IN the second of two Victorian trial games, Vic Country hopefuls strutted their stuff in Werribee to help selectors determine a final squad for the upcoming AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. Yesterday we covered the Vic Metro trial game.

>> SCOUTING NOTES: 2023 VIC METRO AFLW U18s TRIAL

VIC COUNTRY RED 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.5 (5)
VIC COUNTRY WHITE 2.2 | 5.6 | 7.8 | 10.10 (70)

GOALS:
Red: Nil
White: B. O’Rourke 2, B. Ward 2, S. Howley, K. Fullerton, S. White, M. Williamson, L. Marescuk, C. Mason

RMC BEST:
Red: E. Symonds, L. Jordan, L. Keck, H. Egan, K. Dalgleish
White: S. Howley, B. O’Rourke, M. Robertson, K. Fullerton, M. Williamson

Vic Country White enjoyed a comprehensive 65-point win over Vic Country Red, keeping the losing side goalless for the entire match. The White team had a stack of Vic Country hub members and some star bottom-age talent, and it helped them largely control the match to win 10.10 (70) to 0.5 (5).

Bryde O’Rourke and Brook Ward both kicked a couple of goals in the win, while Geelong Falcons accumulator Sara Howley and Dandenong Stingrays utility Meg Robertson had plenty of the ball. For the Red side, ruck/forward Elli Symonds was a standout, with GWV Rebels forward Lily Jordan and Bendigo Pioneers AFLW Academy member Lila Keck among the better players.

SCOUTING NOTES:

Vic Country Red:

#1 Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers)
20/10/2005 | 162cm | Forward/Midfielder

Starting forward then rotating into the middle in the second half, Keck worked her way back into the match in what was just her second game back from injury. A total of 10 of her 16 touches came after half time and she even had a couple of chances on goal in the final term that went a little astray. But she looked lively and was able to sidestep a couple of opponents at different points.

#2 Steph Demeo (Bendigo Pioneers)
10/05/2005 | 162cm | Defender/Midfielder

Holding her own throughout the match and finishing strongly, Demeo was able to spend valuable minutes in the midfield. Though her polish could be tidied up at times, she was good around the stoppages and able to pick up a team-high four clearances, and also lay four tackles. Quite often she was utilised in mopping up and clearing the danger.

#6 Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays)
15/07/2006 | 161cm | Utility

The bottom-age Stingray showed some class throughout the match and while she was a little quieter through the middle of the game, earned some midfield minutes like a number of her teammates. She was clean by hand and able to create some run, and though she had a poor kick straight to Howley when in defence, she picked up from there and was able to get the ball forward inside 50.

#9 Brooke Smith (Dandenong Stingrays)
21/02/2004 | 170cm | Midfield/Forward

The over-age propsect started at the centre bounce in both the first and second terms, and rolled forward to try and create some movement in the attacking half. Always offering herself as an option by hand in transition, Smith primarily played a more outside role on this occasions and used her kicking skills to full advantage going forward. Impressively she hit up a target on her non-preferred side in the third term inside 50.

#10 Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers)
01/07/2006 | 175cm | Wing/Defender

Playing a solid game across the four quarters, the smooth-moving Bushrangers midfielder got her hands on the ball consistently. On a number of occasions when under pressure, Egan was able to stand up and still get the handball away, releasing a teammate to move the ball on. Still needing to iron out that polish by foot, Egan covered the ground well and was one of the better Red players.

#14 Lily Jordan (GWV Rebels)
29/06/2005 | 164cm | Forward

Though the goalsneak was unable to hit the scoreboard herself – her sole score was a behind after an uncharacteristic spray from the set shot. She had a few rushed kicks that went to space, but also hit up some nice passes when lowering her eyes inside 50. She took a couple of strong marks, but what really sets Jordan aside from most crafty forwards is her defensive pressure, and once again she brought the heat, laying a team-high six tackles in the match.

