YOU would be hard pressed to find many more consistently impressive bottom-agers running around in the NAB League Girls competition this year than Ava Jordan. The diminutive Northern Knights midfielder has been a shining light for her region in a tough season, proving reliable as any player league-wide with her effort, ball winning nous and smarts around the contest.

She was again a standout for Northern in a 30-point loss to the Sandringham Dragons on Monday, amassing a round-high 35 disposals, seven tackles and eight inside 50s. Ahead of the much anticipated all-Victorian representative clash this coming Sunday, we placed her Round 8 performance under the Player Focus microscope.

Inside Midfielder

Ava Jordan

Height: 145cm

Weight: -

DOB: 29-04-2005

Strengths:

Accumulation

Decision making

Defensive pressure

Footy IQ

Skills

Vision

Work rate

SEASON SO FAR

Averages: (7 games) 25.9 disposals, 2.7 marks, 6.6 tackles, 3.6 inside 50s, 2.1 rebound 50s

In all seven of her games, Jordan has been nothing short of a standout for Northern. She has dropped below 20 disposals only once – managing 18 against top Metro region, Eastern – and on Monday notched up her second performance with a return of 30-plus touches. Despite being up against it at 148cm, the bottom-ager has consistently cracked in and averages 6.6 tackles per game, while helping Northern move the ball to the outside with her smarts and work rate.

ROUND 8:
Northern Knights 5.3 (33) def. by Sandringham Dragons 9.9 (63)

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER:

First Quarter

It was tough going for Jordan and her Knights in the first quarter, especially across the opening 10 minutes. Anchoring the centre bounces, Jordan struggled to get her hands on the ball early as a confident Sandringham midfield began in dominant fashion.

At one defensive 50 stoppage, the bottom-ager lost Sofia Hurley and it proved costly as the Dragons gun sharked the ball for a goal. It was very un-Jordan-like, but she came back strongly upon rotating after 10 minutes.

In a much better closing five minutes, Jordan laid a holding the ball tackle at centre half-back and grouped a collection of three pinpoint kicks – hitting short targets both laterally and on the lead through the corridor. She was often pressured well at stoppages, but remained clean and flicked out handballs from the fire. Her best was yet to come.

Second Quarter

Starting with the opening centre clearance, Jordan took it upon herself to help Northern restore some parity in the midfield battle. It was like a switch had flicked, and in combination with some lovely ruckwork, Jordan was unbeaten at stoppages in the first five minutes of term two.

She was hit to just about every single time at the stoppages and looked to take full toll, proving clean in her handling and bringing a no-fuss kind of attitude with her quick barrelling clearances – one of which was a direct goal assist to Maykaylah Appleby, Northern’s first major for the day.

After her initial stoppage dominance, Jordan could again be seen tracking back to the defensive 50 and had a good moment at half-back where she kept her balance when chasing up a loose ball, then won a high free kick to relieve pressure.

Although she carried some perceived pressure from the stoppages to open play and subsequently rushed a few kicks, Jordan’s second term was nothing short of exceptional. Truly, it was right up there with the best anyone has produced this season.

Third Quarter

Continuing in her sweeper role at the stoppages, the majority of Jordan’s work in term three was done in those exact situations. She was hit to constantly – by both rucks – at the back of stoppages and wasted no time in disposing of the ball, mostly with clearing kicks off a step.

Her method could be viewed in one of two ways; the negative side of it says she was too rushed, but the positives were not over-possessing the ball, gaining quick meterage, and clearing out of dangerous areas. Jordan has proven she can play both ways, anyway.

The bottom-ager again racked up a good amount of the ball and began to become of concern to opposition coaches with her stoppage dominance, making for another strong 20-minute period. She was rotated for the final five, having earned a breather.

Fourth Quarter

Again starting at the centre bounce, but no longer as the sweeper, Jordan won most of her final term touches early on. Her best moment in those exchanges was a double effort; initially having her handball smothered at a stoppage, but fighting back with a tackle to win a holding the ball free kick.

After a long rotation, Jordan spent the final few minutes up forward and proved productive with her ball use. One of the highlights of her day came in the very last play, as Jordan’s vision came to the fore with a lovely handball to Appleby while moving in the other direction, to release the over-ager for her second goal. All class.

Her final act proved a fitting end to a high quality game from the youngster, who was made to front up against some stiff opposition and really forced her way into the contest. With plenty of stoppage dominance despite little room to move, she more than played her part in a five-goal loss.