ONE OF nine siblings in her family, Murray Bushrangers’ Rain Dodd is no stranger to having plenty of competition. The Vic Country hub member has seen older sister Destiny graduate from the Bushrangers program and is now playing alongside younger sibling Constance. The middle of those three had a breakout performance on the weekend during Murray’s big win over Northern Territory, accumulating 32 touches including a remarkable 25-disposal first half.

Her performance was the subject of our Coates Talent League Girls Player Focus this week.

RAIN DODD PROFILE

DOB: 13/01/2007
Height: 165cm
Position: Utility
Strengths: Versatility, clean hands, work rate, strength, footy IQ
Improvements: Polish, explosiveness

PLAYER FOCUS:

2025 Coates Talent League Girls – Round 8:
Murray Bushrangers 7.10 (52) def. Northern Territory 3.7 (25)

#3 Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)
Stats: 32 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

FIRST HALF

Dodd started on-ball and it was evident from the opening bounce the top-ager was switched on and in for a big game. She had the first inside 50 of the match, and followed up with a secondary kick at half-forward. That particular disposal was smothered, but Dodd was quick to pounce with clean hands and get the ball away.

She accumulated the pill throughout the contest, weaving her way through traffic not through speed, but rather smarts. A highly intelligent footballer, Dodd is capable of getting into ball-winning positions consistently, and then executing by hand or foot down the ground. Her footy IQ allows her to dispose of the ball very quickly and even under pressure, which is why with less experienced opposition, Dodd was able to have a field day in the opening term.

The Murray Bushrangers midfielder would finish with a remarkable 13 disposals – three kicks, 10 handballs – by quarter time, and she did not slow down. Working back into defence early in the second quarter, Dodd cleared the ball from danger went to half-back then pushed up to win it off hands, dished off to a teammate and then locked the ball up in a third contest.

Dodd was covering the ground well and seemingly the ball just found her, winning it inside or outside the contest, what really stood out about her first half was her vision in traffic and being able to execute by hand, which again spoke to her natural footy IQ. The top-ager won another clearance late in the term straight out of the middle with an effective kick to half-forward, and then capped off the half running hard in the middle to gain a 25th disposal.

No one in the Coates Talent League Girls had ever hit the 50-disposal mark, but Dodd was halfway there by the time the players re-entered the rooms.

SECOND HALF

Though she had that blistering start, Dodd had a quieter third term through the middle with the ball largely locked down the Bushrangers’ forward end. She seemingly spent more time out on the wing after starting on-ball, another position she is more than capable of playing. She did win four handballs in the contest, three of which came on a wing working hard into space.

By the final break she was up to 29 disposals, though Dodd was thrown forward for the fourth term and unfortunately saw very little of it as Northern Territory had the strong breeze at La Trobe University in Bundoora. The Bushrangers did not score and Dodd had three touches, with another trio of handballs to complete her game with 32 disposals.

FINAL THOUGHTS…

Dodd is a highly competitive player who can play on all three lines including inside or outside, which is a huge help for any side when injury or form strikes for other players. She is adaptable, applying the same hard-running regardless of role, and she is courageous and not afraid to put her body on the line.

Dodd has areas to improve on, with the Bushrangers top-ager clean by hand and neat by foot when having time and space, but can still improve her polish in the latter. That, along with her athletic profile – such as her explosiveness are ways she can further impact games, with a lot of her traits strong, but can further develop.

Her footy IQ stands out in her game, and Dodd’s suite of weapons that include her clean hands, positioning and vision all allow her to extract the ball consistently from congestion. Not rewarded with as many clearances as perhaps she had a hand in given her flicks or taps from the coalface to the outside, Dodd is one who can be pleased with her performance against Northern Territory and can use it as a building block for the rest of the season.