FOR the first time, Vic Country and Vic Metro went head-to-head in an Under 17 Futures match at La Trobe University Sportspark on Sunday, with the latter getting up by 39 points. Making more of their chances with the breeze, Metro kicked 9.10 (64) to Country’s inaccurate 2.13 (25), which included terms of 1.7 and 0.4 with the breeze.

We took a look at some of the players who caught the eye throughout the contest, with all scouting notes the opinion of the individual author.

VIC COUNTRY:

#2 Nikita Harris
Dandenong Stingrays | 162cm | 01/01/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s

The Stingrays onballer has had plenty of experience through the middle for Dandenong and was again a hard worker between the arcs, applying great pressure and looking to break through tackles. Her ability to win the ball in congestion and get hands free to dish off is a great quality to have, and covers the ground consistently well.

#3 Molly Reimers
Dandenong Stingrays | 169cm | 25/07/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 behind

Has showed her talent in patches over the last couple of years and is a smart leading forward who can roll up and play midfield as well. She presents on the lead and is strong overhead, though the conditions did not suit a marking target. Reimers still got involved by getting her hands dirty at ground level. She had a chance with a quick snap around her body but missed to the left.

#5 Nikhita Spiteri
Murray Bushrangers | 169cm | 20/07/2007

Stats:19 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 8 inside 50s, 4 behinds

One of the most prolific Country players who seemed to consistently get into ball-winning positions and find her fair share of the ball, Spiteri was quick by hand under pressure and put the ball into advantageous positions. Though not precise with her kicking, she put pressure on the opposition time and time again, and had plenty of chances on goal herself, but finished with the four behinds for her troubles.

#6 Georgia Tyrrell
Geelong Falcons | 168cm | 04/08/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 6 clearances, 8 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

A dominant performance from the Geelong Falcons talent. A powerful midfielder who will lead the Falcons’ on-ball group with Stella Huxtable next season, Tyrrell was enormous around the clearances and so strong overhead as well. On a day where few players could cleanly take marks, Tyrrell racked up five, while also consistently winning clearances and putting pressure on the Metro midfield.

#17 Maggie Johnstone
GWV Rebels | 170cm | 06/06/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

Johnstone has settled well inside 50 while having midfield minutes for the Rebels, and the powerful medium-tall was able to convert Country’s only two goals in the match. She just catches the eye each time she goes near it, with her first goal coming under pressure from a forward stoppage which included a nice fend-off. Her second was more regulation after a 50m penalty sent her to the goalline. Her strength in tackles and ability to get the ball out was a highlight.

#27 Evelyn Connolly
Dandenong Stingrays | 169cm | 26/05/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 3 clearances, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Another player who has had plenty of success at both ends in the Coates Talent League Girls competition, Connolly once again had moments up either end. She is a powerful kick that can clear the danger, but has the ability to weight her passes as well. She can gather at ground level and use her power to breakthrough would-be tacklers, and got involved across the field.

#29 Rebecca Fitzpatrick
Gippsland Power | 170cm | 31/01/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 1 mark, 3 clearances, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Doing well working between midfield and attack, Fitzpatrick knows when to drop behind the play and mop up, and when to push forward and become an option in the attacking half of the ground. Fitzpatrick has the smarts and uses power to win one-on-one contests, while having natural leadership to bring others into the game. Had an equal team-high 22 disposals in the loss.

VIC METRO:

#3 Olivia Gorman
Northern Knights | 166cm | 25/10/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 clearances, 9 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Enjoying a strong second half of the Coates Talent League Girls season, Gorman entered the game off the back of five 20-plus disposal games out of six matches and became a fully fledged midfielder. She played that role for Metro and was able to get first hands to it around the stoppage. A first and second possession winner, Gorman has improved her spread from the contest, and while a lot of her best work was done in close for the match, the Knights’ bottom-ager has the capacity to impact on the outside too.

#6 Lucy Murphy
Oakleigh Chargers | 165cm | 13/11/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 2 clearances, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 behinds

It is hard to standout in an Oakleigh forwardline as stacked as the Chargers one is, but Murphy is a player who you can appreciate watching live. Her work up the ground – even if unrewarded – is very good, and she has some clean hands and a powerful burst. Had a few chances that she did not quite make the most of, but is far more than just a scoring forward, with her ability to be a distributor as well quite important to her game.

#8 Chloe Thorn
Oakleigh Chargers | 166cm | 07/09/2007

Stats: 24 disposals, 1 mark, 2 clearances, 7 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

Thorn did what you would expect of a player with her talent and got involved in everything to rack up a game-high 24 disposals, consistently driving the ball forward and helping out in defence, Thorn just seemed to pop up everywhere around the ground, and her defensive pressure was outstanding. While her ball use was not as effective as normal due to the conditions, Thorn was still among the best on the ground.

#9 Teagan Murtic
Oakleigh Chargers | 169cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 3 clearances, 6 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Another Oakleigh bottom-ager who got her chance to shine through the middle, Murtic has a strong frame that can knock opponents off balance in one-on-one contests. Her execution in the conditions was a challenge, but an eye-catching play was on the wing in the third term where at full speed, wore a bump like it was nothing and kept going to get a handball away cleanly.

#10 Zoe Vozzo
Eastern Ranges | 164cm | 06/02/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Similar to the Oakleigh players, Vozzo finds herself in an Eastern side has is filled to the brim with quality, but has been holding her own of late. A real versatile type who can play off a wing, on the inside or up forward, Vozzo was able to convert two majors in the match, including a brilliant snap that went straight despite the tricky breeze. One who could be a real surprise packet next season.

#15 Macy Watkins
Sandringham Dragons | 171cm | 24/05/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 2 clearances, 6 tackles, 4 rebound 50s

A busy bee around the ground following a really heavy stint of representative action between the Dragons, Melbourne Girls Grammar and now Vic Metro, Watkins is no stranger to finding the ball in close. She won a couple of clearances and brought her trademark tackling pressure at the coalface, while being able to play a different role in defence and mop up on a number of occasions. Finished with the second highest disposal efficiency on her team with 73.7 per cent.

#19 Asher Fearn-Wannan
Eastern Ranges | 175cm | 14/12/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

A powerful left-footer who can play off half-back or through the middle, Fearn-Wannan comes with some big wraps internally as she was touted as one to watch in 2024. She has certainly shown promise, with the athletic tall one with enormous upside, and is a late-year birth, not turning 17 until December. Though forced under pressure on a number of occasions, Fearn-Wannan showed her strength in the air, and her reliability to rebound from the back 50.

#20 Charlotte Beattie
Calder Cannons | 175cm | 11/05/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

Beattie played a high impact-per-possession role at both ends of the field. Early on, the Calder tall save a couple of certain goals thanks to a tackle in the goalsquare then mark on the goalline, before going forward in the second half and kicking two goals, both from hard work. Didn’t do too much wrong through the course of the match and gave fans a glimpse of a potential tall utility, having played predominantly in defence for the Cannons this season.