AFTER publishing our notes from Saturday’s elimination finals yesterday, we took a look at some of the combine invitees and future stars from Sunday’s two elimination finals.

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Western Jets

Oakleigh:

By: Scott Dougan

#1 Riley Collier-Dawkins

Collier-Dawkins started on the bench but quickly found himself heavily involved when he came onto the ground. He was able to accumulate plenty of possessions and he hit the scoreboard early after he pushed forward to take a mark inside 50. His clearance work was superb and he was able to put his acceleration to good use when trying to escape congestion. Collier-Dawkins seemed to have more time than he actually had and due to his size, he was able to break numerous amount of tackles.

#3 Joe Ayton-Delaney

The classy rebounding defender provided some much-needed run and carry for the Chargers early on in the match. He demonstrated clean ball use by using both feet to hit a number of targets. He was able to find plenty of space and moped up everything that came in his direction. His defensive efforts were also handy, spoiling the ball when required. Ayton-Delaney tallied a game-high 24 disposals.

#4 Will Kelly

Kelly played on dangerous forward Emerson Jeka and played really well. Kelly impressed with his ability to provide some effective run out of the defensive 50. He was able to run off his opponent with ease, collecting the ball from his teammates on the outside of the contest. His ball use was superb by hand and foot and he rarely missed a target. Kelly can effectively lock down an opponent and play well as an intercepting rebounding defender at the same time, making him very valuable.

#9 James Rowbottom

Rowbottom’s clearance work was first-class, winning plenty of first possession around the contest. He matched up on Western Jets inside midfielder Xavier O’Halloran, with both of them winning a fair of the ball. His kicking was respectable and he was able to deliver the ball inside 50 to the advantage of his teammates. Rowbottom was fierce at the contest and his defensive pressure and tackling was consistent. He ended the day with 23 touches and 10 tackles showcasing his physical presence.

#11 Matthew Rowell

The bottom-age midfielder worked tirelessly all day, running from contest to contest. He was the first player to hit the scoreboard for the day, booting an impressive goal from 40 metres out. Rowell continuously put his head over the ball and he was not afraid to attack the contest at full pace. He accumulated 22 possessions for the day and won them predominantly on the outside of the contest. His decision-making was also really good.

#13 Atu Bosenavulagi

Bosenavulagi came to life in the third and fourth quarters, booting four second-half goals. He was dangerous inside the forward 50, finding plenty of space. His best passage of play came in the third term when he sprinted away from Jets defender Buku Khamis and ran inside 50 to an open goal.

#22 Dylan Williams

The 185cm bottom-age forward was outstanding over four quarters. His leading patterns were effective and he was able to take plenty of marks on the lead, with many resulting in shots on goal. He used his body exceptionally well for his size, winning a plethora of one-on-one contests. His goal sense and footy smarts made him a difficult match-up deep inside the forward 50. He finished the day with a game-high six goals.

#23 Isaac Quaynor

Quaynor did his best to provide run and carry for his team in the first half but was not heavily involved, with the ball rarely finding its way into the Chargers backline due to their dominance. He was more involved in the second half, especially when he moved further up the ground. Quaynor moved forward in the final term and even had a shot on goal, but he pushed his kick out on the full.

Western:

By: Ed Pascoe

#17 Daly Andrews

Andrews had another quiet game with some strong quarters mixed with some quiet ones. In this case it was his first and fourth quarters that stood out. He kicked a lovely set shot goal outside 50 in the first quarter and in the last quarter he took a nice intercept mark and showed off his trademark smooth movement through traffic. Andrews finished with 12 disposals, three inside 50s and one goal. 

#33 Xavier O’Halloran

O’Halloran was the clear best player for Western Jets. He played a consistent four quarter game and just continued to hunt the ball and move the footy forward. O’Halloran won plenty of clearances in the first quarter and was instrumental in keeping his side relatively close going into quarter time. He showed he could make an impact away from the stoppages as well with a lovely contested mark in the second quarter. O’Halloran also kicked a long goal from 55m with a set shot from a free kick. He was also fantastic in this quarter with his desperate efforts where he continued to tap the ball on before being outnumbered and then laying a lunging tackle. O’Halloran finished with 17 disposals, seven tackles, eight inside 50s and one goal and he couldn’t have done anymore as captain of the Jets. 

