A MIXED bag of results across the weekend saw some Vic Metro and Allies players filter back into their respective Coates Talent League Girls sides, and the Country teams at full strength. We took note of some of the standout players, focusing on those from the Victorian trials, or non draft-eligible players. All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#10 Meg Harrison

The bottom-ager seemed to be more behind the ball mopping up in the match, but still rotated further afield to push up to half-forward too, covering the ground well. Though her numbers dipped a little down to 13 disposals in the loss, her work rate and ability to get a quick disposal away under pressure is what really stood out. Harrison was composed at half-back with ball-in-hand and made the most of her touches.

#14 Candice Belbin

The Devils skipper brought her usual heat to the contest, and worked hard across the ground. Though she only had the 14 touches, she cracked in and was strong on the inside, applying great tackling pressure with nine tackles. Her disposal was a little rough throughout the game, under plenty of pressure, but she took a number of marks when able to spread to the outside.

#24 Georgia Clark

Though she only kicked the one goal, the AFLW Academy member worked hard up the ground to get involved and be the second highest ball-winner for her side. She had the 18 disposals and took four marks, and generally was able to put the ball into dangerous positions. She produced a four-quarter performance and was equally strong at ground level, converting her major with a kick off the deck in the goalsquare.

#33 Mackenzie Ford

Returning from Allies duties, Ford had a quieter game offensively, but was outstanding defensively, laying a match-high 10 tackles to go with her 11 touches. She continually brought down opponents around the stoppages to lock it up, and did not give any opponent much space. When she did have the ball, Ford was solid with her quick hands, decision making and vision, and though she did turn the ball over a touch more than usual, still cracked in and tried hard.

#37 Tunisha Kikoak

Taking control in the ruck, the top-ager was able to work hard around the ground and find plenty of her own ball, including taking it out of the ruck on a number of occasions. She dominated her opponents with her athleticism, recording 32 hitouts which was more than the three Oakleigh rucks put together. She also got involved in transition and was able to pump the ball forward.

#39 Grace White

Playing in a new role in defence, White had a breakout game and looked every bit a natural at centre half-back. Boasting her powerful kick, and smarts to get behind the ball to clunk multiple intercept marks, White was a standout across both teams. Her ability to clear the defensive zone was important for the Devils, and while at times she went for distance over accuracy, her kicks generally went to positions that advantaged her teammates.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#1 Jacinta Baxter

Piecing together some nice form off a wing, Baxter was again lively even with a drop in production. She contributed across the ground and what stands out about Baxter is her ultra clean hands at ground level and creativity in the forward half. Even though she could not have the time and space to get too many uncontested touches, she was a quick release by hand, and set up a critical goal to Emily Tassiopoulos late in the third term.

#2 Sarah Poustie

The bottom-ager just cracked in and played her role upon return from Vic Metro duties, getting her hands on the ball and applying tackling pressure around the stoppages. Though she did not have as much impact as past weeks for the Chargers, Poustie was still able to spread well and finish with 21 touches and lay seven tackles.

#5 Abbey Vicino

A similar player to Poustie but with an extra speed gear, Vicino showed her evasive skills and ability to get out of a congested situation. Her decision making at times could improve, but she was clean by hand and at ground level, while also applying great defensive pressure. After missing a running chance on goal last week, Vicino was able to capitalise this week, steadying herself and making it count in the third term with nice composure.

#17 Lucy Cronin

The defender was one of Oakleigh’s best in the win, doing well often on the last line, while also providing offensive drive from the back half. She competed well one-on-one and has that extra toe which helps her burst away. Her kicking can be hit and miss at times, but generally with time and space, she can go long down the ground to find a teammate. Overall an impressive game.

#19 Charlotte Brewer

Playing off half-back, Brewer had some nice moments throughout the game, competing hard in the air and bringing down a few strong marks. She was often under pressure and just needing to clear the ball from the zone, but held her own and was able to mop up on a number of occasions. In the absence of Sienna Tallariti, Brewer has thrived in that role, averaging 16.5 disposals the last two weeks after only two 10-plus disposal games (averaging eight disposals).

