DESPITE a reduced round of just four games over the weekend, there were still plenty of top individual performances in Round 5 of the Talent League Girls. We took note of some high-scoring forwards, accumulating midfielders and clever defenders across a weekend that had a bit of everything from a weather perspective. All scouting notes are the opinion of the individual writer.

By: Peter Williams

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:

#5 Sophie Butterworth

The key forward started her day off well with a ripping goal from the boundary line in the first three minutes, then almost kicked a second with a dribble attempt that hit the post. She competed well aerially through the contest, and had a couple of gettable chances by her standards. In the second term a flying shot missed to the right and similarly an easy chance in the third term also went begging from a set shot. Later in that quarter she could not quite gather in the goalsquare running back, which would have been frustrating, but a bit of luck here and there, and Butterworth could have been staring down a five-goal performance.

#7 Mikayla Williamson

Her best game of the season thus far and a standout Stingray, Williamson found the space she craves and was able to provide some run and carry from the back half of the ground. Still working on fundamentals such as her ground ball work and execution, Williamson’s athletic traits and ability to read the game were still on show and her metres gained would have been far higher than her earlier weeks. Has growing potential and is building into the season nicely.

#10 Brooke Smith

A genuine over-age chance this season, Smith can play anywhere on the ground and while she is hitting the scoreboard herself, is setting up her teammates and applying truckloads of defensive pressure. She nailed a goal from the boundary line late in the first term, then would pressure the opponents into making mistakes in their defensive 50 even if she was only rewarded with three tackles. She attempted to have a running shot in the final term but her kick was smothered.

#25 Jemma Reynolds

The bottom-age midfielder just keeps producing solid performances across the board, with a nice eye-catching sidestep and and ability to take the opposition on. She is clean at ground level and quick to dispose of it, with her ball use more often than not effective. With 19 disposals and four inside 50s for the match, she adds that bit of cream on top to the the hardened inside midfielders.

#45 Elli Symonds

The bottom-age ruck worked into the game well and had a very impressive second half. Her ruck work itself was strong, but her athletic traits and second efforts at ground level were good. Her aerial work consistency and execution are aspects that will continue to need work, but she is that raw talent who with the right development, has plenty of development.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#2 Sarah Poustie

The best-on from my perspective, the hard-running winger is a neat all-round player and just works into ball-winning positions. Not always rewarded for her running, Poustie got on the end of a few chains in the Friday night clash en route to 22 disposals and seven marks. She should have capped off her performance with a goal after a great mark on the goalline in the third term but shanked the kick. Given her ability to hit targets up the field while under more pressure it was strange to see, Poustie still produced an impressive performance and showed her typical composure with ball-in-hand.

#3 Sienna Tallariti

While Tallariti has had bigger games, she was able to have a real influence in the second half, stepping up to provided a presence across the ground. She spent considerable time at half-forward, but pushed up the ground to win the ball at half-back as well and usually thumped the ball long down the line to help gain meterage for her side. She could be cleaner at ground level and tidy up the execution a little, but runs hard and is strong inside the contest.

#6 Maggie Mahony

The tough midfielder racked up another 24 disposals on the night and was able to work well on-ball. Though a lot of her work can often go unnoticed due to winning it at the coalface and extracting it, Mahony provided a balance of offensive and defensive pressure and was able to get the ball inside 50 on a number of occasions. Enjoying a really consistent bottom-age season in the Chargers’ midfield.

#8 Lara Hausegger

Provided run off half-back as always, and while it was not her night aerially, she provided good pressure to lock the ball up on a number of occasions and even won a free kick for getting to the ball first. She applied enough pressure on Butterworth in the third term to force a rushed behind over a goal, and had her moments throughout the contest.

By: Peter Williams

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#14 Candice Belbin

Working hard through the midfield, Belbin was not able to win as much of the ball as her previous fortnight, but did her best in trying to feed her outside runners. She applied some great defensive pressure across the ground and showed her trademark burst from the stoppage at times, but due to the overwhelming dominance of the Eastern midfield, could not have the same influence on the game. Her defensive pressure was still very high and she never stopped trying despite the mounting scoreline against her team.

#29 Mackenzie Williams

Williams was a rock in the back half of the ground intercepting anything that came her way. Her kicking was hit and miss, particularly going long down the line or rushing it out of danger, but her hands were as strong as ever. She was one of the higher production players and while there are those areas to work on, the bottom-ager was still able to play a pivotal role in the Devils’ defence.

