ONE of the most promising bottom-age prospects in next year’s AFL Women’s Draft, Ash Centra is enjoying a strong season for Gippsland Power in the Coates Talent League Girls competition. On the weekend, the Power suffered a 14-point loss to Northern Knights after leading by as much as 16 points at one stage, but have been far more competitive in the past month since adding depth through its Under 16 talent.

Centra picked up 29 disposals and clunked eight marks, playing in defence, while also pushing up the ground and even going forward in the last quarter. Able to play on all three lines, her elite kicking, composure and decision making with ball-in-hand are among her standout traits.

2023 Coates Talent League Girls: Round 12
Gippsland Power 3.5 (23) def. by Northern Knights 6.1 (37)

STATS: 29 disposals (18 kicks, 11 handballs), 8 marks, 3 tackles, 3 hitouts, 4 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

FIRST QUARTER

It took just seconds for Centra to win her first touch off half-back with a clean pickup and handball off the Knights’ opening centre clearance. Within the first 30 seconds, she had a second disposal by marking on the wing and pinpointing a pass to Zali Gallagher.

The Power defender took another intercept mark at HF and again nailed a short pass to Ahlee Penry, then midway through the term as calm under pressure at HB stepping between multiple opponents. Unfortunately with few options, she ended up turning the ball over, but in the 14th minute of the term, took a strong intercept mark and hit a perfect kick to a teammate.

SECOND QUARTER

Centra has the game smarts to know when to roll back, and when to push up in the match, and she started deeper after the Knights surged forward in the opening minute. She had a rare fumble at half-back and slipped over, but got back up to win a handball and get it back before nailing another drilling pass to Penry.

Even thrown into the ruck, Centra won a clear hitout against Lauren Jatczak, then though the Power largely enjoyed forward half time, she remained ready for action. That came late as the Knights hit back with three goals in the second half of the quarter. Centra won a possession in the middle of the ground and controlled it before she could shrug off a tackler and get the handball clear.

THIRD QUARTER

Centra’s first touch of the second half again came off the opening centre clearance from the Knights, with her kick at half-back going wide to space. In the second minute of the term, Centra won it on the wing, produced a composed handball to a teammate behind her, then almost took a strong intercept mark shortly after, but it just slipped through her fingers. She laid a follow-up tackle to lock the ball up.

In the seventh minute, the Power defender took another intercept contested mark, but had an uncharacteristic poor kick straight to Ava Vincent. Determined to win the ball back, Centra clunked the contested mark off the Vincent set shot that fell short, and kicked long to clear the danger. Shortly after, she marked and hit-up a teammate off a short kick.

Wrapping up the third term, Centra mopped up on the wing then sidestepped an opponent cleverly to kick to a one-on-one. Not too long after, she intercepted on the wing again but was not paid a mark due to it being too short, and she managed to composed herself and pinpoint Abby Hobson at half-forward.

FOURTH QUARTER

Centra started in defence and pushed forward as the Power tried to roll the dice to win. She took a strong intercept mark in the goalsquare with great positioning, and hit-up a 50m pass to Hobson with ease.

She would also win it in the middle midway through the term, winning it cleanly off the deck, bursting between two opponents and taking on another with a bounce inside 50. She straightened up but her shot fell short and was intercepted in the goalsquare. Her final touch came in the last 90 seconds, with an inside 50 and quick handball to make 29 for the match.

IN CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Ash Centra is one of the top prospects for the 2024 AFL Women’s Draft and her performance against Northern Knights showed exactly why. Though she started her career as a forward last year with midfield stints, her contested marking and elite kicking allow her to slot into defence seamlessly.

Over time she has learned to be more effective with her running patterns and work hard to get into the right positions behind the ball. That has enabled her to have a huge impact on games and it is showing. Though Gippsland did not get the win, she was a standout all game with her performance.