IT WAS a relatively quiet weekend in the Coates Talent League Girls competition as just two matches took place in Round 12. It was the first of two weekends across a split round, with GWV Rebels and Geelong Falcons picking up wins. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye in the couple of games, with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

Murray Bushrangers 2.1 (13) lost to GWV Rebels 3.2 (20)

Murray Bushrangers:

#3 Rain Dodd
Wing | 165cm | 13/01/2007

Stats: 25 disposals, 7 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Have liked her form of late as a hard-running winger. She holds her line well, gets back into defence and is smart enough to get into ball-winning positions. Dodd had a big first term, getting her hands on the ball plenty, and did finish as one of the most prolific players on the ground. At times she can be right side dominant and use the outside of her boot compared to her left, or quickly kick under pressure, but with time and space, she is a nice user and always involved.

#9 Holly Egan
Defender/Forward | 176cm | 01/07/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Egan had a couple of big jobs in defence and though her attacking nature can see her caught out sometimes when standing an opposing forward, she does provide important transitional running turning defence into attack. She was fantastic defensively, showed great athleticism and even used her slick sidestep early in the third term to step around an opponent. In the fourth term, Egan was thrown forward for a bit to try and mix up the look inside 50.

#10 Sophia Green
Midfielder/Defender | 171cm | 22/11/2008

Stats: 27 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

It was another big game statistically from Green who continues to develop her craft through the middle. She works back into defence and supports there, while being clever around the stoppages in the middle and around the ground. When under pressure she can be a little inefficient, but is strong in the hips and stands up in tackles, able to shrug off would-be tacklers with ease. She can also fly for her marks and provide some exciting moments, and with two more years of development will become a very exciting player.

GWV Rebels:

#4 Elise Cook
Midfielder/Defender | 170cm | 28/01/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 11 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

The stats might not show it, but Cook was voted best on ground in the win simply because of her consistency across the four quarters. There might be flashier players at times, but Cook is a natural hardball get winner, is clean at ground level and more often than not uses the ball well by hand or foot. Each time the Rebels needed someone to stand up, she seemed to pop up at opportune times, and in a potential hint to a Vic Country role, spent some time off half-back as well. One who will always put her body on the line.

#7 Maggie Johnstone
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 06/06/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Has enormous upside and it showed in an exciting performance for the bottom-ager. She can play on any line and on this occasion rotated between midfield and attack. Her set shot goal midway through the first term from long-range was impressive, and she showed she has the moves in traffic too during the third term with a clean pickup, spin and then having the composure to execute in the opening minute of the quarter. Strong and smart, Johnstone is one to remember for next year.

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 6 rebound 50s

It was not her biggest game by any stretch, but Lane did step up when needed playing in her trusty defensive role. Her reading of the play and timing of her spoiling was once again the highlight of her game, though the slippery conditions made it difficult for anyone to get any clean marks or easy disposals away. Lang’s efficiency this season is slightly down on last year, but she has shown she has the ability to play both a loose and nullifying role, with her intercepting ability undoubted.

#17 Claire Mahony
Utility | 181cm | 21/06/2006

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Mahony continued her role rotation across the field, starting in attack and making her way into defence in the second half to aim to kill the contest. Often a robbing Peter to pay Paul scenario, it is no surprise that the goals dried up for the Rebels once Mahony went back, but she also saved several chances going the other way. Her goal came from a well read passage of play, mark and set shot, while she was able to push up the ground from defence and hold a high line as well to keep pressure on the opposition.

#26 Olivia Wolter
Defender/Wing | 169cm | 26/11/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

The Vic Country call-up was handy for the Rebels in her first game since being confirmed in the squad. She started in defence then moved onto a wing, providing some nice run and carry. Her kicking at times can be a little hit and miss, but she was clean at ground level and in the air from limited chances. Though not explosive, Wolter does look to move the ball on quickly to get the overlap run happening.