EASTERN RANGES:

#6 Hayley McLaughlin

Running hard on the wing yet again, McLaughlin might not have won a truckload of it, but still played a role in transition for the Ranges. She buzzed around the contest when on the outside and should have finished off a goal from 35m on the run in the third term but fell short and wide going out of bounds. She has a nice range of kicking and ability to adjust if need be, getting it forward to dangerous spots.

#7 Stasia Stevenson

One of a number of talented bottom-agers who caught the eye in the match. She tracked the ball well up and down the ground and tried to kick a unique goal running away from the big sticks at a forward stoppage and boot it behind her head, but it went to the left for a behind. She did finish off with a nice goal running early in the third term. Her work around the ground was solid across the game and while she could be a little cleaner, showed promising traits.

#10 Laura Stone

The top-age talent was a standout in the win, picking up 26 disposals, five tackles and six inside 50s, setting up a number of scoring transitions. She was the architect behind the midfield dominance for the visitors and the best on ground. We detailed her performance in our Coates Talent League Player Focus.

>> LAURA STONE PLAYER FOCUS

#12 Georgia Knight

The dominant goalkicker on the day, Knight kicked 4.3 from 13 disposals and five marks and looked dangerous every time she went near the ball. The bottom-ager moves well despite often playing a deep role, and loves to get onto her right boot, swing around and slam one home on the move. She could have finished with a far higher goal tally, but still had a day out with her great strength, smarts and goal sense on display.

#13 Georgie Brisbane

Between Brisbane and Knight, the Ranges already have their key forward spots locked up for next year, with the former also impressing in the win. She only kicked the 1.2 from 14 disposals, but lead out well and had a number of other chances that did not register a score. She was quite often that kick and a half from goal so looked to put the ball into a teammate, setting up scoring chances and providing an aerial presence. He six marks on the day show the 175cm 16-year-old can be a problem for opposition defences.

#14 Alyssia Pisano

Started the game like a house on fire with two goals in the opening 10 minutes before being tightly guarded. She snapped off a step five minutes into the match without looking like missing from 30m and drained a set shot a few minutes later. She had a couple of uncharacteristic misses throughout the game, and one that was stopped by Williams on the goalline, but kept looking dangerous. The defenders did a good job for the middle two quarters, but when Pisano gets off the chain she can just win games off her own boot. Just the 2.2 from 16 touches, but just about anything she touches turns to gold.

#22 Grace Belloni

The bottom-age talent is enjoying a strong season and she got on the end of a couple of goals in the big win, kicking 2.3 from 20 disposals. Though Belloni could have finished with a bigger haul, she generally used the ball well and put it into goalscoring areas for her teammates. She even pushed up the ground and found the pill in defence and through midfield. She has a penetrating kick and can compete aerially, with plenty of upside still to come from the 175cm talent.

#30 Georgie Pruden

An overager who has some impressive traits, Pruden kicked a goal from 16 disposals and five marks in the game and provided a presence on the lead inside 50. She was clean at ground level and in the air, and slotted a great goal off a step after picking it up off the deck, and was able to weight her kicks into teammates. Her production at times is the question mark, but she has the skill and vision to impact games.

#35 Molly Paterson

Yet another bottom-ager for the Ranges who is looking the goods, Paterson lifted her production rate in the win, collecting 18 disposals after just 19 in her first two matches. Standing at 170cm, the 17-year-old was able to win the ball in a high half-forward and wing rotation, putting the ball inside 50 to set up scoring chances. She set up one goal to Knight and then kicked a goal herself from a 35m set shot kick in the third term.

By: Peter Williams

WESTERN JETS:

#9 Sierra Grieves

The bottom-age midfielder had a day out in the wet conditions at Werribee, racking up 35 disposals and laying a mammoth 16 tackles to be in her element. Despite the conditions, Grieves is generally clean by hand or foot and able to execute under pressure, boasting a high football IQ. Her stoppage and clearance work really stood out, especially up against a deep Calder midfield. Her release by hand and vision sets herself aside from a lot of other players, and while it was a tough day at the office in the first half for the Jets, Grieves kept on winning it.

#11 Lou-Lou Field

The best-on for the Jets in my eyes, Field was an intercepting machine, be it via a mark or mopping up in defence. She took six grabs to go with 25 disposals, and rarely wastes a touch with her composure out of the defensive 50. Her range of kicking is the most notable aspect, and she can hit targets over short, medium and long distances. When she does miss a kick it is noticeable as draft watchers have become accustomed to her skill. At times she held a high line and put pressure on the opposition defence as well.

#14 Kiera Whiley

The skipper had a real crack across four quarters, and while she has been unable to show her offensive traits too often, cannot be denied her defensive ones. She laid nine tackles and lead by example with Grieves in this regard, not allowing her opponent too many easy touches. She has a nice sidestep and can use both sides of her body, working back into defence to intercept as well.

