THE 2022 AFLW Under 16 National Championships hit Victoria this week, and Vic Country made Good Friday great with its 31-point win over Metro at Avalon Airport Oval. With a talented mix of 2005 and 2006-born prospects afield, there were plenty of outstanding individual performances on the representative stage. We highlight them in the latest edition of Scouting Notes.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

VIC COUNTRY:

#1 Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers)
20/10/2005 | 161cm | Small Forward/Midfielder

One of the nine 2005-born talents afield for Country, and the only one also part of the Under 18 squad, Keck ran rampant on Friday. The Bendigo Pioneers prospect notched the first score of the game with a snap across the face, but began to come into her own in term two. During said period, Keck’s tackling efforts lifted and she made a menace of herself buzzing around the forward half. She snagged a classy dribbler goal, before adding a set shot conversion in term four – making up for a couple of misses in the previous quarter. At the end of it all, a team-high 21 disposals, five tackles and 2.3 makes for good reading.

#3 Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons)
13/12/2005 | 167cm | Midfielder

Adams was a constant feature around the ball for Country, as she dug in to win 17 disposals for the day – including a team-high six clearances and eight inside 50s. The Geelong Falcons talent was not afraid to get her hands dirty and had no trouble earning the contested ball, able to stand out with her helmet among the various stoppage scrums. While not as flashy as others, Adams allowed those with that touch of flair to shine on the back of her hard work in the clinches.

#5 Lucia Painter (Bendigo Pioneers)
23/02/2006 | 173cm | Midfielder/Utility

The sole 2006-born player to earn a NAB League Girls team of the year nod, Painter again proved on Friday that she could just have easily fit into an Under 18 jersey. She rotated between the midfield and forwardline, dominating in the early stages with two first-quarter goals and plenty of surges away from traffic. Painter was seemingly everywhere at times, fighting to win back possession in the defence, but also looking ominous with her bursting runs through the corridor. Her power proved difficult to combat, and point towards her being a true powerhouse for

#7 Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
29/01/2006 | 169cm | Outside Midfielder

Howley was one who may not have lit up the stats sheet (five disposals, two rebound 50s), but caught the eye with just about each possession. Stationed out on the wing, the Geelong Falcons prospect showcased her speed with serious run and carry, breaking the lines with big strides before getting boot to ball. She missed a flying shot on goal in the first term and had after a promising start, could not quite find the same spark as the game wore on.

#16 Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
2/06/2006 | 173cm | Forward

Another who is arguably good enough to play above her age-group, Centra lit up the game at times from her key forward post. The dynamic Gippsland Power product was full of grace on Good Friday, but ended up with an ‘almost’ kind of outing. She notched two minor scores from set shots, and that conversion is really the only thing missing from a terrific overall game. Centra showcased her athleticism in a couple of magical spurts during term two; clunking a clean overhead mark, and next powering away with a running bounce at half forward after splitting a contest open. She has that ‘wow’ factor.

#21 Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays)
8/05/2005 | 173cm | Wing

Williamson made the wing her own on Friday, producing some damaging play after a steady start to the game. She came to prominence during term two, handling the ball more cleanly and getting her running game going on the outside. Her combination of speed and size proved difficult to combat, and Williamson was almost unstoppable once she hit full flight. Heading into her top-age year, being more precise with her kicking on the run is an area for development, to have full effect with each possession.

#20 Zoe Besanko (Dandenong Stingrays)
25/05/2006 | 178cm | Tall Utility

Given Dandenong’s strength this season, Besanko has registered just two NAB League outings, but did some nice things with her six disposals on Friday. She started with a shaky moment, being caught holding the ball inside attacking 50, but quickly made up for it with a two-grab mark and neat kick to a leading target. Besanko also got on the scoreboard in term two, converting her chance deep inside 50 and moving well for a 178cm player who also competes in the ruck.

VIC METRO:

#1 Suwindi Buckley (Northern Knights)
19/06/2006 | 161cm | Small Forward/Midfielder

Buckley is the type of blue collar worker most teams love to have, and she put in a shift for Metro despite the going not always being smooth sailing. Utilised in a pressure forward role, Buckley laid six tackles and hit the scoreboard with a sole major, converted after the three-quarter time siren. She seemed to improve as the game wore on having not been afforded much room to move, and is one who just has a crack all day.

#2 Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)
2/02/2007 | 163cm | Forward/Midfielder

Baker-West made a hot start for Metro, getting involved in seemingly everything at stoppage to jet away with a ridiculous amount of clearances. She ended up with seven among a game-high 21 disposals, putting her hand up as arguably best afield for Metro. One of just two 2007-born talents selected for either side, Baker-West looked far from fazed by the occasion and set on her way with confidence, proving up to the task as her side began to fall behind.

#4 Molly Paterson (Eastern Ranges)
11/02/2006 | 171cm | Midfielder

Skipper for the day, Paterson has been tasked with midfield minutes for the Eastern Ranges in 2022 and proved more than capable of leading Metro’s midfield this time out. The 16-year-old was just about a permanent fixture at the centre bounces and plugged away all day for 11 disposals and two inside 50s. While there were not as many flashy moments, one particular centre break at the start of the third term caught the eye.

#13 Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner (Western Jets)
1/07/2005 | 180cm | Tall Forward

Fresh off her electric performance in the NAB League Girls grand final, Weston-Turner looked full of confidence and translated that to another exciting display on Friday. The Western Jets talent has enormous athletic potential, with her speed and confidence to burn off opponents at 180cm proving a dangerous mix up forward. Finishing is the key trait the bottom-ager can work on, having ended up with 1.3 from nine touches. She slotted her lone goal in the second quarter and produced several eye-catching runs inside 50, with that touch of composure and class the only thing missing in an otherwise promising game.

#17 Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges)
22/11/2005 | 169cm | Defender

Like Keck for Country, Stone is one of the rare bottom-agers who was also part of the initial Under 18 representative squad, but plied her trade with Metro’s 16s on Friday. The Eastern Ranges defender was another who may not have produced big numbers (seven disposals, six tackles), but managed to inject a bit of speed and excitement once involved in the play. She also stretched to take a couple of handy marks overhead – her only two for the game – including a great intercept in the first quarter.

#24 Siena Farrell (Sandringham Dragons)
15/04/2006 | 175cm | Midfielder/Wing

Farrell is a promising prospect given her size and versatility, and she has proven she can certainly play too. The Sandringham Dragons utility was utilised on both sides of midfield and while she only took two marks for the day like Stone, both were clean efforts overhead. Farrell also had a chance on goal in the final quarter, but saw her checkside attempt miss the mark.

#25 Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)
10/07/2006 | 175cm | Wing/Midfielder

Another Metro prospect with good size who spent time on both sides of midfield, Tallariti also imposed herself on the contest with efforts both aerially and at ground level. She worked into the defensive half to notch three rebound 50s from 11 disposals, and standing up with five marks. Two of those grabs in particular caught the eye, with one plucked in a pack, and the other taken on the intercept around centre half-back.