ONE of the top performers at last year’s AFL Women’s Under 19 Championships, Cynthia Hamilton returns to the Under 18s edition as a top-ager. The NSW-ACT prospect stands at 170cm and won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award at the 2021 championships for the Allies. If her performance against the Tasmania and Northern Territory Allied side is anything to go by, her 2022 sequel could be just as good as the original.

Today’s Player Focus analyses just that, with Hamilton amassing a game-high 25 disposals and six clearances, as well as taking four marks, laying three tackles and finishing with four inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a goal in an all-round performance.

CYNTHIA HAMILTON PROFILE

DOB: 02/04/2004
Height: 170cm
Position: Inside Midfielder
Club: Queanbeyan/NSW-ACT

2021 AFLW U19s Averages: (2 games):

21.5 disposals
14.0 kicks
7.5 handballs
3.0 marks
10.0 tackles
5.0 inside 50s
1.0 rebound 50s
1.0 goals

AFLW U18s Round 2:

Allies 13.7 (85) defeated Allies 7.3 (45)

Stats: 25 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER:

First Quarter

Hamilton started the game on fire in just her second match for the year. She was influential from the clearances, having a number of crucial extractions and then hit up teammate Georgie Jaques 15m out from goal for a major. She has always been a high-volume tackler, but was clever in her approach to a tackle at half-forward, not laying too high of a tackle to wrap her opponent up. She set up a second NSW-ACT goal, this time to Jaime Kitchener who marked late in the term to put the home side in front at the first break. Hamilton finished the term with nine disposals, two marks and two clearances, as well as the one tackle and a one inside 50.

Second Quarter

Hamilton continued to amass the ball in the second term, getting around the ground and applying good pressure and an option in transition. She was fantastic in swooping on the ball after an Allies mistake, and kicking a great goal. Her work inside 50 when down there was impressive, and she had a chance to kick a second not long after after making well one-on-one. Unfortunately she sprayed the set shot, but it was a rare blemish, and she was able to win another big clearance from the middle of the ground in the term. By half-time, Hamilton had an additional six touches and a clearance to make it 15 and three respectively, whilst having a couple of rebound 50s, a goal and a behind, and two more tackles and one more mark.

Third Quarter

Her third term was uncharacteristically quiet, but it was the theme of the game as the Allies kicked away in the premiership quarter. The visitors had the majority of the ball and NSW-ACT could not get back on top, conceding 5.3 to 0.1. Hamilton had a lovely pinpoint pass from the middle to half-forward, but overall in the term she had the three disposals, one clearance and one rebound 50 for the term.

Fourth Quarter

Bouncing back after a quiet third term, Hamilton would go on to pick up another seven disposals, one mark, two clearances and two inside 50s in a strong quarter. She showed her intent from the first bounce with an immediate clearance out of the middle, then had another on the forward side of the wing going inside 50. At one point she received the ball on the half volley there, stood up in a tackle, sidestepped her opponent and kicked forward, then followed up with another touch to kick inside 50.

Closing Thoughts…

Cynthia Hamilton was best on ground in a losing performance, with three of her four quarters ultra-impressive. Though her side went down, Hamilton was able to crack in, win the ball and be a force around the stoppages, also setting up her team going forward. She ran at a massive 65.4 per cent contested, whilst still finished with a 56 per cent efficiency rate, including 100 per cent by hand. She won six hard ball gets, six loose ball gets and six handball receives in a real even balance of ball winning. Hamilton is certainly one to watch for the clashes against South Australia and Queensland.