Eastern Ranges 7.6 (46) lost to Geelong Falcons 12.11 (83)

Eastern Ranges:

#10 Jordyn Allen
Defender/Midfielder | 166cm | 12/11/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s

It was a tougher day at the office for the bottom-ager who usually thrives off her experienced inside midfield teammates feeding her the ball and then she uses her speed to explode away and kick forward. Instead, Allen was one of the more experienced players for the Ranges through the middle, though she also spent significant time off half-back looking to mop up and clear down the ground. She had a purple patch to start the third term that caught the eye, though the pressure and less familiarity with the younger side meant it was harder to connect up by foot.

#17 Grace Baba
Midfielder | 177cm | 17/09/2006

Stats: 6 disposals, 4 inside 50s

Returned from an extended injury break and only played a half after looking a little proppy just before half-time. Though best known for her intercept marking off half-back, Baba was thrown into the first centre bounce and pushed forward at times. Under managed minutes, Baba only had the six touches and did look rusty as expected, but when she started to get going, showed some of the traits that earned her a place in the AFLW Academy.

#42 Brylee Anderson
Midfielder | 172cm | 23/03/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

The player to stand up in the absence of key teammates, Anderson played a full-time midfield role as opposed to largely being the defender who has stints inside, and the Under 16s talent did not disappoint. She kicked a couple of goals, with the first being a sit up and take notice major, running out of the first centre bounce of the second term and slotting an incredible major from outside 50 which bounced home to cut the deficit to 10 points. Was the best of the Ranges players, also kicking a second goal midway through the last term with a nice snap.

#44 Lara Williams
Forward | 29/08/2008 | 168cm

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 3 inside 50s

Yet again the Rookie Me Academy athlete did not looked overawed in her second game in Ranges colours despite playing inside 50 in a side that was ultimately well beaten. She had her chances, looked dangerous and set up a couple of shots to teammates in the match. She looked comfortable overhead, and then showed she was switched on to the very end, with a fantastic smother in the forward pocket followed up by a strong tackle to lock the ball inside 50.

Geelong Falcons:

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

It was a solid without being outstanding game from the talented top-ager who had a few chances on goal that either just missed or were stopped short. She ran hard on offensive transition and delivered some nice kick inside 50 including a low bullet to Clottey late in the first quarter. She did get to half-back at times too and looked to create her famous running game, and was just one of a number of Falcons who contributed at different points through the match.

#8 Mekah Morrissy
Wing | 159cm | 16/01/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

The skipper is a high impact player even if she does not win a lot of it. The wing finished with two goals, and that was largely due to the fact she ran hard inside 50 to get involved around the forward stoppage and hold a good line. She is clever in playing her role, attacks the ball and opposition hard, and is always going to give 100 per cent, which is why her two goals were well deserved.

#24 Georgia Tyrrell
Midfielder/Forward | 168cm | 04/08/2007

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles, 2 inside 50s

The bottom-ager was one of the best-on in the game, accumulating 25 touches while laying 10 tackles. She worked well from half-back into attack, got plenty of it around the coalface and thrived on winning the ball back for her side. Tyrrell’s tackling technique – of pinning one arm – was fantastic, and she has the nous to duck around the back of stoppages at times to win the feeding handball and clear down the ground.

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

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

It is incredible how Clottey can hardly touch the ball at times, but still catches the eye. Outside of when she does win it, her defensive pressure and harassment of opposition defenders is paramount of her game, and she just keeps cracking in up forward. Clottey has the tricks that impact offensively too, kicking a nice goal from a set shot, but that came off the back of a holding the ball free kick. The top-ager plays the defensive forward role to a t, and that is crucial in ball retention inside 50.

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

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Huxtable finds a way to impact contests on multiple lines, and she did so again in the match. She started in the middle but went forward to kick two goals in the second half coming off a couple of marks. Her aerial strength is a highlight in her game, and as a late year born talent, has extra room for growth going forward. One of the few bottom-age prospects in the Vic Country squad, she will likely be a forward target when she does play possessing a handy left foot.