 #38 Buku Khamis

Khamis played a brave game down back with the Oakleigh charge making sure Khamis was always under pressure with the ball coming in with precision and speed. Khamis took a couple of nice intercept marks in the first quarter and he used the ball well on his trusty left foot. He did not stop trying all day, continuing to intercept and get in the right spots to try and help repel Oakleigh’s attack. Khamis did not make many mistakes by hand or foot throughout the match finishing with 15 disposals, six marks and four rebound 50s. 

Sandringham Dragons vs. Murray Bushrangers

Sandringham:

By: Scott Dougan

#7 Liam Stocker

Stocker won the first clearance of the day, delivering the ball inside 50 to teammate, Ben King. His work rate was noticeable throughout the first term, winning the footy in the back half of the ground then applying a strong tackle in the forward 50 shortly after. His stoppage work was again, a standout. He amassed 19 possessions and was able to kick an eye-catching goal on the run, after receiving a handball from Jack Mahony. Stocker’s day was finished early, with the midfield icing his shoulder on the bench late in the final term.

#23 Angus Hanrahan

Hanrahan did his best to provide some run and carry on the outside of the contest. He displayed good vision with ball in hand when he delivered a risky kick to a teammate in the middle of the ground, that paid off. He hit the scoreboard late in the fourth with a running goal from 50 metres out, contributing to the Dragons dominant last quarter.

#27 Jack Mahony

Mahony was influential throughout the four quarters, with the majority of his game time shared between the midfield and forward line. His class and composure with ball in hand was handy for the Dragons, with the bottom-age midfielder lowering the eyes to hit shorter targets with ease. He was dangerous inside the 50, booting one goal and setting up a handful of others. He was the equal highest ball-winner on the ground with 25 touches.

#28 James Rendell

Rendell shared ruck duties with fellow big man, Will Kennedy. He competed hard all day and he was able to win some important hit-outs to advantage. His third quarter was his best, winning plenty of centre clearances, along with kicking a crucial goal that gave his team a healthy three-goal lead late in the term. Rendell ended the match with 20 disposals and 19 hitouts.

#29 Ben King

King was involved in the first passage of play of the day, with the athletic forward immediately finding himself on the scoresheet, after taking a contested mark from a Liam Stocker pass. King had many opponents throughout the day and he proved to be very difficult to stop. His sticky hands and ability to mark the ball at its highest point was a highlight. King ended up with five goals for the day but could have nailed more if he had of kicked straight.

#74 Harry Reynolds

Reynolds started across the half-back line and occasionally through the midfield, impressing with his composure with ball in hand. He found plenty of the footy and used it very well. He rebounded effectively out of the defensive 50, providing some run and carry for his team. Reynolds coped a head knock after a powerful sling tackle from an opposition player but he appeared to be fine, getting to his feet moments later.  He finished with 18 disposals.

Murray:

By: Ed Pascoe

#5 Ely Smith

Ely Smith was a workhorse in the midfield for Murray, winning plenty of contested ball and bursting from clearances. Smith worked tirelessly throughout the day not just in the contest but so too on the outside. He ran hard to be an option and was often burnt by his teammates, but yet he still worked continuously hard to make space. His attack on the ball was a highlight with one play in the first quarter where he showcased his physical presence at the contest and kicking long to teammate Hudson Garoni inside 50. Smith’s hands at the stoppages where clean, often bursting away and firing off a handball to running teammates. Smith finished with 20 disposals, six marks and six inside 50s. 

#7 Zane Barzen

Barzen had a quiet game starting forward and working hard to be a lead up option. He took a nice mark at half back showing his work rate to get up the ground and he displayed his good foot skills with a nice quick pass down the line. He was moved to defence in the third quarter moping up a few loose balls. Barzen finished with 13 disposals. 

 #9 Mathew Walker 

Walker was a workhorse through the midfield often going in hard. He had a good clearance in the first quarter which included a great fend off. He had a few chances to convert goals but sprayed a few. One a running shot in the first quarter, in the third quarter he had a good intercept mark before quickly playing on and blazing away at goal and missing. Walker’s kicking was at its best when he lowered his eyes with nice short passes but he often blazed away going inside 50. Walker finished with 14 disposals, six inside 50s and three behinds. 

 #18 Hudson Garoni

Garoni was the main avenue to goal for Murray, he finished the game with a team high three goals. With two coming from set shots and one over the top in the last quarter. Garoni took some nice marks early in the game showcasing his strong hands and ability to read the flight of the ball. He took a nice lead up mark where he kicked a goal from 50m and another strong mark in that first quarter which would only lead to a behind.  Garoni finished with 13 disposals, six marks and three goals.