VICTORIA’S top AFLW Draft prospects ran around on Marvel Stadium over the weekend, as Vic Metro came away with the comfortable win over Vic Country. In what was a tight contest for over half the game, Metro kicked away with seven of the next eight goals after Country drew within a point midway through the third term. As always we took note of some of the standouts from the match with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

Vic Metro:

#1 Abbey Vicino (Ashburton / Oakleigh Chargers)
Forward | 157cm | 13/02/2006

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

The lively small was again busy in the front half of the ground, kicking three goals and looking creative each time she went near it. All of her goals came in the second half, with back-to-back majors in the space of two minutes providing the spark to run over the top of Country. As a player with good pressure acts and evasiveness, Vicino suits the role of being a small forward even though she has predominantly been a midfielder at Oakleigh.

#3 Maggie Mahony (Old Scotch / Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 162cm | 19/10/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Got her chance through the middle rotating with the starting onballers and having her moments. As always her defensive pressure was first rate and while she has had higher production games, made the most of her touches with a number of clever clearances. Her second quarter in particular was prominent, but set up a number of scoring chances throughout the match including a lovely low kick inside 50 to Knight.

#6 Sierra Grieves (Yarraville Seddon Eagles / Western Jets)
Midfielder / Forward | 163cm | 18/05/2006

Stats: 30 disposals, 3 tackles, 7 clearances, 6 inside 50s

Arguably leading Vic Metro’s MVP with another top three performance from her side, Grieves was strong around the ball and able to win a stack of clearances out of the middle. She only laid the three tackles, but applied way more pressure than that number might suggest, leading to turnovers for her team. She played full-time midfielder and had the ball on a string, commanding the midfield alongside Hargreaves, McKay and Mahony.

#7 Georgia Knight (Monbulk / Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 164cm | 11/10/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s, 5 goals

It was a brilliant day out for the classy forward who reaped the rewards of some great inside 50s from Metro. She got to the right spots and inflicted maximum damage on her opponents, with a snap off the non-preferred left to start the day a treat. She would kick four more majors – and have four in the first 27 minutes – with just one of the four coming from a set shot. Her fifth came in the fourth term from a set shot, but delivered a great weighted kick to Brisbane for a goal assist later in the final stanza as well.

#13 Zoe Hargreaves (Fitzroy / Northern Knights)
Midfielder | 172cm | 03/06/2006

Stats: 25 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s

The Northern Knights utility got her chance at midfield after exclusively playing in defence against the Allies, and took the opportunity with both hands. She did just about everything, applying enormous defensive pressure and winning a stack of clearances alongside her possessions. Matching up against some of the best in the draft class, Hargreaves’ tackling technique of pinning the one arm, as well as using her taller frame to impact around stoppages was important. She was the subject of our Player Focus for this week which will come tomorrow.

#14 Sophie McKay (Prahran / Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder / Forward | 168cm | 27/04/2006

Stats: 25 disposals, 5 marks, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

It was another hard working performance from the Carlton father-daughter prospect who was tough around the coalface and spent time forward to impact the scoreboard as well. She kicked her sole goal running into the open goalsquare in the dying seconds of the first half, while often pumping the ball inside 50 time and time again to put pressure on the defence. Her contest-to-contest work was strong, as was her ability to work from the inside to the outside and be an important second and third possession winner out of the midfield. Capped off her performance by setting up a goal to Brisbane later in the match.

#15 Sarah Poustie (Old Scotch / Oakleigh Chargers)
Wing / Midfielder | 170cm | 05/01/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 rebound 50s

With the strength out of the Vic Metro midfield, Poustie spent more of her time out on the wing and worked around the ground. She cracked in at the coalface when in her vicinity and did well by hand out of traffic. Poustie is a well-balanced player who can win both contested and uncontested possessions, and while she had a bigger game one, was still really solid across the board for game two.

#17 Holly Ridewood (Heidelberg / Northern Knights)
Wing | 174cm | 27/12/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

Playing in a specialist wing role once again, Ridewood looked comfortable out on Marvel Stadium, covering an enormous amount of ground and holding her width well. Most of her touches came in space or by hand, but she forced Metro to remain accountable. She set up a goal to Belloni late in the second term, which was only her second touch of the match, but she finished in a blaze of glory with 11 disposals in the second half. Ridewood will take confidence from that second half.

#20 Georgie Brisbane (Blackburn / Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 175cm | 13/12/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

After a dominant first game, Brisbane was well held in the first half with just the two handballs as Eastern teammate Knight took the limelight for scoring. After half-time the Ranges’ forward got back on top, recording nine disposals, four marks and two goals in the last 40 minutes. Those two goals showed her class with a clever snap around her body under pressure sailing through, and then going back and converting a set shot from 40m out after a good mark on the lead. They came within a couple of minutes from each other to put the icing on the cake for Metro.

