THOUGH the result was not what the Pennant Hills Demons may have wanted – going down to Inner West Magpies by 11 goals in a Round 3 Anzac Day clash – there were a number of young shining lights who stepped up for the red and blue. One of them is Sydney Swans-aligned midfielder Ella Morris. The 19-year-old represented the Swans in the recent Summer Series and has plenty of upside for the future.

ELLA MORRIS

DOB: 05/10/2002
Height: 169cm
Position: Midfielder
Club: Pennant Hills Demons
State: New South Wales

Strengths:

• Defensive pressure
• Footy smarts
• Clearance work
• Clean hands
• Finishing

ELLA MORRIS

DOB: 05/10/2002
Height: 169cm
Position: Midfielder
Club: Pennant Hills Demons
State: New South Wales

Ella Morris is one of a number of rising talents in the AFL Sydney competition, and with the Swans entering the AFL Women’s for the first time next season, there is no doubt they will look to the homegrown talent to fill out the list. Morris is a player who has come through the Sydney Swans Academy, and represented the club against Geelong Falcons in the NAB League Girls competition last year. There, she amassed 10 disposals, laid four tackles and had an inside 50.

On the weekend, Morris was at it again in a match where her second term was incredible, and she still had other highlights at different points. Known as a clever on-baller with a fierce attack on the contest, Morris has some very clear strengths around the stoppages. More often than not, Morris is able to get to the right spots – be it through set plays or through smarts – and win the ball in close. She can be found as a first-possession winner in close, but can spread to the outside as well and win the ball in transition.

One of her major highlights came in the second term with an outstanding intercept mark running back with the flight in defence, then sidestepped her opponent to rebound it outside of the defensive 50. She was often having to dispose of the ball under pressure, and though at times the defensive set up of the Inner West Magpies chopped off her disposals going forward, her work in close remained throughout the match.

Morris is able to do the team things well, and she is clean by hand. Without a doubt her tackling pressure on the opposition, or her desperation to win the hard ball is very clear, and and is able to put her body on the line time and time again. Setting up a scoring shot in the final term via hand, Morris is quick with the release and then is able to back it up with a shepherd or a team play of some sort.

On a number of occasions through the match, Morris was unlucky not to win holding the ball free kicks for mowing down opposition players. Her intent and defensive pressure is as good as one could expect from a player of her age, and as a later year birth, Morris still has plenty of development left in her. A potential candidate for the Swans, she will be looking to finish off the season in style for Pennant Hills Demons – hopefully in more wins – and put her hand up to be part of the inaugural red and white side.