#23 Maiya Stobie

Always finding a way to get involved, Stobie was able to kick two goals from limited chances in the win. Her first came from a clever quick snap that got a kind bounce home, while her second was another brilliant snap, this time from long-range that skidded home in one of the goals of the day. She keeps her feet in the wet and looks lively inside 50.

#25 Emma McDonald

After a big day out for Vic Metro last week, McDonald returned to Coates Talent League level and had a prominent opening term. She kicked the first goal of the match three minutes in with a clever take, snap and bounce home. She had another chance a moment later that just missed to the right, but she remained active in the forward half. Surprisingly, McDonald did not take a mark on the day, but she presented and got involved at ground level, showcasing her outstanding athleticism.

#37 Chloe Bown

The double bottom-ager continued her outstanding debut season with another 23 disposals, making it three consecutive games of either 23 or 24 disposals. She was able to cover the ground well and has some slick skills, and while she did not have as much impact as some other weeks – largely due to being forced to handball off quickly – Bown was still able to capitalise with a number of long kicks down the ground.

WESTERN JETS:

#11 Lou-Lou Field

The standout Jets player on the day, Field was simply sensational returning to the Talent League after a successful outing with Vic Metro. She was clean out of defence, and a strong intercepting presence, while also providing plenty of run and carry. Her kicking was high-risk, high-reward that often became the latter, and she aggressively pushed up the ground to win the ball. When up and going, the left footer is a potent ball-user when given any sort of time and space.

#17 Hannah Brodie

Brodie tried hard all game through the middle and working to half-back, winning the ball at a consistent rate and applying plenty of defensive pressure. At times Brodie can be reactive rather than proactive to the situation which can be an area of improvement, and she did shank a shot on goal early in the fourth term, Other than that, she battled away at the stoppages to try and get her side back on top in the contest.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#5 Zoe Hargreaves

Another Metro player who returned from representative duties last week to play a key role, Hargreaves was incredibly fierce in close. She laid a whopping 14 tackles – a match-high – and worked hard at both ends of the ground. Teaming up with her sister through the middle on a number of occasions, the older Hargreaves had a brilliant opening term as one of the highest production players, and continued remain consistent defensively throughout the match.

#9 Kira Lemire

Looming as an underrated player for next year, Lemire has some really draftable traits and does not need a lot of the ball to do a whole heap of damage. This week, Lemire was able to kick a couple of goals – and had a couple more chances – from 10 disposals. She kicked her first with a clever snap in the goalsquare, then had another snap later in the second term while being tackled that went through. In between those majors, Lemire should have taken advantage of a relatively easy set shot but missed, though laid four tackles which was a noticeable area of improvement from her first three weeks.

#46 Phoebe Hargreaves

The star of the show, the double bottom-ager had a day out with 28 disposals and five inside 50s. While her older sister provided the defensive pressure, Hargreaves heaped pressure on the offensive end, winning a number of crucial clearances and able to put the ball into dangerous positions forward. She racked it up with ease across the course of the game in what was a clear season-high for her, and while at times that extra touch of composure could help, overall her ability to read the play well and deliver it for teammates forward of the ball was crucial.

GEELONG FALCONS:

#1 Lucy Marescuk

The outside runner had some nice moments throughout the game, often winning touches through work rate and then getting it forward in transition. Though not having the time and space for her to run like she would like to, Marescuk had a great burst through traffic in the third term to hit up Mason at the top of the goalsquare and set up a goal. She does not need a lot of touches to catch the eye.

#7 Sara Howley

Another massive performance from the midfielder, who accumulated 36 disposals in the win. Though at times she could have been a touch more effective by foot when extracting from the clearances, her clean hands and explosive speed allowed her to win plenty of it, and back up with second efforts. She found the ball all over the ground and though she did not hit the scoreboard on this occasion – with a checkside set shot going out on the full, Howley was still among the better Falcons on the day with her continued run and carry.