#25 Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays)
07/10/2006 | 177cm | Ruck/Forward

Boasting rising potential, the athletic ruck/forward certainly caught the eye as the clear best-on for the Red team. Though her kicking at times can be hit or miss, her work out of the ruck – which usually is backed up by great follow-up work – is a huge point of difference. Furthermore her ability to move into a key forward role and take some strong marks also stood out, having five inside 50s to go with her team-high 26 touches and 50 per cent contested rate.

Vic Country White:

#7 Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
29/01/2006 | 173cm | Wing/Midfield

Few would be surprised to see Howley up among the prominent ball-winners, and that was even with less on-ball time than usual. She rotated between the wing and midfield and even rested forward at times, finishing with 24 disposals, nine marks, seven tackles, five inside 50s and a goal. She kicked a great goal in the opening term off a turnover and continued to rack up the ball with ease. She would release teammates by hand such as O’Rourke running into an open goal, and apply equal amounts of offensive and defensive pressure.

#8 Meg Robertson (Dandenong Stingrays)
06/06/2005 | 171cm | Midfield/Forward

Another player who has had no trouble finding the ball this year, Robertson continued that form with plenty of midfield time for the White side. Racking up a whopping 11 disposals in quarter two, Robertson would finish with a game-high 27, including six disposals from four marks in the final term. Boasting some terrific footballing smarts, Robertson knows how to find space inside 50 and is able to give herself chances on goal. Not able to capitalise on them booting 0.3, she was able to still create scoreboard pressure with a number of neat kicks inside 50.

#10 Keely Fullerton (Bendigo Pioneers)
30/01/2005 | 161cm | Wing/Defender

Fullerton ran hard all day and got some important midfield minutes off the wing and then rolling back to defence where she found plenty of the ball. She had an eye-catching burst along the wing in the second term, but her best quarter by far was her final one. Quite often coming out of defence and pushing up the ground, Fullerton finished with 10 disposals in the quarter, also clunking three marks and being the prime ball-winner for the period. She even kicked a classy goal on the run from a handball receive in a really impressive performance.

#14 Bryde O’Rourke (Bendigo Pioneers)
28/11/2005 | 175cm | Midfield/Forward

Though not the finished product just yet, O’Rourke continues to rise in draft calculations with a lot to like about her performances. On the weekend, she was able to glide down the ground be it out of a centre stoppage or from half-back, then would go forward. She finished with a couple of majors including a very impressive goal on the run, and though she could have had even more with 2.2 and being a little cleaner in the air and at ground level, she is flashy when she can get moving.

#15 Millie Lang (GWV Rebels)
06/11/2006 | 177cm | Defender

The rebounding defender played in her usual role at centre half-back and though she was not always utilised given the ball was more often in her side’s forward half of the ground, she still provided plenty of rebound. Lang even got to play on her GWV Rebels teammate Jordan at different times, but with ball-in-hand was her usual composed self.

#17 Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays)
08/05/ 2005 | 173cm | Midfield/Forward

Backing up a strong effort just prior to the trial game, Williamson is piecing together some nice mid-season form. She kicked and goal in the third term from the goalsquare, albeit after takin a little while to control it, but did her best work running down the ground. Not a massive ball-winner on the day, Williamson still created plenty of run via metres gained and really had an influence in the congestion.

#18 Jemma Ramsdale (Dandenong Stingrays)
07/05/2005 | 174cm | Defender

The Stingrays skipper played one of her more consistent games of the year, using the ball pretty well under serious heat. Though the majority of her 18 touches came in a contested situation, she was able to clear the area and also clunked some strong marks. Ramsdale’s positioning in marking contests certainly helped and throughout the four quarters remained consistent in that anchor role.

#21 Brook Ward (GWV Rebels)
18/04/2006 | 170cm | Forward

Though utilised as a midfielder at the Rebels, Ward found herself as a lead-up forward for the White team. Though not her familiar position, she still impressed in the role, working in tandem with Chantal Mason and then Ash Centra. She lead out and showed strong hands with five marks from nine touches, while kicking 2.1 for the day. Both of her goals came in the first half from set shots and though she was quieter after half time with just the two disposals, she had been the most prominent scorer in the first half.