EIGHT teams became four over the weekend as the Coates Talent League Girls elimination finals were run and done. On Saturday, the top two metropolitan sides in Eastern Ranges and Oakleigh Chargers advanced past their rivals, while on Sunday, Geelong Falcons and Dandenong Stingrays got the chocolates as the higher ranked country sides.

A four goals to one second term ultimately sealed Oakleigh Chargers’ place in the preliminary finals, with the Chargers running out 38-point winners over Calder Cannons. The Cannons kicked with the breeze in the first term and had plenty of the play, but could only register two behinds and trailed by four points at the first break.

Oakleigh made the Cannons pay in the second term, piling on four goals to one to skip 24 points ahead at the main break. Needing a response in the third term, the Cannons could only muster one behind as they could not capitalise on their inside 50s. Unable to kick a major in the third term, the game was ultimately decided in that term, with the Chargers finishing off strong with two more goals with the wind in the final stanza to get up, 75 (47) to 1.3 (9).

STANDOUT: Sarah Poustie (Oakleigh Chargers)

The Oakleigh Chargers bottom-age winger won the ball inside and outside and was crucial link in transition. She finished with 27 disposals, seven marks, eight tackles and six inside 50s, taking a number of contested grabs and working well into space to remain involved in the match.

OTHERS:

The Chargers had an even spread across the board, with the midfield group of Poustie, Jorja Jackson, Abbey Vicino and Maggie Mahony all finding plenty of the ball throughout the match. Wingers Jemma Rigoni and Amy Cariss-Brett held their width well and got involved, while defenders Sienna Tallariti and Lucy Cronin also stood out.

Kayley Kavanagh was the pick of the Cannons, continuing her form with 22 disposals, seven marks, 10 tackles and three inside 50s doing it all. She was well supported by Chloe Baker-West (31 disposals) in the midfield, while Yasmin Welsford and Shauna McElligott also worked hard. Jade McLay and Amy Gaylor had their moments as well in the loss.

Eastern Ranges flexed their muscles as the top metropolitan team, putting Northern Knights to the sword in the second game of the Warrawee Park double-header. The Ranges piled on seven goals to nil in the first half to all but close the door on the game, showing they could score against the breeze just as well.

By the main break, Eastern had 14 scoring shots to two, with only inaccuracy stopping the Ranges from being further ahead than the 47-point margin on the scoreboard. They continued their dominance with the breeze in the third term to stretch the lead out to 73 points, before the Knights broke their goalless drought in the final term. Eastern still kicked two majors to finish off with a 13.11 (89) to 1.4 (10) triumph.

STANDOUT: Emma Stilve (Eastern Ranges)

In an even team performance across the board, Stilve provided plenty of damage on the scoreboard, kicking thee of her side’s first five goals in the space of 21 and a half minutes. She was lively and worked hard to get into scoring positions with her long-range set shot on the edge of quarter time a highlight. Stilve also found plenty of the ball up the field as well and got involved.

OTHERS:

It was hard to stop Alyssia Pisano when she got any sort of space, slotting four goals – two in the first and third quarters each – and really stepping up the offensive pressure on the opposition. Mackenzie Bourne and Laura Stone both kicked two goals, with the latter’s coming in the last five minutes of the match. In midfield, the trio of Indigo Linde, Grace Belloni and Tayla McMillan were strong, while Hayley McLaughlin and Stasia Stevenson both provided impact.

For the Knights, Zoe Hargreaves was the clear standout, racking up 26 disposals as she worked off half-back and through the middle. Tahlia Plunkett and Suwindi Buckley tried hard in midfield, while the trio of Molly McErlain, Matilda Fitzgerald and Hannah Scott all battled on well.

After a slow start, Geelong Falcons hit their best form in a “home” game down on the Apple Isle against Tasmania Devils, booting 11 of the last 15 goals to run away 27-point winners. The Falcons failed to score in the first term as the Devils slammed home 4.1 to take a 25-point lead into quarter time. That evaporated in the second quarter as the inaccurate Falcons kicked 4.7 to 0.2 to lead by four points at the main break.

Not willing to give in, the Devils again got back on top with three goals to two in the third quarter to edge ahead by four points with a quarter to play, but that was all the lower ranked side had left. Geelong stormed to victory off the back of a five goals to nil last quarter to blow the margin out to 27 points and win, 11.8 (74) to 7.5 (47).

STANDOUT: Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons)

The Falcons skipper was one of a number of prime ball-winners for the winning side, picking up 24 disposals, four marks, seven inside 50s and kicking a goal, while laying 11 tackles. Leading from the front, Adams again stepped up when it counted to be in crucial ball-winning positions and assert her authority on the match.

OTHERS:

It was hard to look past bottom-ager Sara Howley who continued her outstanding form with 28 touches in the game, while Chloe Bryant was also prominent in the win. Working hard on the outside, Mekah Morrissy was lively, while up forward, Chantal Mason found some form again with three goals from 11 touches and four marks. Kate Martin (14 disposals, six rebound 50s) was busy in defence.

Tasmania had a number of future talents standout on the big stage with 2007-born duo Jorja Haberle (20 disposals, three marks and seven rebound 50s) and Harriet Bingley (17 disposals, three marks, four inside 50s and five tackles) leading the way. Bottom-ager Sophie Strong impressed, while the standout was deadeye shooter Ava Read who slotted four goals from five kicks.

Dandenong Stingrays blasted their way into the preliminary finals with a commanding 64-point win over GWV Rebels. The Stingrays had their work cut out for them early as an incredible defensive effort by the Rebels in the first term kept the home side to just one goal for the quarter. However the damn wall broke in the second term as the Stingrays piled on four goals to lead by 32 points at half-time.

Though the Rebels again kept the Stingrays to a goal in the third term, they could not make any impact on the scoreboard themselves. It kept that way to the end with Dandenong running away with the contest and only inaccuracy towards the end stopping the Stingrays from a bigger margin in the 9.11 (65) to 0.1 (1) win.

STANDOUT: Elli Symonds (Dandenong Stingrays)

There were a number of players who could have been seen as the standout in the match, but Symonds’ work both through the ruck and up forward impressed. Aside from a couple of chances that just missed or was touched on the line, she provided a marking target and used her speed to kick a fantastic goal bursting out of the middle. Her athleticism was on display across the ground in the big victory.

OTHERS:

Symonds worked in tandem with fellow athletic ruck/forward Zoe Besanko who kicked 2.3 herself, while Abbey Tregellis also had a stint in the ruck. Through the midfield, Meg Robertson and Jemma Reynolds had impressive outings, while Jemaya Bressan and Nikita Harris had their moments. Skipper Jemma Ramsdale had another outstanding game in defence too.

For the Rebels, Millie Lang was the clear standout with her rebounding work and one-on-one contest ability on display, while Molly Walton tried hard all game in midfield. Laila Lappin, Tyla Crabtree and Chloe Walker were the other prominent ball-winners in a losing side.