A STANDALONE fixture saw the Geelong Falcons defeat the Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels on Easter Thursday at GMHBA Stadium. As always we took a look at some of the players that caught the eye, with the remaining Scouting Notes to come at the conclusion of the Round 1 matches. All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

Geelong Falcons 7.13 (55) defeated GWV Rebels 4.5 (29)

GEELONG FALCONS:

#6 Chloe Bryant
Midfielder/Forward | 165cm | 12/09/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

Really liked what Bryant did in the front half of the ground as she constantly made herself look dangerous with and without the ball. Her pressure stood out and that is reflected by her four tackles, but she also had a couple of near misses, hitting the post twice up – once up each end – which could have made her day really impressive. Puts pressure on the opposition defence too with her kicking inside 50.

#7 Sara Howley
Midfielder | 173cm | 29/01/2006

Stats: 33 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Picking up where she left off, Howley had the ball on a string for three of the four quarters. Though tightly guarded by Lang in the third around the stoppages, she worked her way through that to have an influential last term, including kicking the sealing goal on the run. Though her efficiency was perhaps down on her best games, she still was clearly one of the best running around, selling candy and baulking opponents, while winning the pill on the inside and outside of the contest.

#22 Kiara Woods
Forward/Ruck | 182cm | 27/11/2006

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 5 hitouts, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals, 3 behinds

Looking for some continuity in her game, Woods started forward and rotated into the ruck, showing off some nice athleticism. She was good overhead and had plenty of chances, kicking a couple of nice goals. The first came after a great mark inside 50 and set shot, with the second with a clever snap around her body. For a 182cm player she showed promise below her knees, and it is just a case of converting a couple more of those chances.

#27 Seisia White
Forward | 163cm | 07/10/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 10 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

As always White brought the heat, laying 10 tackles from her 20 touches and showing some nice run and drive from half-forward going inside 50. She had a couple of chances but just missed, with her kicking in the game going to the right areas, but sometimes just falling short of the target. Still, her contest-to-contest work was very impressive, and she is able to put it to a teammates advantage more often than not, looking dangerous running inside 50.

#32 Rebecca Clottey
Forward | 166cm | 05/05/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Clottey had a huge first term to make a statement out on the big ground, laying some fierce tackles and threatening close to goal. Her reward moment was beating two defenders close to goal by just keeping the ball in front of her and making the most of it from point blank range for an early goal. She can pick it up at speed, and her tackling pressure enable her teammate Stephanie O’Kane to swoop on the loose ball and kick a goal. Was quieter after quarter time, but has those critical moments.

#38 Stella Huxtable
Midfield/Forward | 170cm | 22/12/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

There is plenty of potential in the bottom-ager, with Huxtable kicking a brilliant running goal from just inside the 50 looking so natural. She almost had a second major a moment later but was half tackled as she kicked and went to the right. Still, her kicking in particular was eye-catching, and she has good strength overhead as well. With an extra year to go on top of some others, she is one who is developing nicely, especially as a late-year born player.

GWV REBELS:

#4 Elise Cook
Midfielder/Forward | 28/01/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Cook had a great balance of aerial and ground work, clunking six marks, while laying six tackles across the ground. More often than not her kick will find a target and she is clean by hand to-boot as well. The fourth term saw Cook convert a nice goal from 35m out never looking like missing, then midway through the quarter the top-ager clunked a great mark. Her hands were as safe as anyone’s and really contributed strongly in the front half of the ground.

#7 Maggie Johnstone
Defender | 170cm | 06/06/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

Stationed as a defender, Johnstone showed a clean pair of hands to clunk a couple of great contested marks via intercept and kick down the ground. She does not need a lot of touches to do damage, and it shows in her rebounding ability and finding targets further afield. Johnstone uses her body well in contests and if she is given any time and space, she can nail her passes as she did in the third term with a delightful pinpoint pass inside 50.

#9 Jovie Skewes-Clinton
Forward | 174cm | 15/11/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

The bottom-ager was another player who impressed in the air and had a lot of nice moments, setting up Mahony with the first goal of the game via a really well placed kick. She had a chance herself in the fourth term but her snap just missed to the right, trying to play on when she could have gone back and taken the set shot from 35m. Still, she always looked to run and carry to provide some drive for her side, winning back the ball after turning it over late in the third term, taking a couple of strong grabs in that play. A good size and has potential to play multiple positions.

#15 Millie Lang
Defender/Midfielder | 177cm | 06/11/2006

Stats: 31 disposals, 6 mark, 4 tackles, 1 hitout, 5 inside 50s, 11 rebound 50s

A simply phenomenal effort coming out of defence all game, and then stepping up at stoppages during the third quarter to quell Howley’s influence around the ball. Her aerial ability is always superb as she reads the ball in flight perfectly. Her left foot, particularly with time and space is so dangerous, and while she did turn a few kicks over, she is always going for the longer option to breakdown the opposition defence. One passage of play midway through the second term highlights her outstanding smarts. Outmarking Woods in the back pocket, Lang took off close to the line, kept it in, fended off another opponent with ease and delivered it cleanly to half-back. She also combined with Mahony midway through the third term to set up Maddison Cotten for a goal.

#17 Claire Mahony
Forward | 181cm | 21/08/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 2 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 2 behinds

Best on ground in my opinion because she was just so influential in the way she crashed packs, clunked marks and influenced the scoreboard. Had she been able to make more of her shots on goal – she kicked two behinds and one out on the full – then she would have finished with a massive game. Still she was absolutely fantastic and her size and athleticism, combined with her elite field kicking is something so rare in a key position player. At the six-minute mark Mahony danced around two opponents one way and then the other, before having the composure to lower the eyes and spot a target, delivering with pinpoint precision. Put simply, Mahony does things that 181cm are not expected to do, and her courage in the air is outstanding. A real top-line prospect alongside Lang.