#8 Mekah Morrissy

Another talented bottom-ager who is incredibly valuable for the specialist wing role she play, Morrissy was arguably best-on for her ability to drive the ball inside 50 time and time again. She wins a lot of her ball on the outside, but can win her own touches when she needs to, with a nice composition of speed and skill. She has the evasive moves to get out of trouble and runs hard to set up numerous scoring opportunities for her teammates. Enjoying a purple patch of form.

#24 Chantal Mason

Back on the goalkickers list after going scoreless for the first time this season last week, Mason booted 2.3 from 10 disposals and played the deep forward role well. She would have liked to have capitalised more with her chances, but there were some difficult shots usually from long-range or tough angles. Her aerial ability was on display, clunking four marks and flying for another she could not bring down. Though her two goals came from regulation set shots from practically point blank, Mason did a lot of good work all around inside 50.

#25 Chloe Adams

The skipper was productive throughout the match and rarely plays a bad game. She continued that trend against the Power, battling away to win some hard balls in the middle and set up her outside runners. Adams had a shot on goal that drifted to be marked by Mason on the line, and another that just fell short and went over for a behind, but her touches are usually influential in some way.

#41 Johanna Sunderland

In one of her best games for the year, Sunderland was rock solid in defence, providing run and carry out of the back half and winning plenty of early touches. She had the kickout duties on a number of occasions and looked to clear the danger long down the line. Sunderland had 18 disposals, four marks and three rebound 50s, while also pushing up the ground to have a couple of inside 50s as well.

GIPPSLAND POWER:

#15 Jasmine Sowden

While her production rate was a little lower with 13 touches, the midfielder’s defensive pressure was still high, laying six tackles. Sowden’s aggressiveness at the ball carrier and opposition was evident, and she has that burst speed to clear the stoppages quickly and boot it forward. An important part of the Power engine room, she provides the dash and had a great battle with Howley and other opponents on the day.

#16 Ash Centra

Starting up forward and then pushing up the ground at times, Centra booted 2.3 and realistically should have helped herself to a few more. Starting her day off right with a pack mark and set shot conversation, she also set up teammates with running chances. She was composed and clean, and her one main blunder was a set shot miss from 15m out, but she soon corrected with a similar set shot going through. One snap late in the game hit the post in an unlucky turn of events, but her slick sidestep, clean hands and elite decision making made her a clear standout.

#19 Ella Stoddart

The anchor in defence, Stoddart was the equal highest ball-winner for the Power, and looked to thump the ball long out of defence. She mopped up and intercepted on a number of occasions, usually took the kickouts and always tried to get onto her raking left boot. Stoddart saved a goal in the second term by getting a hand to it on the goalline, and while her execution at times can be a touch hit and miss, she is able to get it out of the danger zone and long down the line.

#21 Amber Schutte

A strong intercepting force, Schutte was another important player for Gippsland clunking some strong marks at half-back and providing rebound. She had a one-two in the second term where she got it back running clear, and remained busy throughout the contest. Powerful overhead and by foot, Schutte has no trouble clearing it long.

#29 Rebecca Fitzpatrick

The double bottom-ager is a player who does not need a lot of touches to have an impact, and that was the case again with nine disposals and two inside 50s. She has a lovely technical kick and even if it does not end up pinpoint, almost always goes to a dangerous spot for her teammates to take advantage of. She set up a scoring chance to Abby Hobson early in the game with a long kick to the goalsquare and provides a key role as a distributor going into attack.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:

#7 Mikayla Williamson

The AFLW Academy member had an impressive game throughout against the Dragons, winning plenty of the ball and using her explosive speed to advantage. She set up the first Stingrays goal and continued to be aggressive with her ball use. Though it can still be rough at times, Williamson lowers the eyes and can deliver neat, short passes. She is clean at ground level and able to put pressure on the opposition defence by breaking the lines and kicking long.

