THOUGH still a bottom-age talent, Peel Thunder‘s Kaitlyn Srhoj has caught the eye in her first three West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s games. The 2005-born Srhoj is one of a number of fresh faces in the reigning back-to-back premiers’ lineup, and her performance from the weekend during Peel’s loss to East Fremantle was put under the Player Focus microscope.

SEASON SO FAR

Averages: (3 games):

15.7 disposals
7.7 kicks
8.3 handballs
4.0 marks
1.7 tackles
1.7 inside 50s

The bottom-age Srhoj has not looked out of place in the Thunder midfield, seemingly getting better each week. In her three games this season, Srhoj is working hard through the midfield, often on a wing and then works hard to go forward. Though a lighter-build player, Srhoj still applies pressure even if her tackles do not always stick. She spreads well, and contributes strongly around the ground.

ROUND 4:

Peel Thunder 7.5 (47) defeated by East Fremantle 9.6 (60)

Stats: 21 disposals (11 kicks, 10 handballs), 8 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER:

First Quarter

Srhoj started on a wing opposed to East Fremantle’s Doma Fedele, Srhoj was a little bit overzealous with a free kick against via a tackle in the opening minute. She quickly made up for that blue though, marking strongly one-on-one at half-back and then cleanly handballing away. At the three-minute mark she competed well at ground level to win the contested ball and handball off, then won it again and stood up in the tackle to get the handpass off to a teammate.

At the six-minute mark she pickpocketed an opponent perfectly, but as she ran away just spilled it at top speed, but shortly after took a good mark on the wing. She kicked long to half-forward, though the Sharks recovered well in defence. Later in the term, Srhoj laid a strong tackle in the goalsquare to save a certain goal, then marked at half-back and kicked long to the wing well, capping off an impressive first quarter.

Second Quarter

The second term was a quieter one for the talented teenager, who did well early receiving the handball but just was not 100 per cent sure what to do with it given limited options ahead, and instead handballed to a teammate under pressure who was tackled. Srhoj did win the ball back a couple more times in the quarter, but her long kicks going inside 50 were picked off by the experienced East Fremantle defence.

The first half saw Srhoj get involved in multiple plays across the ground, helping out in the defensive half of the ground and pushing forward. Still raw in terms of her decision making and disposal, she is quick in close and is able to react quickly defensively, which she showed in a number of passages in that first half.

Third Quarter

Srhoj’s third quarter featured her first ever WAFL Women’s goal, taking a strong intercept mark 45m out, and then when an opponent encroached on her area, the 16-year-old was sent to the goalsquare. Just before she kicked, Srhoj received some wise words from dominant goalkicker Kira Phillips, then went back and calmly slotted the goal.

Later in the term she positioned herself on the wing well to be a kick behind the play and often intercepted, such as a strong mark and nice kick forward. In the dying last few minutes of the third term, she showcased a nice sidestep and weaved through traffic, cleanly getting the handball off.

Fourth Quarter

The final term saw a great battle between Srhoj and Under 16s talent, Zippy Fish, The pair both have great marking ability and a quick few steps, with the pair breaking even in respective contests. In the first instance, Srhoj took a strong mark over fish at half-back, and when the ball was turned over and came back, Fish tackled her and locked it up. Not long after, the East Fremantle 15-year-old ran down Srhoj again to win the free. Overall in the final term, Srhoj still had a number of touches, mostly under pressure but finished the game as her most prolific thus far.

Considering it is her debut season and she is just three games into that season, Srhoj is a player to keep tabs on over the next 18 months. She has pace to burn, works hard on the outside, and moves well through traffic. As a basketballer with the Mandurah Mustangs, Srhoj has that innate ability when in close to quickly react, and will be quicker than the majority of her opponents. Though the 16-year-old still needs to clean up her kicking, the Peel Thunder talent has great upside for the future with some natural footballing ability.