THE 2022 NAB League Girls season got underway over the weekend with a raft of outstanding individual performances catching the eye across six games. Eastern Ranges over-ager Bridget Deed headlined the stat hauls with her 36-disposal effort, but there were plenty more players who rose to the occasion in Round 1. Find out who as we take a look at all of this week’s stat leaders.

>> Results/Votes: Round 1 wrap | Scouting Notes | Player of the Week: Zarlie Goldsworthy (Murray Bushrangers)

Bridget Deed‘s monster game on the weekend not only catapulted her into the potential AFLW top-up selection frame, but also saw her top a couple of key stat areas in Round 1. The 19th-year Eastern Ranges midfielder was dominant around the ball, racking up round highs of 36 disposals and 18 handballs. The Vic Metro Under 19 representative is one of her region’s top prospects, and one who has carried on her solid form from 2021.

While Deed did it by hand, Round 1 Player of the Week Zarlie Goldsworthy proved damaging by foot. She notched a high of 27 kicks, which included 10 inside 50s and four goals, but she was narrowly beaten in either stat. Teammate Zara Hamilton managed 12 inside 50s from her 29 touches, while Dandenong’s Amber Clarke snagged a five-goal haul as both sides defeated fellow Country regions by a combined 86 points.

Sandringham and Tasmania played out easily the tightest game of the weekend, with the travelling Dragons holding on to down the Devils by three points. In the Dragons’ defensive 50, Georgia Foran stood tall and repelled many a Tasmanian attack with a whopping 11 rebound 50s – four more than anyone else this round.

Another top-ager to impress was Northern Knights speedster Rylie Wilcox, who at 158cm took an equal high of six marks alongside Calder winger Mali McLeod. Both players worked incredibly hard to cover a strong amount of territory in their respective sides’ losses, generating forward momentum where they could.

Calder had second representative in this week’s list, as co-captain Reese Sutton lead by example with 12 tackles. While she got her hands dirty at ground level, Greater Western Victoria ruck Kalani Scoullar again dominated the airways with a top figure of 28 hitouts as the Rebels put out Gippsland’s power.

ROUND 1 STAT LEADERS:

Disposals:
Bridget Deed (Eastern Ranges) – 36

Kicks:
Zarlie Goldsworthy (Murray Bushrangers) – 27

Handballs:
Bridget Deed (Eastern Ranges) – 18

Goals:
Amber Clarke (Dandenong Stingrays) – 5

Marks:
Mali McLeod (Calder Cannons) – 6
Rylie Wilcox (Northern Knights) – 6

Tackles:
Reese Sutton (Calder Cannons) – 12

Inside 50s:
Zara Hamilton (Murray Bushrangers) – 12

Rebound 50s:
Georgia Foran (Sandringham Dragons) – 11

Hitouts:
Kalani Scoullar (GWV Rebels) – 28