#23 Zoe Besanko

The athletic tall had a couple of big moments in the match with her aerial presence, athleticism and goal sense her strengths. She kicked a brillaint goal with a strong mark at half-forward, turn and long-range kick from 50m that bounced home, then capped off her performance with another goal later on with a quick snap over her head. She had a third chance that just missed, but overall played her role and was a dangerous forward who rotated through the ruck.

#26 Kayla Dalgleish

Another eye-catching forward/midfielder who can provide some class in the front half of the ground. Dalgleish started off her day with a clever snap and goal inside the first five minutes. She had a big final term as well, having a set shot that drifted in the breeze and another snap that just missed, but provided defensive pressure with a terrific tackle at half-forward on Goldman to lock it up.

#31 Makhaela Bluhm

In just her second game, the 2006-born Bluhm had a breakout performance, kicking three goals from 13 touches in the win. A raw talent, Bluhm was able to snap her first Coates Talent League Girls goal with a clean pickup off hands and snap from 15m out in the second term. She kicked another a few minutes later on the run, before her third came following a strong mark on the lead and set shot six minutes into the final term. She missed a golden chance running into goal late in the first half, but overall looked impressive.

#45 Elli Symonds

The athletic ruck was again among the best on ground, able to influence both at the stoppages and around the field. She was not able to capitalise on a couple of chances on goal, but did finish with 22 disposals, 11 hitouts and five inside 50s. She possesses quick and clean hands out of a stoppage and was good at ground level, and though was not as prolific aerially in the match as she could be, still presented as a target.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:

#28 Cameron Millias

Donning the dark sleeves in the match, Millias was the standout player from the Dragons, cracking in and having an influence with her touches. She had a big first term and applied plenty of pressure, and while she only finished with 12 touches, she laid eight tackles and was unrelenting in her attack on the ball and opposition.

#51 Jacinta Boyd

The talented forward is still very raw in her development but has some incredibly exciting traits. She only had the five touches, but her ability to convert a set shot from 45m was very impressive. Her leading patterns and clean hands – even at ground level – are a good base for her to build on for the future.

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#2 Steph Demeo

It was a tough day for Bendigo Pioneers defenders, but Demeo gave it a red-hot crack. She produced a terrific run-down tackle in the last term as a particular highlight, but tried hard all day up against it. She recorded a team-high 25 disposals, had five marks, five tackles and six rebound 50s, and looked to create some run from defence.

#14 Bryde O’Rourke

Showed her class and speed at times trying to speed up transition from defence into attack, and did damage with ball-in-hand. Often under pressure, O’Rourke was still able to get out of trouble on a number of occasions and put the ball into goalscoring situations, such as setting up teammate Jerrah Caruso with a goal in the second term. Her burst out of the middle was an eye-catching feature of her game.

CALDER CANNONS:

#1 Maddison Albrecht

Our Player of the Week was enormous in the win, racking up 30 disposals, eight inside 50s, six tackles and booting 2.3. Her two goals were both outstanding efforts, with the first a clever snap off a step showing her balance, before kicking another from the boundary, threading the needle with precision. Albrecht could have kicked a few more in the game but it did not all go to plan, but still, she was a prime ball-winner and able to continually look to drive the ball forward. Her best performance of the season, and looked really lively on the outside.

#3 Chloe Baker-West

It was a record-breaking performance from Baker-West, who was our Coates Talent League Girls Player Focus for Round 13. She amassed a ridiculous 49 disposals, 18 inside 50s, five marks, seven tackles and booted 1.4, in what could have been an even bigger day for the talented double bottom-ager. Check out her Player Focus for a detailed look at her performance.

>> CHLOE BAKER-WEST PLAYER FOCUS

#5 Jade McLay

Though not as huge in terms of production as her other midfielders, McLay was still influential in her work around the stoppages. She had the 18 disposals and slotted a great goal on the run, often being a strong one-on-one player at both ground level and in the air. She spent her time all through midfield and attack, and has that nice powerful burst going inside 50.

