ROWVILLE Secondary College is basking in glory after successfully winning the 2024 Herald Sun Shield Intermediate Girls following an impressive 33-point win over Carey Grammar. Kicking with a strong breeze at ETU Stadium in Port Melbourne, Rowville got off to a fast start, then kept arms length clear of Carey before four unanswered goals in the final term sealed the 7.10 (52) to 3.1 (19) victory.

Ebony Stevenson – younger sister of Vic Metro and Eastern Ranges’ Stasia – won best on ground in the win, providing an important distribution role in a similar midfield/forward position to where he older sister had made her name. Stevenson was well supported by another Ranges talent in Lara Williams who won numerous clearances, and was impactful both offensively and defensively.

With the game on the line and against the breeze heading into the final term, Ella Bologa stepped up to kick two goals and ice the match in a purple patch after looking dangerous earlier in the game without putting one through the big sticks.

Rowville finished the game with a number of impressive players including Indianna Laurito off a wing, and Billie McCulloch superb off half-back. Up forward, Poppy Stainthorpe had the opportunity to kick more than the one goal but a second shot in the third quarter hit the post.

For Carey, Ruby Kaye impressed both through the middle and getting back to assist at half-back, always looking to burst away from congestion. Sophia Davey found her fair share of the footy as did Isabella Teoh through the middle, while Ava Locke kicked one of her side’s three goals, and wing Emma Johnston provided great run and carry in the defensive half of the ground.

CAREY 0.0 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 (19)
ROWVILLE 2.1 | 3.3 | 4.6 | 7.10 (52)

GOALS:
Carey: A. Locke, L. Parker, L. Whitechurch
Rowville: E. Bologa 2, L. Brittain 2, R. Jones, P. Stainthorpe, A. Keyzer

RMC BEST:
Carey: R. Kaye, S. Davey, I. Teoh, E. Johnston, L. Parker
Rowville: E. Stevenson, L. Williams, E. Bologa, I. Laurito, B. McCulloch

SCOUTING NOTES:

CAREY GRAMMAR:

#5 Lily Parker

Has some seriously eye-catching traits with her penetrating left boot. The midfielder looked good around the stoppage, and while others won more of the ball, she seemed to make magic happen each time she touched it. Parker slotted a set shot goal from long-range off the left, and won another big clearance off half-back to hit a target on the move.

#6 Emma Johnston

Her hard running and particularly assisting in defence was impressive, with the wing able to cover the ground well. She got her hands to the ball consistently, and when the going got tough and the opposition score was mounting, she was in the back 50 doing her best to clear the ball from danger.

#8 Isabella Teoh

Showed some nice speed out of the stoppage and a quick release by hand. Teoh found the exits and maximised her athleticism, and though Rowville got hands to the ball more often, did show some promising traits for the future in the match.

#12 Ruby Kaye

Stood out above all others on the losing side for her willingness to take the game on. She would work through the midfield then go back to defence and provide an intercepting force where she could lay a strong tackle and clunk and important grab. Kaye moved well through congestion and though at one stage she tried to burst off half-back and was caught holding the ball in the final term, she was at least trying to create extra speed on the ball to generate scores.

#16 Sophia Davey

Knew her way around a stoppage and found her fair share of it, particularly early in the second term. Perhaps her best moment was reading an opposition handball, pickpocketing them and thumping it inside 50 to give her side a chance to score. Davey added defensive pressure as well which was important.

ROWVILLE SECONDARY COLLEGE:

#1 Ella Bologa

Provided the spark that made the fire uncontrollable in the final term with two crucial goals. Prior to that, Bologa had been peppering the goals with a couple of attempted chances that either just missed or got caught in the breeze and went out on the full. But in the final term, the forward stepped up a notch, taking the first mark and having the first inside 50 of the quarter, and it only went up from there. She won a free kick 35m out and slotted the set shot, then through hard running marked on the goal line to ice the game from point bank range.

#5 Billie McCulloch

McCulloch’s work in defence should not be understated, which was consistent and fierce throughout the four quarters. Each time it came near her she would do the team things right, laying a fantastic tackle to win holding the ball early and was proactive in the first term holding a high line. Her spoiling and tackling were traits that stood out, and she repelled multiple Carey attacks.

#8 Indianna Laurito

The Rowville wing worked into the game more and more as the match went on and found her fair share on the wing. She has a penetrating kick which allows her to clear the ball well inside 50, and she ran hard all day playing that outside role. Though on a wing, she was not afraid to join her opponent at stoppages and showed some good strength.

#29 Poppy Stainthorpe

Looked dangerous as a forward who could mark the ball and know where to find pockets of space inside 50. She was quieter in the first half, but really started to impact in the second, taking a good mark five minutes into the third term, slotting the subsequent set shot from 20m out. She missed a great opportunity shortly after from a touch further out that hit the post, but remained a target in the front half.

#32 Ebony Stevenson

A superb performance from the best on ground who had the ball on a string, particularly in the first half. With the game in the balance early, she thumped the ball consistently going forward, and even showed a nice fend-off at one point too. When her kick got smothered off the mark in the second term, it bounced back to her and she ran off, with her second efforts another feature of her game. Her stoppage work particularly as a second possession winner looked good, showing a great mix of speed and strength.

#33 Lara Williams

Was right up there with Stevenson for sustained impact across four quarters. Williams seemed to do a bit of everything from winning clearances, to clunking marks, to laying big tackles and setting up teammates for goals. She racked the ball up with ease, and particularly through the first half, the ball just seemed to find her. Actually kicked what looked to be a goal in the final term but as she was half-tackled a moment earlier, was called for holding the ball. Her nice few steps out of a stoppage was very good and used both sides of her body.