REIGNING premiers Oakleigh Chargers stamped their ticket into the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls Grand Final with a hard-fought win over Dandenong Stingrays in challenging conditions at Highgate Recreation Reserve.

Oakleigh Chargers 4.8 (32) defeated Dandenong Stingrays 3.0 (18)

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#2 Sarah Poustie
Midfielder | 170cm | 05/01/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 1 mark, 17 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The onballer was defensively superb throughout the match, laying 17 tackles to go with her 18 touches and was hardly fazed by the wet and windy conditions. Her tackling technique both on the opposition and being able to draw free kicks is a skill of hers, while she always gives 100 per cent and puts her body on the line

#3 Sienna Tallariti
Defender | 168cm | 10/07/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Stood up tall when Dandenong had the ascendancy to provide an intercepting force even though she only took the two marks. She is always so composed with ball in hand and cleared just about everything. While the conditions meant her efficiency was a little lower, she was still outstanding and a key player in the win.

#5 Abbey Vicino
Forward | 157cm | 13/02/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 8 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Has taken to the forward role like a duck to water and provides both offensive and defensive craft. Vicino locked the ball inside 50 on a number of occasions, and while not able to capitalise on a couple of early chances in the first term, was able to put the final nail in the coffin via a 50m penalty and point blank set shot in the third term.

#6 Maggie Mahony
Forward/Midfielder | 162cm | 19/10/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Returning from injury that has kept her out since the last national championships match, Mahony returned to predominantly play forward while getting midfield rotations as the game went on. She was clean in the wet and worked hard for her disposals, applying a great amount of defensive pressure and looking lively in the forward half. She almost had a fairytale return with a set shot after the final siren, but it just missed in the wind. Still, it was a promising return from the talented top-ager.

#9 Chloe Bown
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 20/12/2007

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Her backend of the year has been sublime and the bottom-ager had another big game on the weekend. She provided a bigger body around the stoppages and often dumped the ball on the boot, which considering the conditions is exactly what was required. Boasting a booming kick on both sides of her body, she kept giving her side field position and locking it up in the forward half which proved critical in the match.

#19 Charlotte Brewer
Defender | 165cm | 11/09/2006

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50

It was not the ideal day for running players, but Brewer still added her touch of pace and ability to rebound from a high line. She generally did well with ball in hand, and constantly worked hard up the ground to get involved in the play. Good off the deck, she was quick to get ball to boot and give her side an advantage.

#21 Amelie Gladman
Forward | 166cm | 16/06/2006

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 behinds

Worked hard in the wet and set up a goal to McDonald early, as well as passing off to Mahony for the last set shot of the game. She missed a couple of chances herself for two behinds on the day, but it was her clean hands at ground level and forward craft that really stood out on the weekend. Her strong hands in the air saw her clunk some grabs like it was a dry day that was particularly impressive.

#25 Emma McDonald
Key Forward | 179cm | 18/04/2006

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 7 hitouts, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

While definitely not a day for key forwards, McDonald still looked lively at times and was not afraid to get her hands dirty. She had a chance on goal late in the first term before passing it off, then kicked the opening goal in the second quarter from a free kick in the goalsquare. She had a couple of almost moments in the game, and though not able to add to her one major, kept working hard.

#35 Zoe Curry
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 19/10/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

A natural inside midfielder, the big-bodied onballer crashed and bashed her way around the stoppages, using her strength to extract the ball from the contest. She had an eye-catching moment that featured a sidestep and fend-off for a flying shot but it just missed to the right. She looked at home winning the clearances, and had a huge third term when Dandenong was on top, producing some key efforts throughout the course of the match.

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:

#3 Jemma Reynolds
Midfielder | 163cm | 29/04/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The Rookie Me Central Medallist had her moments in the wet, and though she found it tough to impact outside the contest with the majority of it being inside, she still used her clean hands to advantage. With any time or space she can do damage, and though when under pressure she can rush, she was still consistently good throughout the four quarters and worked hard for the Stingrays.

#6 Zoe Besanko
Utility | 178cm | 25/05/2006

Stats: 9 disposals, 6 tackles, 19 hitouts, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Seemed to thrive in the wet more than most and was the most dominant ruck on the field with her 19 hitouts. Her ground level pressure caught the eye, as did her clean hands off the deck given the wet ground. She played between ruck, midfield and forward showing off her versatility, and certainly had an impact throughout the game.

#9 Elli Symonds
Ruck/Forward | 178cm | 07/10/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 12 hitouts, 1 rebound 50

Another tall who has no troubles in the wet given her ground level work, Symonds got involved both in the air and when the ball hit the deck – which was most of the time. She did get caught holding the ball in the first term trying to break through two tacklers, but also laid some huge tackles of her own, burst free along the wing on a couple of occasions and worked the ball forward with her booming kick.

#11 Kayla Dalgleish
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 15/07/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50

Looked dangerous in the front half of the ground and had an outstanding moment in the third term where she collected the ball off the bounce at full speed and went to turn and kick forward. Even though she slipped as she kicked it, had done enough to hit-up Bridget Koczek for a set shot goal. Her ball use in transition was impressive and kept herself active when in midfield rotation or inside 50.

#14 Matilda Argus
Midfielder | 166cm | 06/01/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 7 rebound 50s

The bottom-age prospect has had a couple of impressive finals, not only winning the ball in close, but around the ground too. She worked hard back into defence to record a game-high seven rebound 50s and really assist her teammates. She has a thumping left foot and has a nice balance of inside and outside traits even if she is not a massive accumulator. One to watch for next season.

#28 Nalu Brothwell
Forward | 170cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 1 rebound 50

Worked hard and presented up the ground, the forward had some eye-catching passages of play including a brilliant sidestep on the wing and then a run-down tackle to win holding the ball a quarter later. She is still developing some fundamentals of her game such as when getting run-down in a tackle after having some time herself, but she is competitive, clean and can win it both in the air and at ground level. Her tackling pressure was outstanding.

#43 Lillian Snow
Midfielder | 169cm | 10/07/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Another inside midfielder who should take her game to another level next season, the bottom-age left-footer worked hard against some quality opponents and laid some big bone-crunching tackles. Snow often had to dump the ball from congestion down the field which was ideal considering the conditions, and worked well to support off half-back and also get forward to impact too.

#54 Ruby Geurts
Defender | 169cm | 17/09/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The defender had her fair share of the ball via kickouts or being an option at half-back to run and gun from the defensive 50 to the forward half of the ground. She did well to spoil a behind under pressure, then produced another spoil on Gladman one-on-one. Geurts holds a high line up to the wing to intercept at times and send the ball forward.