DANDENONG Stingrays have produced a dominant final three quarters to run out 109-point victors over Gippsland Power in a wind-swept Morwell yesterday. The Stingrays were already considered a Coates Talent League Girls title contender – arguably the pick of the country teams – and their Round 1 performance did not sway anyone from that train of thought.

Dandenong put Gippsland to the sword in tricky conditions at Morwell, taking a little while to get going but eventually booting 14 goals across the middle two quarters – including a massively accurate 10.1 in the third term – to surpass the triple-digit margin. With a strong breeze blowing across the ground, it made kicking for goal difficult and the Stingrays kicked 2.6 in the final 25 minutes, which could have made the win even greater.

There were no shortage of bests for the Stingrays, with centre half-forward Nalu Brothwell being a handful inside 50 with 25 disposals, four marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal from three scoring shots. She was one of nine individual goalkickers from the winners, with the classy Alice Cunnington and smart Evelyn Connolly having a day out in front of the big sticks.

Fourth gamer Marlee Black also booted three majors, while Makhaela Bluhm and Indi Sherritt were incredibly lively in attack with multiple goals. The midfield pair of over-ager Tahlia Sanger and left-footer Matilda Argus were strong, as Mizuki Brothwell provided run off half-back with some great dash and Lillian Snow rotated between on-ball and attack.

Gippsland had a tough time first-up with Chelsea Sutton (14 disposals, four tackles, six clearances, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s) the pick of the home side. Maya Crestani had some moments through the ruck with a game-high 22 hitouts, while Ella Stoddart and Lily Milner tried to drive the ball into attack consistently.

From a team stats percentage, Dandenong won the clearances 35-20 and dominated the inside 50s count (49-13), while managing 32 scoring shots to three throughout the match. In what was a challenging day to score, the Stingrays had no issues in the last three quarters and stamped their authority in the match.

Both sides will head back to work during the week prior to an Epsom Huntly Reserve triple-header in Bendigo where Gippsland takes on Murray Bushrangers and Dandenong faces Geelong Falcons.

GIPPSLAND POWER 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.1 (13)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 2.4 | 6.7 | 16.8 | 18.14 (122)

GOALS:
Gippsland: A. Deszcz, C. Dent
Dandenong: A. Cunnington 4, E. Connolly 3, M. Black 3, M. Bluhm 2, I. Sherritt 2, N. Brothwell, R. Geurts, C. Gilmore, K. Triep

RMC BEST:
Gippsland: C. Sutton, M. Crestani, L. Milner, E. Stoddart, A. Howe
Dandenong: A. Cunnington, N. Brothwell, I. Sherritt, M. Argus, M. Bluhm

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS 5.2 | 5.8 | 8.9 | 11.13 (79)
BENDIGO PIONEERS 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2.2 (14)

IN A NUTSHELL

Booting the first nine goals of the match, Murray seized control early and put away Bendigo in Wangaratta to run out 65-point winners at Norm Minns Oval.

KEY PLAYERS

Rose Bell (Murray) 16 disposals, 2 marks, 3 inside 50s, 6 goals
Nikhita Spiteri (Murray) 26 disposals, 9 tackles, 4 clearances and seven inside 50s
Eliza Roche (Murray) 15 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Olivia Lacy (Bendigo) 20 disposals, 6 marks, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s
Ava Bibby (Bendigo) 14 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles, 19 hitouts, 5 clearances
Issy Boulton (Bendigo) 18 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 7 rebound 50s

NEXT WEEK

Murray Bushrangers vs. Gippsland Power @ Epsom Huntly Reserve, 1:10pm
Bendigo Pioneers vs. GWV Rebels @ Epsom Huntly Reserve, 11:00am

GWV REBELS 1.2 | 1.2 | 2.2 | 3.2 (20)
GEELONG FALCONS 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.4 | 7.7 (49)

IN A NUTSHELL

After a tight first quarter, the Falcons were able to overcome a minus-eight clearance differential against the Rebels to intercept their forward thrusts and gain 14 more inside 50s (38-24) themselves throughout the match.

