TALENTED top-age Swan Districts talent Abbygail Bushby produced the best game of her WAFL Women’s career thus far, with an eye-catching 27-disposal effort in her side’s victory over Peel Thunder. Putting together a best on ground performance, the midfielder-forward was lively inside 50 as she racked up 15 first-half disposals and lead all-comers on the ground for touches. She is our latest player under the microscope for the WAFL Women’s Player Focus.

SEASON SO FAR

Averages: (5 games):

14.2 disposals
9.2 kicks
5.0 handballs
2.8 marks
3.0 tackles
2.8 inside 50s
1.2 goals

Bushby had a real breakout game against the Thunder, with a massive 27 disposals. That equally trumped her previous best of the past two weeks with 12 touches each, though she also spent more time through the midfield. The last couple of weeks, Bushby kicked multiple majors as the link-up player from midfield to the forward 50, but showcased her ability to find the ball on the weekend, particularly in the absence of fellow State Academy member and winger Tara Stribley.

ROUND 5:

Swan Districts 7.8 (50) defeated Peel Thunder 5.3 (33)

Stats: 27 disposals (17 kicks, 10 handballs), 5 marks, 4 tackles, 6 inside 50, 1 goal

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER:

First Quarter

Bushby’s game started off in fine style through the first term, with her first touch being a handball close to the boundary line. She laid a tackle on Chloe Wrigley at a forward stoppage not long after, and had a set shot from 40m out off the left. It just missed to bounce through for a behind. She continued to apply pressure to the opposition throughout the match, and almost set up a goal to Ashley Sharp when she received the handball at the top of 50, but the Dockers-listed talent could not quite pick it up.

Not long after though, Bushby would set up a goal to Sharp with a nice kick to her advantage as she ran back, with Sharp able to snap around her body for the major. Bushby continued to work hard, this time coming off half-back to pick it cleanly off the deck and handball, then laid a tackle on opposing ruck, Lauren Quaife but gave away a free kick. She had a good mark in the defensive 50 in the final few minutes, kicking to the wing, and then laid a strong tackle to conclude her first quarter involvements.

Second Quarter

The second term started with another free kick against, this time to Wrigley inside the defensive 50. But the overzealous attack did not stem Bushby’s determination to win the ball at ground level, as she continued to attack it hard, winning a free kick herself up the other end. Her kick from 45m out was a short one to set up Taylah Edwards. Bushby marked in the middle of the ground four minutes into the term but her kick was a scrubber as it did not connect, but she kept working hard to lay a good tackle on Emily Gunton inside the attacking 50 to ensure the ball remained up the Swans’ attacking end.

Bushby gave away another free kick for going too hard at ground level, this time into the back of fellow State Academy member, Megan Bain. The Swan Districts forward did well when Gunton tried to drag her down, but she managed to handball off before she was caught. Bushby’s best was yet to come though, with a quick kick forward out of a stoppage looking like it was going in but marked in the goalsquare, then Bushby had a slick handball to her captain Jessica Cox at the top of 50. In the last few minutes, Edwards soccered the ball in Bushby’s direction, and the teenager had a clean pickup and kick from the goalsquare to get on the board after some hard running. Going straight into the middle after the goal, she was immediately tackled but go the handball away, to mark her 15th disposal in the match.

Third Quarter

Though the third term was a little less impactful – mostly due to her disposals being under pressure – Bushby still managed to get to the right spots to continue building her big total. Given she had already surpassed her previous best of 12 touches in just a half of football, the Swan Districts talent was running hot in the match. She had a couple of kicks moving in transition with one put well in front of Taylor Pescud, and then another from the top of 50, but the kick to the pocket just went a bit far and out of bounds.

She had a nice pickup at speed in the 12th minute, but her kick was rushed and out on the full. It was a bit of a tend in the term as the Thunder adjusted to her tactics and tried to limit her time to get onto her trusty left. She had a scrubber kick at half-back after a good mark, and then looked to receive the handball from a teammate at ground level in the 15th minute but could have applied the shepherd so they did not get tackled. Nonetheless, her defensive pressure and use in the first half was very good.

Fourth Quarter

Bushby’s fourth term got back up to her best in terms of her use, with a great attack on the ball early at half-back, and then a free kick at the five-minute mark where she was able to put it to a contest. Bushby ran hard to receive the handball on the outside in the defensive half and spot up Edwards in the middle with a pinpoint kick. Her running would continue to earn her touches, and she had another couple of touches between the arcs. Though she had a late turnover by foot, the fact Bushby was able to spend time at half-back as well as through the middle showcased that versatility.

Abbygail Bushby is an interesting talent in the sense that she has some really top traits that catch the eye, and being a left footer makes her all the more difficult to try and contain. She can hit the scoreboard, and both her offensive and defensive traits can impact a game. Normally she is not a huge ball-winner, but the fact Stribley was missing gave her the opportunity to play further afield, and she benefited. If this is the benchmark she can set for the season – or close to it – then the Swan Districts utility should definitely be a name to remember over the coming months.