IMPACTED by both injury and school football to some of its top-end talents, Calder Cannons had to rely on some fresh faces in the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls season off the back of two players – Kayley Kavanagh and Sarah Grunden – getting drafted in the first round of last year’s AFLW Draft.

CALDER CANNONS

RECORD: 12th Overall | 6th Metro | 2-12 | 35.80%
STREAK: LLL | LLLW | LL | LLLLW

THE STORY:

Calder Cannons ultimately survived the wooden spoon with a win over Western Jets in the last round just a day after Murray Bushrangers picked up their first victory to potentially overtake the Cannons. The bottom metropolitan team had some competitive moments such as tight losses to the Jets in Round 10 (five points) and the GWV Rebels in Round 14 (two) which could have very easily translated into victories. Unfortunately the losses were very heavy, with six of the 12 defeats being 50-plus points.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

After a tough season and staring down the barrel of a wooden spoon after Murray won the day before, Calder dug deep to upset Western at Trevor Barker Oval in the final game of the regular season. As part of a triple-header for the metropolitan teams in Wildcard Round, Calder overcame the fact it lost captain Ava Gerada before half-time and was already without start bottom-ager Chloe Baker-West due to injury. Despite that, the Cannons kept pressing to kick the last two goals of the game in wet conditions to win, 6.10 (46) to 4.13 (37).

THE STAR:

Of Calder’s top-end talents, utility Kyla Forbes featured the most consistently and was able to plug holes all over the ground. A natural forward-midfielder, Forbes got her chance out of defence – where she also stepped up for Vic Metro as the chosen kick out player. She provides some run but is mostly able to impact games through her powerful left peg and strength on the inside.

She competes hard one-on-one, is able to use her frame well at ground level, and has natural footy IQ that allows her to make her mark in any third of the ground. Having played as a forward, her craft in front o the big sticks catches the eye, but she has the capacity to start on-ball or deep in defence. Her final game of the season was her biggest, notching up 25 disposals, seven tackles, six inside 50s, five rebound 50s and booting a crucial goal.

THE MAINSTAYS:

It took her a while to return from injury, but top-age talent Maddison Albrecht really build a strong CV in the second half of the season. She throws herself at the contest with reckless abandonment, is clean at ground level and is a tackling machine. Developed from being a small forward into a midfielder in 2024 as well.

The other top-age prospects who performed key roles for the Cannons throughout the season included defender Grace Azzopardi and skipper Gerada, as well as midfield duo Camryn Bux and Jayla Rutley who consistently either won the ball or applied great pressure to the opposition. Winger Stephanie Mitchell was another who had her moments on the outside, and did get a call-up for the Young Guns side against Oakleigh Chargers.

THE FUTURE:

Calder has a couple of top-end prospects for next year in Vic Metro Under 16s back-to-back MVP Baker-West. Her year was interrupted by first school football, and then curtailed by injury, missing out on a chance to don the ‘Big V’ at Under 18s level. She is a ball magnet who only played two games but had 37 and 42 disposals in those matches.

The other top-end talent is tall utility Jade McLay who was able to run out for the Under 17 Futures match. Having been deployed as a tall defender, tall forward, ruck and midfielder, McLay has the potential to fill any role required of her and is as strong as they come with a powerful kick.

A couple of other names for next year to keep in mind include raw forward with upside Shauna McElligott as well as dangerous small forward Lara Churchill. From the double bottom-age crop, midfielder/forward Charli Calleia and Chloe Capeci are exciting prospects.