CALDER CANNONS:

#1 Maddison Albrecht

Building some nice consistency in her bottom-age season, the number one was just solid across the board with some neat tricks and a bit of class in the wet. At times she was outmarked one-on-one which was understandable for someone of 160cm heigh but when the ball hits the ground she goes to work. She has clean hands under pressure and is able to pick up the ball off the wet deck and dispose of it quickly, finishing with 15 disposals and five inside 50s.

#18 Sarah Grunden

Just another solid performance from the talented forward who collected 20 disposals, four marks, three inside 50s and kicked a goal in the win. She booted her major from close range after a good sliding attempt, and has good speed on the lead to create separation on her opponent. Once again her clean hands both in the air and at ground level stood out, particularly in the touch conditions. A good user of the ball as well, with the complete package from a footballing and athletic standpoint.

#19 Kyla Forbes

A really promising bottom-ager, Forbes has some nice eye-catching tricks and kicked two goals from 26 disposals working through the conditions to have an impact. She has some neat evasion techniques in close, then can go forward and hit the scoreboard, with a clever snap in the opening term from the pack 15m out, then a running goal in the second quarter. Playing a four-quarter game, Forbes was next best after Kavanagh for her efforts.

#24 Amy Gaylor

It has probably not been the best start for Gaylor in terms of consistent impact, but the talented AFLW Academy member just continues to show her traits that feature a nice spin out of the stoppage, or clean hands at ground level. She has a fierce attack on the ball, and while her production is down on her bottom-age year, Gaylor’s work rate and ability to just have her moments still standout. She played deep forward in the fourth term, though did not see a lot of it with the ball up the other end, and finished with the 12 disposals. She laid seven tackles though in a strong defensive effort.

#25 Kayley Kavanagh

One of the highest production midfielders this year, Kavanagh just keeps putting out the goods with a 30-disposal effort her new benchmark this season. Her work inside the contest has always been evident, but now her outside work is starting to come to the fore, getting into space and winning the ball, then putting it inside 50 for scoring opportunities. Kavanagh covers the ground well and has a nice sidestep to evade opponents, while competing strongly in the air to take eight marks. Though not always known for that aerial presence, she certainly put out an impressive best on ground display to win our Player of the Week.

>> KAYLEY KAVANAGH PLAYER OF THE WEEK

#39 Bridie Collings

Another Calder midfielder enjoying a consistent season, the 17-year-old won another 21 disposals in the wet while laying five tackles. She was quick and clean at the contest, but also got busy on the defensive end. Using the ball generally well, Collings got forward to have a flying shot on goal in the fourth term but it bounced to the right for a behind. Just a solid all-round player in an impressive midfield group.

By: Declan Reeve

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:

#10 Shaedyn Aylen

The draft-age defender was a standout for the Dragons on the day with her consistent attack on the ball and ball carrier alike, causing consistent headaches for Northern as they tried to find forwards in dangerous spots. She was reliable with her ball use, taking safe options by foot out of defensive 50, or finding teammates out of the contest via hand.

#15 Sophie McKay

The bottom-aged Carlton father-daughter prospect was impressive on debut, starting in the forward line she presented as a marking option consistently when the ball was heading forward, with her ball use good throughout. It was her work through the midfield that stood out the most though, with her speed out of the contest and reading of the ball off ruck hands proving a dangerous combination.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#1 Suwindi Buckley

Whilst returning her lowest disposal count for the season, Buckley was still impressive with her defensive application and clean ball use. She showed an impressive amount of elusiveness through traffic, getting through opponents with ease and following up with clean ball use to dangerous spots. 

#5 Zoe Hargreaves

The tall midfielder was a danger all day both at ground level and in the air, reading the ball better than most to take a couple of marks out the back of packs, not always bulleting passes to her teammates but always looking to get the footy to dangerous spots. She did impose herself on the contest when the situation called for it, although worked best on the outside.

#11 Hannah Scott

Acting as a key distributor from the backline, Scott was aggressive in her positioning when her side was inside 50, sweeping up on any rushed rebounds from the Dragons, but also was reliable in the defensive half. Her use was good throughout, looking for targets close to the boundary when rebounding out, or looking to centre the ball in the forward half.

#14 Ava Jordan

Given how good she’s been over her two under-aged years, it’s no surprise that Jordan continues to dominate at this level. Recording an incredible 30 disposals, Jordan was everywhere all game, pushing down back to help in defense and rushing forward to aid her team in capitalising on their inside 50’s. Jordan was clean with her disposal even in congestion, winning it easily in contested situations, and working hard to win it on the outside as well.