KEY PLAYERS

Stella Huxtable (Geelong) 22 disposals, 10 tackle, 7 clearances, 1 goal
Ava Bilyk (Geelong) 28 disposals, 7 marks, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 goal
Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong) 26 disposals, 3 marks, 15 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Maggie Johnstone (GWV) 21 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles, 8 clearances, 4 rebound 50s, 3 goals
Milly Shortal (GWV) 15 disposals, 8 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s
Brook Ward (GWV) 14 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 rebound 50s

NEXT WEEK

Geelong Falcons vs. Dandenong Stingrays @ Epsom Huntly Reserve, 3:20pm
GWV Rebels vs. Bendigo Pioneers @ Epsom Huntly Reserve, 11:00am

CALDER CANNONS 0.0 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.9 (33)
WESTERN JETS 0.3 | 1.3 | 4.6 | 4.6 (30)

IN A NUTSHELL

Calder’s big guns fired in a nail-biting three-point win, turning around a preseason loss to the Jets who still had a few eye-catching talls in defeat.

KEY PLAYERS

Chloe Baker-West (Calder) 38 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s
Jade McLay (Calder) 31 disposals, 4 clearances, 8 inside 50s
Madison Spring-Brown (Calder) 17 disposals, 6 tackles, 8 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Alex McBride-Loane (Western) 23 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 11 rebound 50s
Caelan Lowry (Western) 16 disposals, 4 tackles, 21 hitouts
Tayla Olivieri (Western) 13 disposals, 10 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

NEXT WEEK

Calder Cannons vs. Northern Knights @ Highgate Recreation Reserve, 1:00pm
Western Jets have the bye.

NORTHERN KNIGHTS 1.1 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 5.5 (35)
OAKLEIGH CHARGERS 4.0 | 4.0 | 8.1 | 10.5 (65)

IN A NUTSHELL

A dominant nine-goal performance from Oakleigh’s Bailee Martin to equal the all-time individual goals in a game record helped reigning back-to-back premiers sink Northern at Highgate Recreation Reserve.

KEY PLAYERS

Bailee Martin (Oakleigh) 16 disposals, 9 marks, 9 goals
Chloe Bown (Oakleigh) 23 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50s
Teagan Murtic (Oakliegh) 24 disposals, 4 tackles, 6 clearances

Marlo Graham (Northern) 29 disposals, 10 tackles, 7 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Scarlett Johnson (Northern) 25 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 rebound 50s
Katelyn Busuttil (Northern) 21 disposals, 3 marks, 9 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

NEXT WEEK

Northern Knights vs. Calder Cannons @ Highgate Recreation Reserve
Oakleigh Chargers vs. Eastern Ranges @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 1.1 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 (14)
EASTERN RANGES 2.8 | 3.12 | 4.14 | 8.18 (66)

IN A NUTSHELL

Despite some inaccuracy, Eastern Ranges were able to dominate around the ball (33-14 clearances) and getting scoring opportunities (60-15 inside 50s) in an impressive 52-point victory over Sandringham Dragons at RSEA Park.

KEY PLAYERS

Brylee Anderson (Eastern) 31 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 7 clearances, 7 inside 50s
Tayla McMillan (Eastern) 27 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s
Emily Rankin (Eastern) 19 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 goals

Isla Tucker (Sandringham) 33 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 8 rebound 50s
Ash Patton (Sandringham) 22 disposals, 7 marks, 3 clearances, 6 rebound 50s
Chloe Williams (Sandringham) 17 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 5 rebound 50s, 1 goal

NEXT WEEK

Eastern Ranges vs. Oakleigh Chargers @ Highgate Recreation Reserve
Sandringham Dragons vs. Western Jets @ Highgate Recreation Reserve