BOTTOM-AGE talent Jasmine Sowden was a standout in Round 10 of the Coates Talent League despite her Gippsland Power side going down to Tasmania Devils by two goals. In a blustery day at Warrawee Park, the 16-year-old had a breakout 30 disposals, five marks, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s, while laying 11 tackles to be best on ground and our Player Focus for the week.

The lightly bodied Sowden is a hard runner who starts on the inside and then pushes to the wing, while rotating back to the flanks. Though she looks to run and carry when she can, she packs a punch as her tackle numbers suggest. In season 2023, Sowden is averaging 16.4 disposals, 4.0 marks, 2.4 inside 50s and 8.1 tackles per game. Though she is yet to hit the scoreboard, Sowden came close on Saturday with four behinds.

2023 Coates Talent League Girls: Round 10
Gippsland Power 2.5 (17) def. by Tasmania Devils 3.11 (29)

STATS: 30 disposals (20 kicks, 10 handballs), 5 marks, 11 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 4 behinds

FIRST HALF

Jasmine Sowden started the game strong with a fierce tackle on the wing to set the tone for the match. She would follow up that effort by winning the ball and kicking inside 50 to put pressure on the Devils’ defence. A fantastic run-down tackle on double bottom-ager, Mia Anderson came in the fifth minute, and then Sowden won a vital clearance from half-back and kicked to the wing.

In the middle of the first term, Sowden worked back into defence to take a strong grab, and kicked to a one-on-one contest at half-back, before finishing the quarter with a clean pickup off the deck and effective handball in traffic.

Sowden’s second term was her quietest of the day, but she still found a way to be involved, winning the ball at ground level in the first two minutes, and being able to dispose of it by hand as she was tackled. At half-back late in the term, she applied good pressure on her opponent to force a turnover as they went inside 50, and she headed into the main break with that nice balance of offensive and defensive impact.

SECOND HALF

Sowden quickly re-established herself as one of the prime ball-winners in the match just a couple of minutes into the second half. She marked on the wing and kicked forward well, then in the fourth minute, had another clean pickup, sidestepped an opponent and though she was tackled by that opponent’s lunge, she got a handball away.

Adding another kick to her growing possession tally following a great tackle, Sowden again put the ball inside 50, and it was a theme of her game, looking to gain distance. She would get back into defence to help out too, and won the ball a couple of times at half-back or the defensive side of the wing, giving off a clean handball while under pressure.

Though her side was going down, Sowden was able to maintain her intensity throughout the contest, and cleared the ball from the contest down the wing to hit the target in the opening two minutes of the final term.

At the six-minute mark, Sowden had yet another good pickup off the deck and gave off the handball in defence while being tackled, then bounced back up and got a kick to clear the danger. Though that ultimately would be turned over, she had bought her teammates time.

Concluding her performance, Sowden had another couple of touches including a long kick from half-back to the wing, while also being denied of a 31st touch via an opposition smother.

IN CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Though a scrappy game and hard to score, Sowden was able to impact the contest in a multitude of ways. She is not afraid to gain extra meterage with her run and carry, as well as putting her body on the line defensively to lay enormous tackles. She might have kicked a few behinds, but most scores were quick shots on goal that just missed or were touched and rushed in desperation.

In terms of her projection, Sowden is a raw talent who is still building up her consistency, which will come with more time in the program. Her defensive attributes are a tick, and she is capable of kicking on both sides as well. Gippsland Power has a number of terrific bottom-age and double bottom-age prospects coming through setting up a promising next couple of years for the club.