DANDENONG Stingrays top-ager Mikayla Williamson earned best afield honours in her side’s nail-biting come-from-behind win over Tasmania Devils on the weekend. Her performance stood out in a round of top individual efforts, with Williamson helping guide the Stingrays to a five-point win at Shepley Oval and make it seven straight wins in the Coates Talent League Girls season.

While the other six wins were by five goals or greater, the Stingrays had their greatest test against the Devils, returning to competition for the first time in a month. Despite being at home, the Stingrays at each of the breaks, before a three goals to one final term saw them storm to victory.

Leading from the front was AFLW Academy member Williamson, coming back from a busy national carnival where she co-captained Vic Country. The talented utility played through the midfield and had the ball on a string, collecting 32 disposals, as well as recording three marks, four inside 50s and six tackles, while kicking two behinds.

Covering the ground with ease, Williamson worked hard between the arcs to provide plenty of run and carry both out of the stoppage and on the outside. Notching up nine disposals more than anyone else on the field, she split her disposals between kicks and handballs with a 17 to 15 split respectively.

The 32-disposal effort was easily Williamson’s biggest haul of the season. It eclipsed her 26-disposal effort against Gippsland Power earlier in the season, with Williamson recording 20 or more touches in seven of her 11 games.

Dandenong Stingrays have just one match remaining, taking on Geelong Falcons at Shepley Oval next Saturday, September 2 to close out the regular season, with the Stingrays comfortably inside the top four with a whopping percentage of 215.8.

2023 RM CENTRAL TALENT LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:

Round 1 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
Round 2 – Olivia Morris (Sydney Swans Academy)
Round 3 – Laura Stone (Eastern Ranges)
Round 4 – Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges)
Round 5 – Kayley Kavanagh (Calder Cannons)
Round 6 – Sierra Grieves (Western Jets)
Round 7 – Chantal Mason (Geelong Falcons)
Round 8 – Ava Usher (Gold Coast Suns Academy)
Round 9 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
Round 10 – Sophie McKay (Sandringham Dragons)
Round 11 – Amelie Gladman (Oakleigh Chargers)
Round 12 – Chloe Baker-West (Calder Cannons)
Round 13 – Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons)
Round 14 – Sophie Butterworth (Dandenong Stingrays)
Round 15 – Georgia Clark (Tasmania Devils)
Round 16 – Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays)