Barba tackles any challenge thrown her way
DEFENSIVE pressure has been the barometer that Calder Cannons’ Alana Barba sets every week, with the ferocious midfielder striking fear into the hearts of opposition players when they have the ball in her area. The tenacious talent from Roxburgh Park averaged 7.1 tackles per game for the Cannons in the NAB League Girls competition, and considering what her improvement was at the start of the season, it is a remarkable feat.
“Just getting to every single contest (is an improvement I want to make),” Barba said at the NAB League Fitness Testing Day in the pre-season. “I’ve had a hard time doing that so I just want to improve on that, that’s my main focus.”
For Barba, she has always been involved in and around the code, having risen through the pathways to land at the Cannons, and admitted it was quite an eye-opener compared to local football with the elite pathway getting the recognition it deserved.
“I’ve been playing since I was little, but only came to Calder Cannons three years ago and from there, it’s just built up,” Barba said. “It’s (playing with Calder) a great experience. “It’s a new experience, it’s at a higher standard so you really have to push yourself to get in line with all the girls as well.”
Like many AFL Women’s Draft hopefuls, Barba said it was the social element that kept her in the sport, while she was always determined for her and which club she played for, to continue to improve throughout the season.
“I think just the connection we have with all the girls is just, our friendship is something out of this world, that’s the best part about it,” Barba said. “I think just to be successful and to develop as a whole.”
Along with her tackling feast in the NAB League Girls, Barba earned a place in Vic Metro’s squad for the AFL Women’s Under-18 Championships, where she averaged 3.3 tackles from 6.7 disposals. Then, if anyone questioned whether she could apply the same defensive pressure against senior bodies for Essendon’s Victorian Football League Women’s (VFLW) side, then she answered that emphatically. In three games for the club, Barba laid 4.3 tackles per game from 6.8 disposals, making her total across all three competitions and impressive 5.8 tackles from 10.1 disposals.
Now Barba is ready for the next step-up with her focus set on the AFL Women’s, which could become a reality at next week’s AFL Women’s Draft.
By the Numbers: 2024 AFLW U18s
WITH the 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships done and dusted, Rookie Me Central casts its eye back on the leading stats-getters throughout the carnival. Unsurprisingly MVPs such as Sierra Grieves (Vic Metro), Sara Howley (Vic Country) and Georja Davies (Queensland) featured across multiple categories. In the end, Georgia Knight lead the goalkicking with nine, […]
Remember the Names: 2024 AFLW U18s MVPs
ALL six MVPs have been confirmed at the close of the 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, with an even split between three top-agers and three bottom-agers. Here are those award winners from the national carnival. Best and Fairest: Sierra Grieves (Vic Metro)Midfielder | 163cm | 18/05/2006 The consistent onballer has hardly ever played a […]
2024 AFLW U18s All-Australian team announced
VIC Metro has dominated the 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 All-Australian team that was released by the AFL today. The 23-player squad features seven Metro players, three more than any other state after the side was victorious in winning its first national title since 2019. Reigning back-to-back titleholder South Australia – who finished second overall […]
Scouting notes: 2024 AFLW U18s – South Australia vs. Western Australia
SOUTH Australia and Western Australia put on a show for the final AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships match of the 2024 carnival. The Croweaters got up by 21 points, but both sides had impressive individual performances. We took note of some of those performances, with all scouting notes the opinion of the individual author.
PREVIEW | 2024 AFLW U18s: South Australia vs. Western Australia
CLOSING out the 2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships, reigning back-to-back titleholders South Australia – defeated for the first time in three carnivals by Vic Metro – will look to bounce back against a visiting West Australian side that is hungry for its first win of the championships.
REVIEW | 2024 AFLW U18s: Vic Metro
AS each AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships state completes its national carnival, we take a look at how the three-game carnival went, some of the impressive players, and those to keep an eye on next year. Up next is Vic Metro, who snapped South Australia’s back-to-back title run to win their first trophy since pre-Covid […]
REVIEW | 2024 AFLW U18s: Vic Country
AS each AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships state completes its national carnival, we take a look at how the three-game carnival went, some of the impressive players, and those to keep an eye on next year. Up next is Vic Country, who started strongly in each game before fading off in the second halves, but […]
2024 AFLW U18s Player Focus: Sara Howley (Vic Country)
PRODUCING one of the best three-game performances for the national carnival, Vic Country midfielder Sara Howley earned her state’s MVP. In her final game during the win over Western Australia, Howley racked up 31 disposals and eight inside 50s – game-highs – and five clearances – equal game-high – in a clear best on ground […]
Scouting notes: 2024 AFLW U18s – Vic Country vs. Western Australia
A DOMINANT first 41 minutes saw Vic Country pile on 9.2 (56) to 0.0 (0) against Western Australia to set up their first win of the AFLW Under 18 Championships. While the Sandgropers fought back valiantly, it was too little, too late, as the home side got up by 32 points. We took note of […]
