WITH the return of AFL Women’s on the weekend comes the return of Rising Star nominations.

Alongside star Eagle Ella Roberts, young Swans ruck Ally Morphett was one of the Rising Star nominees for Round 1 after an impressive performance in her side’s historic win over the GIANTS.

Playing as the Swans’ first choice ruck, her impact stretched far beyond the ruck contest in the historic win, and this Player Focus is set to take a bit of a closer look at the young Swans’ game on the weekend.

Ally Morphett Stats vs GWS

Disposals: 18 (13 kicks and five handballs)
Goals: 1
Marks: 1
Tackles: 4
Hit Outs: 29
Clearances: 7
Metres Gained: 334

While playing in the ruck, Morphett is generally a between the 50m arcs ruck, leaving ruck duties deeper inside either the arcs to taller forward and defender teammates.

Morphett was quick to get involved in the attacking play, having a shot inside the opening five minutes of the game. The kick ultimately skewed wide but it came from about 40m out, which just shows the potential of the power Morphett has in her kick.

She is not afraid to just take the ball straight out of a ruck contest and boot the ball forward if given the opportunity.

Coming out of defence Morphett was also used as a tall target to kick to, using her tap ability to knock it down to her smaller midfielder team mates who can then pick it up and run off into attack.

She really used her height advantage well in ruck contests. She is considerably taller than most of GWS’ rucks – even a couple of centimetres taller than their first choice ruck Fleur Davies – and she those extra centimetres in height well, outstretching her opponents to get first touch of the ball and record almost double the number of hit outs as any of the Giants’ rucks.

Speaking of Davies, she and Morphett had an entertaining battle between them all game, which at times got a bit fiery.

Morphett rested forward in the second term, and continued to have an impact on the game.

She was finally able to put that powerful shot at goal to good use, slotting a goal through about halfway through the term to put Sydney’s first goal on the board.

Another component of Morphett’s game that was particularly impressive was her running. She finished with a tally of 334 metres gained, which not only was the highest tally for the Swans but was also second highest on the ground behind only Tarni Evans.