VICTORIA Country and Metro selectors got a look at the potential players for the upcoming AFLW Under 16s Development Championships over the weekend with a couple of trial matches. Following the conclusion of the Coates Talent League Girls Under 16s competition, the best players from the Country and Metro regions were split into four teams, with the Country sides facing off on Saturday, and the Metro sides clashing on Sunday.

While the final results were essentially irrelevant, it was Team White who got the job done against Team Red in the Vic Country trial at Trevor Barker Oval. The players fought out three periods of 20 minutes, with Team White leading all the way to win, 8.3 (51) to 5.8 (38).

The following day, Team Green held out against a fast-finishing Team Blue in the Vic Metro trial by 12 points at RMIT Oval in Bundoora. Unlike the Country match, the Metro equivalent played all four quarters, with the final score sitting at 8.6 (54) to 5.12 (42) in favour of Team Green.

In this article we’ll highlight a few of the standouts across the matches with some of the names to keep in mind for the upcoming Development Championships.

TEAM WHITE:

#4 Sage Dennis
Echuca United / Bendigo Pioneers | 160cm

The Pioneers talent showed natural footy smarts throughout the match, both with her clean hands and her ability to make good decisions. She thought through her options well across the course of the match, and was able to scoop up a loose ball at speed, and though she was bumped off it being a smaller player, when she did win it, was quite damaging.

#6 Annie Clish
Narre North Foxes / Dandenong Stingrays | 171cm

Finished the three periods with a couple of goals playing forward and looked dangerous inside 50. Clish kicked the first major of the day, then had her second not long after being in the right spot at the right time to snap with the outside of the right boot. As the match progressed, she provided a marking target at half-forward and even pushing up to half-back to assist, with her kicking also strong.

#18 Dempsey McDonnell
Strathfieldsaye / Bendigo Pioneers | 176cm

An exciting tall with plenty of notable traits, McDonnell has great spatial awareness to sidestep a would-be tackler and then shrug off another one later on to slot a goal on the run. She kicked a second major shortly after just before the half-time siren after receiving the ball by hand and having the composure to nail the shot.

#22 Ella Condon
Torquay / Geelong Falcons | 182cm

Condon started in the ruck then worked back into defence where she was a rock in the air. Marking just about anything that came her way, the Falcons key position player used her body well and early positioning aided in intercepting more often than not. A one-take player above her head, she also scrapped hard at ground level with nice follow-up efforts.

TEAM RED:

#5 Lily Brittain
Narre North Foxes / Dandenong Stingrays | 163cm

Arguably the most impressive player on the day, Brittain looked a class above in the first term with her balance of contested and uncontested ball-winning ability. She threw herself at the coalface but also was there finding space, with some of her highlights including some bone-crunching tackles and then sizzling darts to find teammates inside 50. She rotated through not only inside, but the wing and half-forward as well and is a name to definitely not down for the future.

#6 Jessica Grimsted
Bairnsdale / Gippsland Power | 160cm

Working in tandem with Brittain, Grimsted cracked in hard and also spent time on a wing. Her contested work stood out, with the Power prospect not afraid to put up the ‘don’t argue’ or lay a strong tackle. While there is still work to be done in terms of polish, she has that natural footballing sense and did her best to get first hands to it and bring her teammates into the game.

#13 Bailea Shipp
Beaconsfield / Dandenong Stingrays | 169cm

Shipp had some really great moments in the match with her first being an outstanding collect under pressure, then calmly turned towards the forward 50 and off a step with her right hit a short pass. She had another moment where a slick sidestep got to her dominant right side, before having a terrific pickup close to goal and off just a step balanced herself to slot the major in the third term.

VIC METRO

TEAM BLUE:

#4 Sadie Glew
Belgrave / Eastern Ranges | 165cm

Glew was a consistent feature in the Team Blue defence, with her balance of offensive and defensive attributes coming to the fore. She showed clean hands, nice skills and a desperation in forcing mistakes from the opposition or winning the ball back, which would endear her to teammates and coaches alike. She intercepted practically everything in the second term and has class that cannot be taught.

#6 Charli Parsons-Jones
Darley / Western Jets | 165cm

A damaging left-footer out of the Western Jets, Parsons-Jones hit the scoreboard with a clever snap and also from long-range. She reads the ball in flight so well, and took a number of marks inside 50 or further afield and had she made the most of a few more chances – such as one falling short or another being smothered – could have finished with an even bigger day. One with high upside for the future.

#15 Grace Philip
Beaumaris / Sandringham Dragons | 172cm

Worked well in the forward half across the match, with some nice penetration on her kicks going forward, while digging deep for second and third efforts in contests. She had a great play at one stage from the first clearance out of the middle where she was inside 50 and calmly turned away from her opponent, composed herself and slotted the goal on the run. Almost had another major not long after but her shot was marked on the goalline.

#26 Maya Duane
East Malvern Knights / Sandringham Dragons | 180cm

The standout in the Metro match, Duane is one of those players who ticks a lot of boxes when it comes to her profile. She stands at 180cm, but is both strong and athletic, with a nice explosive burst to breakaway from would-be opponents. She can tend to do a little too much at times, but with her aerial strength and penetration by foot – as well as that natural power – Duane has enormous potential. Will prove a tricky player to matchup on in the future.

TEAM GREEN:

#6 Elebertina Schuliga
Moonee Valley / Calder Cannons | 165cm

Another left-footer in the match, Schuliga has the need for speed with her best work coming when she was injected into the midfield for the third term. After a few nice touches prior to that, she had a run-down tackle, then burst down the corridor, sidestepped at top speed and hit a long-range target on the fly. If that was not enough, she went one better inside 50 shortly after by bursting away from an opponent and finished with class on the run for a goal.

#14 Lily Parker
Balwyn / Oakleigh Chargers | 169cm

As was the theme of this match, Parker was another left-footer who showed proactiveness by getting in front of her opponents playing in defence. She was not afraid to take the game on, sometimes taking multiple bounces including four from the kickout during the third term. Strong enough overhead and provided plenty of drive, Parker is an exciting talent for the future.

#20 Coco Balmain
Brunswick / Calder Cannons | 175cm

The pick of the Team Green players across the four quarters, Balmain dominated in the air with some incredible intercept and contested marks. Yet another left-footer, the Calder Cannons tall has a booming kick and saved a number of goals up the defensive end. When moved to a higher half-back role, she pushed up the ground to win the ball and launched from 55m out with an open goalsquare. Much to the delight of her teammates, the ball bounced home with help from a shepherd in the goalsqure to add her name to the goalkickers list.