnie Whiting

A shining light for the Seagulls with two goals from the day. She kicked Williamstown’s first of the day with a great get and kick through the goals. Whiting led up well to the footy and took a great mark in the forward line. After this, she went back and kicked her second of the day, showing composure in front of goals. Also gave off a good handball on hands and knees, trying hard all day for her side.