A DOUBLE-header of Pool B action took place at Blacktown International Sportspark yesterday with Sydney Swans Academy proved too good for Tasmania in the first of those matches. After a tight first half where both sides struggled to put through many goals, the red and white got on top to kick six goals to three after quarter time and win by 34 points.

The Swans Academy tended to take a few pot shots at the goals, and those attempts, combined with some important defending from the Tasmanians ensured the scoreline looked a little lob-sided when it came to accuracy. In the end it did not matter with the Swans Academy getting up 8.15 (63) to 4.5 (29) to be the first of the NSW Academies to win on the day.

SWANS ACADEMY 2.1 | 2.5 | 6.13 | 8.15 (63)
TASMANIA 1.2 | 1.2 | 3.5 | 4.5 (29)

GOALS:
Swans Academy: E. Hollingsworth 2, W. Skene 2, G. Hynes, C. Jarina, E. Tyack, L. Burge
Tasmania: L. Murgatroyd 2, O. Lyons, E. French

RMC BEST:
Swans Academy: S. Kennedy-Wilkie, E. Hollingsworth, E. McCallum, G. Hynes, A. Crawley
Tasmania: M. Lange, A. Cottan, L. Murgatroyd, H. Sutcliffe, S. Woodcock

SWANS ACADEMY:

#1 Emily Hollingsworth
Miranda Bombers | 11/10/2010

Pencil the name in for the future because the bottom-age prospect lit up the game and was influential in most transitional plays going forward, while also hitting the scoreboard herself. She won it off half-back, through the middle, on the wing and then finished off with a couple of nice goals with the last of which being a classy finish in the final term. Showed some eye-catching athletic traits, had a few more chances she was unlucky not to score, but all in all was able to impact consistently.

#7 Annalise Crawley
Coffs Harbour Breakers | 165cm | 07/01/2009

While Crawley did not win as much of it compared to a few of the other players, her vision and calmness off half-back was really something. She always looked to cut inside when possible, and even when under pressure still maintained great composure. Clean hands and a great lateral sidestep, Crawley showed developable traits for the coming years.

#9 Genevieve Hynes
Lane Cove Cats | 165cm | a31/12/2009

Hynes has been a midfielder coming with wraps through the pathways and she had a really solid first-up game for the Swans Academy. She won an equal game-high five clearances and kicked a goal from 20 touches, of which the finish from a handball receive was a very nice one. She does not mind arching the back and taking the game on as well, providing run and carry between the arcs.

#10 Sienna Kennedy-Wilkie
Killarney Vale Bombers | 172cm | 13/02/2009

The standout player for mine in the match, finishing with 25 disposals, six tackles and seven inside 50s, just getting involved with everything. She darted one way, dashed the other, dished off quick hands or cut inside and looked for open targets inside 50. She looked clean at ground level most of the time and if she could not take possession just kept it moving forward by tapping it in front of her. Set up a couple of goals to Willow Skene and was a real team player all around. Unfortunately got pinged for running too far after getting out of congestion and changing her direction on a dime, but it looked exciting.

#14 Emma McCallum
Warners Bay Bulldogs | 174cm | 13/03/2009

A raw but athletic tall, McCallum had to battle away in the ruck despite being a little undersized in that department. She showed a nice leap and would compete at ground level even if still developing some fundamentals. While those areas will come, she has the natural athletic traits that clubs love, and she can get into ball-winning positions which indicates some nice footy IQ in that sense.

TASMANIA:

#1 Aya Cottam
South Launceston | 167cm | 10/01/2010

Cottam was another bottom-ager who was everywhere for the Devils, finding it in each third of the ground. Given the Swans’ ascendancy, most of her running patterns were mopping up in defence where Cottam had a game-high 27 disposals, nine marks and nine rebound 50s. She has a nice sidestep that she uses to get out of trouble, had some slick passes when in the front half during the first two quarters, then used her thumping kick to clear the danger in defence. She took several marks and quelled several Sydney Academy attacks.

#4 Sienna Woodcock
Latrobe | 155cm | 16/10/2009

Woodcock might be small but she showed some nice signs off half-back and through the middle, working hard and clearing congestion time and time again. She won a couple of free kicks for going in hard and she read the ball in flight to get into the correct position to repel. Her timing release by hand brings her teammates into the game, and while Woodcock earned her touches through smarts and hard running.

#12 Holly Sutcliffe
Latrobe | 168cm | 19/03/2009

Sutcliffe is another who did not have a stack of the ball (11 touches) but did catch the eye with her ability to flick handballs off quickly to teammates and try and release them for the give-and-go. She took a great intercept mark early in the third term at half-forward and thumped the kick inside 50 to a pinpoint target. Her vision was a standout trait on the day.

#13 Matilda Lange
Kingborough | 166cm | 30/01/2009

A name you will hear more and more about over the next few years, Lange is up there with the very best in her draft crop. She is already a multiple MVP winner and All-Australian at Under 15s and 16s level, and boasts a rare strength and athleticism combination. She shrugs off opponents like they are nothing such is her strength, then explodes away with some terrific speed. She can kick on both sides of her body, runs hard all day and showed she can play off half-back as well as being that big-bodied inside midfielder because she understands the game and gets into the right spots. Had 23 disposals, eight marks, eight tackles, five clearances, seven inside 50s and four rebound 50s.

#26 Luca Murgatroyd
North Hobart | 178cm | 01/04/2009

Another athletic prospect who lit up the Tasmania Devils Preseason Testing, Murgatroyd played as a key forward and did show some of that day. She booted two goals, took a few marks and was a handy leading target for the Devils. For a player of her size to explode away and finish at speed it was very impressive, and given she had limited opportunities with the Swans on top, she certainly took them when they came.