#21 Grace Belloni (Olinda Ferny Creek / Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 174cm | 09/09/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

Belloni played exclusively forward in game two and provided a marking target inside 50 and great pressure both in the air and at ground level. Her two goals came through the middle two quarters with her first coming after a quick tumbling ball into the open goalsquare, while her second one came after a mark and set shot from 25m. She missed another chance from a tight angle shot, but generally placed the ball well inside 50.

#27 Josephine Bamford (Ferntree Gully Eagles / Eastern Ranges)
Ruck | 181cm | 03/06/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 tackles, 27 hitouts, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Bamford has really grown throughout the season, and has a lot of traits that catch the eye. Standing at 181cm, Bamford gets involved in transition and covered ground well, winning touches in each third of the ground. She won the most hitouts in the match but also got involved outside the stoppage, often following up with a tackle or laying a fierce tackle. Has really lifted her stocks as a promising tall for next year.

Vic Country:

#3 Jemma Reynolds (Langwarrin / Dandenong Stingrays)
Forward / Midfielder | 163cm | 29/04/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Reynolds is a player who can perform in all conditions, and her clean hands and decision making were again on show. She might not have the full midfield minutes like she tends to have more of at the Stingrays, but still works up the ground from half-forward and gets involved. She set up a goal to Seisia White with a nice kick inside 50, and then collected another goal assist late in the match with great vision and execution to Centra.

#5 Lou Painter (White Hills / Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder | 174cm | 23/02/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Painter was continually around and involved in the play even if she was not winning it herself. The Pioneers co-captain showed off her penetrating kick and pumped it inside 50 consistently, while it was her remarkable attack on the ball that really stood out. She won five hardball gets – the second most of any Country player, and laid seven tackles to be the fierce first possession winner. Working to the outside at times, she always clears the zone and gets it forward, and while her fellow top 10 picks in Centra and Howley had more prolific games, Painter was key in making that happen thanks to her attack on the ball.

#6 Chloe Bryant (St Joseph’s / Geelong Falcons)
Wing | 165cm | 09/12/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 3 inside 50s

A real draft bolter in every sense of the word, having come back from injury that threatened to really derail her season, and has backed up with two impressive championship matches. Bryant has found a home on the wing for Country, and while she can play inside or up forward, just gets into the right spots. Like Ridewood, Bryant won almost all of her touches on the outside, but she was effective, and what caught the eye were a couple of clean pickups and spins out of trouble.

#7 Sara Howley (Newtown & Chilwell / Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder | 173cm | 29/01/2006

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 tackles, 12 clearances, 4 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Howley further staked her claim on the Vic Country MVP with another standout performance and arguably best on ground effort. She ran at 80.8 per cent efficiency and was hugely impactful across the ground, winning a game-high 12 clearances, with the next most from Country being three. She did it all, set up scoring chances and won a whopping 20 contested possessions, All in all, Howley’s form over the last few weeks has been sublime, and showed she can have just as much impact in a midfield full of stars.

#9 Holly Egan (Shepparton Swans / Murray Bushrangers)
Defender | 176cm | 01/07/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

Another handy performance from the athletic defender who is not afraid to take risks in running the ball out of defence. She had a few turnovers, but also was able to spread the ball well to safety, showing clean hands and running into space to receive the ball and go. She did get her hands dirty at ground level though, and often had to compete against some strong marking forwards.

#16 Ash Centra (Sale City / Gippsland Power)
Midfielder / Forward | 174cm | 02/06/2006

Stats: 29 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

The star midfielder was key early in setting up some scoreboard pressure for the Country sides, hitting some slick targets inside 50 including the opening goal to Mahony. She would win the ball in all thirds of the ground, and when getting tackled, maintained her composure to dish off by hand well. She pushed forward at times and capped off the performance with a couple of goals, both coming from a snap and identifying the open goalsquare.

#17 Claire Mahony (Lake Wendouree / GWV Rebels)
Forward / Ruck | 181cm | 21/06/2006

Stats: 9 disposals, 6 marks, 5 hitouts, 2 goals

Mahony did what she could when inside 50, kicking the opening goal of the game from a set shot. She had a near-identical chance early in the fourth term which she nailed to give her state some hope, while also spending time through the ruck. Mahony saved a goal seven minutes into the last quarter with a critical mark on the goalline and was that aerial presence throughout the match.

#19 Ella Stoddart (Traralgon / Gippsland Power)
Defender | 173cm | 30/01/2007

Taking the kickouts, Stoddart was back in her element of playing on and thumping the ball long outside defensive 50, while getting aggressive when the pill was up the other end. She would hold a high line and look to intercept where possible, and saved the day with a rushed behind just prior to half-time. Generally effective by foot thanks to her booming left boot, she won touches in a variety of ways and was one of the better Country players, particularly behind the ball.