WRAPPING up a fantastic Coates Talent League Girls season, Oakleigh Chargers got the better of Eastern Ranges with an 18-point victory at Ikon Park. Players from both sides caught the eye in the grand final and we named just a few of those for our Scouting Notes. All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

Oakleigh Chargers 5.7 (37) defeated Eastern Ranges 2.7 (19)

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

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

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The consistent midfielder worked hard throughout the course of the game and did her best work in holding her line when the ball had gone inside 50. Staying around the half-forward mark, she was in best position to intercept and then send the ball back inside 50. She applied plenty of defensive pressure as well, and had a great battle with Belloni one-on-one after quarter time in particular. Even though Belloni did win the battle, Poustie won the war by coming away with a premiership medallion and was also highly efficient with ball in hand.

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

Stats: 24 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 14 rebound 50s

An absolutely starring role for the second consecutive year. Tallariti was incredible at half-back intercepting anything that came her way, and by half-time she had already racked up 16 disposals, four marks and eight rebound 50s. Oakleigh had more forward half possession after the main break so less for Tallariti to do, but she won the Chargers the game early with her intercept and rebound game.

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

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 14 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 rebound 50s

In just her second game back from her collarbone injury, Mahony produced an enormous defensive effort to lay 14 tackles from her 17 touches and play a key role through the midfield and rotate forward. She had a couple of chances on goal off quick snaps that were thwarted, but her clean hands under pressure and in traffic really stood out and she continued to perform throughout the match.

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

Stats: 24 disposals, 1 mark, 10 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-ager looms as one of the top Victorian prospects for next season and it is easy to see why with a really complete game. She finds the ball herself, applies great defensive pressure and has the athletic capabilities to get out of traffic in the contest, and then prove a handful one-on-one outside the contest or inside 50. When moving in transition she can hit targets well and is not afraid to take on the opposition in order to break lines, finishing as one of the Oakleigh’s best on the day.

#18 Bailee Martin
Forward | 174cm | 03/09/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 3 behinds

Martin had a couple of near misses with unlucky ball bounces or just narrow tight angled shots that stopped her from having a big day out, though still played her role to a tee coming back into the side. She can find herself in tough set shot situations, but made no mistake after a strong contested mark on the goalsquare late in the second term. Her marking was a delight and looked a threat any time the ball came in her zone.

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

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 6 hitouts, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

Often went head-to-head with fellow AFLW Academy member Grace Baba and worked her over by the end of the game and the knowledge that she was edging closer to being a two-time premiership player. Her work rate up the ground is always very good, and she showed that again being able to set up a crucial goal to Grace To after a vital mark on the wing. McDonald also gets it done at ground level too with immense defensive pressure and is unselfish with her disposal inside 50.

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Arguably next best after Tallariti, Curry was enormous through midfield, especially in the first quarter where she racked up a game-high 11 disposals. The double bottom-ager showed she was not overawed by the occasion, and was able to win her fair share of clearances by using fantastic strength, producing a trademark fend off and setting up the first goal of the game to Abbey Vicino. A thumping kick but backs her strength when in trouble as well and is able to dish off well under pressure.

EASTERN RANGES:

#6 Tayla McMillan
Midfielder | 161cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 15 tackles, 7 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

An enormous performance from McMillan who was defensively huge, laying 10 tackles in the first half and not willing to give any Chargers an inch. Always punching above her size, McMillan is such a slick user when she does win it and was able to extract the ball from pressure situations to find teammates on the move. Could not have done any more working incredibly hard with Belloni through the middle.

#10 Jordyn Allen
Defender | 166cm | 12/11/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Allen’s work off half-back was really important in keeping the Ranges in the match. She provided speed in transition and intercepted even without taking a mark. Allen’s vision to look to go inside on that 45-degree angle and pinpoint passes was very good, and she held a high line off half-back to mop up and turn defence into offence really quickly. She almost kicked a goal in the third term with a brilliant burst forward that just went into the post.

#11 Grace Belloni
Midfielder | 174cm | 09/09/2006

Stats: 31 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 8 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

A herculean effort from the midfielder who, like McMillan, could not have done any more. Belloni was huge around the clearances, winning a game-high eight for the match, but also worked so hard to get into space and clunk six marks. She did her best to thump the ball to space for her teammates and also nullified the impacts of Poustie to an extent around the stoppages while winning her own ball. Best-on for Eastern in the loss.

#12 Georgia Knight
Forward | 164cm | 11/10/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 2 behinds

It was a case of what could have been for Knight who still played very well up forward and produced her best final for the season. She continually presented and had a few shots on goal, and while one from the boundary was always a tough ask, one that was directly in front 15m out was a miss that hurt. She deservedly finished with a couple of consolation goals for all her hard work to be the most dangerous Eastern forward on the day.

#24 Evie Parker
Wing | 179cm | 06/07/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Prolific in the first term and popped after at opportune times after that, Parker was crucial is using her run and carry to get the ball forward. Her work with grass in front of her and space to move is when she is at her most damaging, and though while under pressure she can rush her decision making process, she was still one of the better Ranges throughout the course of the match.

#35 Molly Paterson
Midfielder | 170cm | 11/02/2006

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

Battled on well through the midfield, and while only credited with a couple of clearances, contributed to quite a few more with her in-and-under extraction work. She often got first hands to it or was involved in quick touches that kept the ball moving, and her defensive work also caught the eye in the loss. Paterson had the first inside 50 of the match and then first clearance in quarter three, showing how switched on she was to start each term.

#42 Brylee Anderson
Defender | 172cm | 23/03/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 7 rebounds 50s

For a player only just starting her Coates Talent League Girls career, Anderson showed plenty of promise being that rebounding defender. She often had some big jobs but accounted for herself well. She provided long kicking from defence and did well against Amelie Gladman, holding a nice line deep in defence, then taking off when required to run down the field. A future midfielder/defender, Anderson just stayed behind the ball and played her role well.