IN the first of two Victorian trial games, Vic Metro hopefuls strutted their stuff at Werribee to help selectors determine a final squad for the upcoming AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. Tomorrow night we will take a look at the Vic Country Under 18s trial match.

VIC METRO BLUE 2.1 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 (18)
VIC METRO GREEN 0.6 | 2.8 | 5.13 | 8.15 (63)

GOALS:
Blue: S. Grunden, G. Knight
Green: C. Millias 2, I. Parnell 2, E. McDonald, M. Mahony, G. Stubbs, K. Russell

RMC BEST:

Blue: G. Belloni, Z. Hargreaves, M. Patterson, A. Campbell, H. Scott
Green: S Grieves, S. McKay, E. McDonald, G. Stubbs, S. Tallariti

After kicking the first two goals of the game through Sarah Grunden and Georgia Knight, Blue could only managed five behinds in the last three quarters as Green took control.

The scoreboard flattered the losing side a touch, as the eventual winners booted seven straight behinds for the game, before straightening up and kicking 8.8 from that point on.

Cameron Millias and Isabella Parnell both booted two goals apiece for the Green side, as bottom-age midfielders, Sierra Grieves and Sophie McKay starred in the win. Emma McDonald also impressed up forward as a lead-up target, while Georgia Stubbs and Sienna Tallariti were also among the best.

For Blue, Grace Belloni was the clear standout through the middle and rotating forward, while Zoe Hargreaves and Molly Patterson also caught the eye. Ava Campbell and Hannah Scott were others who worked hard across the four quarters, particularly in defence.

SCOUTING NOTES:

Vic Metro Blue:

#1 Hannah Scott (Northern Knights)
10/12/2005 | 161cm | Defender

The in-form Northern Knights defender was often tasked with the kickouts, or mopping up in defence, and held her own in the ‘Big V’. She found plenty of the ball and continued to win it across the four quarters. Her third term was particularly influential, and though she had a couple of turnovers, generally used the ball well. Defensively she was strong, laying six tackles to go with her 18 touches.

#5 Zoe Hargreaves (Northern Knights)
03/06/2006 | 171cm | Midfielder/Forward

Enjoying a terrific debut season, the older of the Hargreaves sisters was another impressive player through the midfield rotation. Yet again her 15 touches seemed like far more, with some classy moves, and won an equal game-high four clearances. Her first half was her far more dominant half, but had some nice moments by hand and foot. She started at the centre bounce in three of the four quarters, more than any other player.

#8 Kyla Forbes (Sandringham Dragons)
07/09/2006 | 168cm | Forward/Midfielder

The left-footer has such a smooth action with her kick, though can often tend to rush it a little and make it more difficult on herself. While it was not her best kicking day, she still spread well on the outside, winning it between wing and half-forward, and putting the ball inside 50 to put pressure on the opposition defence. Her first kick after a mark in the middle was elite though, hitting up Kavanagh from long-range on the 45-degree angle. In the same term, she had a flying shot on goal which just missed.

#10 Molly Paterson (Eastern Ranges)
11/07/2006 | 170cm | Wing/Defence

The Eastern Ranges player is no stranger to taking grass and looking to break down the opposition defensive zone, and she did just that with plenty of handball receives and working well from half-back and at the stoppages. She creates her own space and can play a variety of roles including inside or outside, and off half-back. Though at times she did turn the ball over, and got run-down by McKay early in the match, she kept backing herself to take the game on.

#11 Ava Campbell (Eastern Ranges)
29/07/2005 | 174cm | Defender

Stationed in her usual defensive position, Campbell won a truckload of the ball in the back half, often intercepting it and driving forward. By half-time she had racked up 10 touches. Though having a quieter quarter in the third term up the other end, she went back and picked back up again in the fourth. The majority of her touches were booming kicks down the ground, with a game-high eight rebound 50s.

#16 Kiera Whiley (Western Jets)
07/04/2005 | 173cm | Midfielder/Defender

The Western Jets skipper was solid across the board as usual and had a busy start to the game with six touches in the opening term. She always looks to open the game up and generally did pretty well with ball-in-hand, neatly passing into the corridor or clearing from defence. A couple of times Whiley was really stiff to give away free kicks for tackles, as her defensive attributes came to the fore. She also started at the first centre bounce.

#18 Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons)
06/07/2005 | 169cm | Midfielder/Defender

The natural ball-winning midfielder had the ball on a string in the first half, racing to 13 touches by half-time to lead all-comers on the field. Despite starting at half-back, Kavanagh got her chance moving into the midfield after that, and even took a strong one-on-one mark. After rotating out of midfield in the second half, Kavanagh had a quieter half with just the five additional touches. Still, she staked her case to earn a spot in the Metro midfield rotation, cracking in across the three quarters.

