WHILE the NAB League Girls competition is on break, we take a quick recap of each team, how the first three rounds have panned out for them and who has already stood up in the short time. In this edition we look at the Sandringham Dragons, who after losing their opening game to the GWV Rebels by five points, bounced back to have a couple of impressive wins in Rounds 2 and 3.

2020 RESULTS:

R1: lost to GWV Rebels by 5 points
R2: defeated Bendigo Pioneers by 44 points
R3: defeated Gippsland Power by 52 points

Missed opportunities prevented the Dragons from finishing the first three rounds undefeated, as inaccuracy plagued them in Round 1, going down to the Rebels. They sorted that out the week after with a big win over Bendigo Pioneers, and then set up a 52-point win over Gippsland Power thanks to a dominant first half performance in Morwell.

FIVE STRONG STARTERS:

Alice Burke (19.0 disposals, 2.7 marks, 4.0 tackles, 1.7 inside 50s, 2.7 rebounds)

The back-to-back club best and fairest winner continued her terrific NAB League Girls career with another sensational start to the season. She averaged 19 disposals per game and continued to apply the tackling pressure she has been known for over her time. Along with that, she showed she can play inside or outside roles, moving the ball well in transition from defence to attack.

Sarah Hartwig (15.0 disposals, 4.3 marks, 3.0 tackles, 1.3 inside 50s, 2.7 rebounds)

The reliable defender was able to taste some action up the field this season and showed she has the capacity to play in the midfield if required. Her reading of the ball, intercept marking and attack on the ball are among her strengths, with one highlight play in the opening round against the Rebels showing what she can do. Winning the ball at full speed at half-back, she managed to evade a number of opponents and take a bounce, putting it lace out inside 50.

Bella Eddey (17.7 disposals, 3.0 marks, 4.3 tackles, 3.7 inside 50s, 2 goals)

The classy forward is ever-damaging when inside 50 and is one of better ball users in the competition. She booted the two goals in her first three games, able to rotate between midfield and forward, and often used to hit up difficult kicks inside 50 to make life easier for her forwards. She can play multiple roles in the forward half and offers a point of difference to many other mid-forwards with her extra class and kicking ability.

Eliza McNamara (17.3 disposals, 2.3 marks, 5.7 tackles, 3.3 inside 50s, 2 goals)

The tough midfielder/forward attacks the ball with no regrets and is not afraid to take on opponents much taller than herself. She is a work horse when it comes to her repeat running and ability to just make contest after contest. In terms of 2020, she showed great forward pressure and capped off her hard work with two goals, while being able to rotate through the middle and find plenty of the ball herself on the way to almost six tackles per game.

Abbi Moloney (10.3 disposals, 3.3 marks, 2.0 tackles, 1.3 inside 50s, 8 goals)

The competition’s second leading goal kicker bounced back from not getting on the board in Round 1, to booting bags of three and five in Rounds 2 and 3. She provided a strong target inside 50, and averaged the 3.3 marks to go with her 10.3 disposals as her side’s main source of scoring. A traditional forward who has a kick-first mentality having 30 kicks from 31 disposals, Moloney has been a big improver this season as a top ager.

Others who have stood out: Winnie Laing, Sofia Hurley, Bridie Hipwell, Daisy Walker

The Dragons captain was unlucky not to be in the top group and deserving if we extended it out to a top six because she has been just as impressive as those above. Averaging a team-high 20 disposals, she has just put in four quarter performances and been consistent from the first game to the last winning plenty of the ball. Whilst those six, and Walker (who has enjoyed a strong start to the season averaging 15.7 disposals and 4.0 tackles per game) are top agers, the remaining two named are in their first seasons. Hurley and Hipwell are among a host of Dragons who are two years away from their draft year, though they have had a big impact already, averaging a combined 26 disposals, five marks and six tackles between them.