AFTER a tight and low-scoring weekend last round due to the weather, Round 15 ramped up a notch with three of the five matches featuring 19-plus goals including a 100-point smashing. We recap Round 15 and how it all went down.

Eastern Ranges 18.14 (122) defeated Western Jets 3.4 (22)

In a battle between a top two and bottom three side, Eastern had a dominant day out, storming to a triple-digit victory over Western. The Ranges booted 10 first half goals and then kept the Jets to just one behind in the second half, kicking the last nine goals of the match to secure the flat 100-point victory.

STANDOUT: Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges)

Our Rookie Me Central Player of the Week, Belloni was huge playing through midfield then rotating into attack, kicking a nice running goal in the third term before two more to put extra icing on the cake in the last. She finished with 29 touches, five marks and three goals in the massive victory to be a standout for four quarters.

OTHERS:

Belloni was only won of a dozen or more Ranges who really starred throughout the contest, with the rotational midfield that included Jordyn Allen, Brylee Anderson and Emily Rankin all having a high impact, combined with the forward craft of Stasia Stevenson and Georgie Brisbane and the run of Grace Baba turning defence into offence. Kelsie Ternes had a breakout five-goal game too. For the Jets, Sierra Grieves and Alex McBride-Loane were the two clear best with Piper Dixon kicking two goals and looking dangerous from limited opportunities.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Grace Belloni (Eastern Ranges)
4 – Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
3 – Stasia Stevenson (Eastern Ranges)
2 – Kelsie Ternes (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Grace Baba (Eastern Ranges)

Murray Bushrangers 1.5 (11) lost to Dandenong Stingrays 7.6 (48)

Handing the Bushrangers another loss, Dandenong travelled to Shepparton and came home with the points, kicking the last six goals of the game. The Stingrays’ three goals to nil second term was key in getting the win, then in a tighter last half, kicked 3.5 to 0.1 to come away with the 37-point victory.

STANDOUT: Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays)

The tenacious forward/midfielder spent time in both areas but once she moved into the middle largely stayed there on her way to 26 touches. She applied pressure wherever she went and was a four-quarter performer looking dangerous in the front half of the ground.

OTHERS:

The Stingrays had an even number of contributors such as Vic Country representatives Jemma Reynolds and ruck/forward duo Zoe Besanko and Elli Symonds who were strong throughout the game. Tahlia Sanger ran hard off a wing, while Nalu Brothwell kicked four straight in front. Ellie Hall racked up a game-high 31 touches and 12 marks through the midfield and down back, while Sophia Green and Holly Egan were also productive.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Kayla Dalgleish (Dandenong Stingrays)
4 – Ellie Hall (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Jemma Reynolds (Dandenong Stingrays)
2 – Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Nalu Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)

Tasmania Devils 7.12 (54) defeated Calder Cannons 2.3 (15)

After an interrupted last home game, Tasmania Devils got straight back to winning on the Apple Isle, taking care of Calder by 39 points. Despite some inaccuracy affecting the final result, the Devils shook off a first half challenge where they lead by a narrow 11 points to kick the only four goals of the second half.

STANDOUT: Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)

In a stat-stuffing performance, the Tasmanian bottom-ager racked up a ridiculous 47 disposals – 24 kicks, 23 handballs – as well as five marks, six tackles, 10 inside 50s and a goal. She was everywhere for the Devils in a clear best afield performance, recording 23 more touches than anyone else on the field.

OTHERS:

Working alongside Bowering were fellow bottom-agers Mischa Barwin (22 disposals, five marks, seven tackles and five inside 50s) and Harriet Bingley (15 disposals, six marks and a goal). Meg Harrison worked hard throughout the course of the game, while Mia Anderson and Lucah Conkie were also productive. For the Cannons, Maddison Albrecht was a shining light with 24 touches and 15 tackles, while Grace Azzopardi (24 disposals, 14 rebound 50s) defended bravely.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils)
4 – Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils)
3 – Meg Harrison (Tasmania Devils)
2 – Maddison Albrecht (Calder Cannons)
1 – Harriet Bingley (Tasmania Devils)

Gippsland Power 15.7 (97) defeated GWV Rebels 4.3 (27)

Gippsland Power landed a crushing blow on the GWV Rebels as the Power stormed to a 70-point win at ETU Stadium. Gippsland is preparing for finals this year, and quickly booted five goals to nil in the opening term, then just as the Rebels closed within six goals at the final break, piled on six goals to one in a dominant last 20 minutes.

STANDOUT: Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)

It was another standout performance from the potential pick one who was a class above with her work all around the ground. Starting in long sleeves, Centra had another day out, kicking two goals in the last term – and almost having a third – to go with 23 disposals, two marks, six tackles, three inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

OTHERS:

The Power’s underage talents stepped up to the plate in the win, with Lily Milner and Grace Dillow a couple of Under 16s prospects who held their own. They transitioned well from midfield to attack, while Acacia Sutton kicked two goals from 17 touches, and was joined by the likes of Ella Stoddart and Ava Deszcz who kicked three apiece. Jasmine Sowden was also busy with a goal from 19 disposals. For the Rebels, Isabella Davies (28 disposals, seven marks, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s) was clearly her side’s best, though Brook Ward and Maggie Johnstone also tried hard.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Ash Centra (Gippsland Power)
4 – Isabella Davies (GWV Rebels)
3 – Lily Milner (Gippsland Power)
2 – Acacia Sutton (Gippsland Power)
1 – Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power)

Geelong Falcons 12.5 (77) defeated Bendigo Pioneers 8.7 (55)

In a high-scoring clash which saw 20 goals kicked, Geelong Falcons put up a big score to come away with a 22-point win over Bendigo Pioneers. The Falcons raced out to a 31-0 lead only for the Pioneers to draw within eight late in the second term. Geelong showed its class after the main break, kicking six goals to three to secure the four points.

STANDOUT: Seisia White (Geelong Falcons)

An all-round smart forward with outstanding defensive pressure, White was rewarded with a bag of four goals against the Pioneers. She finished with 13 disposals, three marks, five tackles and 4.2 in the win to be a standout, beating her previous best season tally of three from Round 8 against GWV Rebels.

OTHERS:

The usual suspects stood up for the Falcons with skipper Mekah Morrissy kicking two goals from 15 disposals and five marks, running all over the ground, while Sara Howley had a match-high 26 disposals. Chloe Bryant and bottom-age duo Stella Huxtable and Georgia Tyrrell were also strong. Fro the Pioneers, Ava Bibby had an out of the box game to slam home five goals from seven touches, with Lou Painter, Alexis Gregor and Sienna Hobbs once again among the best players.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Seisia White (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Mekah Morrissy (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Ava Bibby (Bendigo Pioneers)
1 – Chloe Bryant (Geelong Falcons)