#21 Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges)
09/09/2006 | 175cm | Midfielder/Forward

The standout Blue player, Belloni looked incredibly comfortable as a bottom-ager, rolling through the midfield then going forward in a similar role to that at Eastern. She was able to hand off to Forbes for an early shot on goal and showed nice vision when roaming at half-back out of a the stoppages. Winning the ball in all thirds of the ground, Belloni started at the centre bounce in the third and fourth quarters and caught the eye with her movement through congestion. At 175cm, she is a great size for a midfielder, and strong overhead, but did her best work releasing by hand to teammates and laying strong tackles.

Vic Metro Green:

#3 Cameron Millias (Sandringham Dragons)
28/12/2005 | 168cm | Midfielder/Forward

An athletically gifted player, Millias’ speed is always an eye-catcher and she did just that through the game. Starting at the centre bounce in the second and fourth terms, she would then push forward to kick two goals. Her first was a nice running goal seven minutes into the second quarter, then just cleared an opponent’s hand in the final minute of the third term. She set up a goal with a handball to Stubbs in the fourth quarter, and looked lively across the ground. Used the ball well on this occasions and was able to do damage on the scoreboard.

#8 Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons)
27/04/2006 | 168cm | Midfielder/Forward

One of the more promising bottom-age midfielders, Carlton fans will be excited about the progress that the midfielder/forward is making. After having a strong season with the Dragons, she looked impressive early int he game with seven disposals in the first term. She had a quieter second quarter before returning in a big way, and while at times her kicking let her down by just missing targets narrowly, she brought the heat and laid some vital tackles. Should have rewarded herself with a terrific snap but the ball took a right angle bounce and missed in the opening term.

#9 Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)
18/05/2006 | 164cm | Midfielder/Forward

The ball magnet was simply superb and a clear standout for the Green side with McKay. She just gets to the right spots through sheer work rate and though credited with 22 disposals, that ultimately came in the first three quarters. Used the ball well and a won a lot of it in transition, she also had a high contested rate and was able to set up teammates for goal assists such as McDonald’s goal and a behind to Stubbs. Her ability to just do everything right be it at the coalface or around the ground is eye-catching. One to watch at the upcoming national carnival.

#13 Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)
05/01/2006 | 170cm | Wing/Midfielder

Just an all-round consistent effort from Poustie who rotated between inside and outside. Boasting an elite endurance base, she used the ball well by hand or foot and utilised her impressive vision. She backs herself to make those corridor kicks, and while sometimes they can come unstuck, she puts 100 per cent effort in, with a game-high eight tackles in the victory.

#15 Georgia Stubbs (Eastern Ranges)
16/07/2005 | 165cm | Utility

Stubbs was arguably the surprise packet of the top-agers, backing up her good recent form to really standout as yet another Eastern Ranges draft prospect. Though her kicking at times can be hit and miss, she can play forward, back or inside, and does not back down from a challenge, laying seven tackles. She kicked a great goal on the run seven minutes into the final term, and almost had a second in the last two minutes with a set shot just falling short. With a little more accuracy and depth, Stubbs could have had three or four goals.

#17 Isabella Parnell (Northern Knights)
12/04/2005 | 173cm | Forward

Another surprise packet who took full advantage of the Green’s team’s midfield dominance going inside 50, Parnell finished with two goals, but realistically should have filled her boots. Both her majors came later in the game, with one from a set shot 35m out and another in the final minute from a snap close to goal roving the pack. She had quite a number of shots across the first three quarters that just missed, though looked lively and in particularly had a big second half with 11 of her 14 disposals coming after the main break.

#23 Sienna Tallariti (Oakleigh Chargers)
10/07/2006 | 168cm | Utility

Starting in defence as she has played for Oakleigh of late, Tallariti also started at the centre bounce in the third term, then pushed forward to rest early in that quarter to mark and have a set shot. One of the most unique prospects given her strength and versatility, Tallariti reads the ball well in the air and has a booming kick. She ultimately missed her set shot, but continued to rack up the ball with a match-high eight rebound 50s.

#27 Emma McDonald (Oakleigh Chargers)
18/04/2006 | 180cm | Forward

Looming as one of the top Victorian talls in next year’s draft, McDonald has a massive ceiling. She is a player who can clunk strong grabs and hit the scoreboard, but also uses the ball so well when further afield. Taking four marks – two contested – from 15 disposals and a goal, she left her mark on the game as a target inside 50. McDonald’s kick came following a good lead and strong hands in the third term, and set up a goal to Krystal Russell in the fourth quarter with a lace-out pass. McDonald also came close to a massive contested mark close to goal that just slipped away but got a handball away.