#15 Shauna McElligott

Backing up two goals last week in her third game, McElligott showed she is now comfortable at the level with a four-goal haul against the Pioneers. She won a bit of the ball as well between deep and high forward, and while three of her four goals came from close range, her first was a clever kick out of nothing. All four majors came in the second half to put an exclamation mark on the Cannons’ performance.

GWV REBELS:

#1 Isabella Davies

Returning to the Rebels side for the first time since Round 9, Davies picked up where she left off with another 14 disposals. She spent more time forward of the ball but also worked back into defence at times, In the second term, Davies set up a goal to Mahony with a quick handball after taking a little while to collect it. Though she has had bigger performances, it was a good effort to shake off the rust, and she was able to bring the heat with seven tackles.

#5 Jessica Rentsch

Playing in her aggressive straight-line running style, Rentsch influenced the contest early with some bursting runs down the corridor which lead to scoring shots. Her final execution can still be hit or miss, but the metres she gains are where it counts for her style, and she is quick and clean by hand. Always looking to run and carry, she had the 16 disposals and five inside 50s showing how much she got up the ground.

#15 Millie Lang

The key defender was a rock in defence once again, and though she seemed under more pressure and force to handball a lot more than she would have liked, Lang still held her own one-on-one. She was clean at ground level and having to work hard below her knees to win those contested possessions, when she had time and space, she was able to pinpoint targets with that deadly left boot.

#17 Claire Mahony

A promising forward who has some nice upside, the 181cm bottom-ager moves well for a player of her size, and is impressive below her knees. She kicked a goal from an outstanding snap, which was some reward for effort for a player who does not hit the scoreboard often, but works incredibly hard inside 50 and at half-forward.

#24 Lily Jordan

Hitting the scoreboard for the first time in Rebels colours since Round 4, Jordan was able to look lively when around the ball. She was still a bit off her best, with some of her kicks going to position and intercepted, while also looking rushed. Still, she nailed a set shot perfectly and had a classy finish near the end of the game, and presented consistently at half-forward. A performance to build on for the future.

#35 Laila Lappin

Recording more touches than any other player, Lappin was a industrious worker across the four quarters, amassing 23 disposals. She clunked six marks and often took the ball out of the ruck as she tends to do, while kicking a goal with the last kick of the game. Strong overhead and able to be an option when moving in transition, she was solid in the win.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

#1 Destiny Dodd

Dodd has quietly going about her business of late getting the job done whatever role she plays. Often utilised as an undersized ruck, Dodd has an enormous vertical leap and strong hands where she can drop back into defence and clunk some big grabs. A kick-first player, all of Dodd’s 12 disposals were kicks, but she can scrap at ground level too, laying seven tackles. Though too short to be playing ruck at the next level at just 167cm, she could certainly be a handy addition as a leaping third tall.

#2 Tamika Rourke

Rourke keeps on finding the ball and catching the eye with her work through congestion, the speedy and agile bottom-ager was again busy in the match. Her handball release timing and clean hands at ground level were good again, and while others might have had bigger games, she just has some weapons at her disposal in close.

#9 Holly Egan

The top ball-winner in the match, Egan was impressive as an interceptor off half-back. She moves well and has got stronger with her game sense through each week, and is a reliable player with ball-in-hand. Though under pressure she can tend to rush her kicks, when she can assess the situation, she usually puts it into the right spots. Egan finished with 24 disposals, three marks, five tackles and four rebound 50s.

#43 Majella Day

The 2008-born Day has made a statement coming into the Bushrangers side, already trusted with the kick-ins. Her arrival has allowed others such as Kaylea Kobzan to spent more time up the field, and she has no trouble reading the play and mopping up in defence. Her execution can still sharpen up a bit in terms of hitting targets, but she has a nice action and can kick long, which helps when running from defence. She had 21 disposals, four marks, three tackles and seven rebound 50s in the game.