QUEENSLAND pipped Western Australia at the post with a remarkable Georja Davies goal in the dying seconds to post a 9.5 (59) to 8.8 (56) victory over the Sandgropers at RSEA Park in Moorabbin. We took note of some of the standout players on both sides from the nail-biting clash, with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#7 Mia Russo (West Perth)
Midfielder | 165cm | 06/08/2007

Stats: 27 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

The National Academy member came into the match off hamstring tightness and illness so therefore started on the bench. After playing more of a hybrid role just finding space around the ground in the opening 15 minutes, she moved on-ball where she really got going. Winning almost an immediate clearance and then continuing to build after quarter time, Russo ended up one of the Sandgropers’ best. Her release by hand was brilliant and quite often she was behind the ball bursting forward to put it into dangerous positions for her forwards.

#10 Juliet Kelly (Claremont)
Midfielder | 171cm | 28/07/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The Claremont ball-winner goes about her game with no fuss and was just consistent throughout, applying defensive pressure and feeding the ball out to her teammates. A handball-first player who makes others better, Kelly is often on the defensive end of players, but had some rare space pushing forward and launched a nice long-range goal midway through the second term.

#15 Renee Morgan (South Fremantle)
Midfielder | 168cm | 04/05/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

Similar to Kelly, Morgan just worked hard across the ground and was clean with her disposals and attacked the contest hard. She reads the game well and knows when to drop back to intercept down the field, and when to attack. Did run herself into trouble at one stage in the first term so had to throw it on the boot, but generally was effective all across the ground and one of WA’s top players.

#20 Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts)
Midfielder | 168cm | 01/03/2007

Stats: 29 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Arguably best on ground, D’Addario was prolific from start to finish with a game-high 29 disposals across the contest. Reading the ball off hands superbly, the Swan Districts onballer was quite often the first possession winner feeding it out to her teammates, but also held a good line outside the attacking 50 when the ball was within scoring range. D’Addario got on the end of a major from long-range with a great finish, and just had the ball on a string in what was her first national carnival match in three years.

#22 Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco)
Key Forward | 181cm | 02/09/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50, 2 goals

Kept statless in the first term by Davies who was a surprise opponent for the National Academy member, Wolmarans quickly made her presence felt in the second quarter with a big mark and long-range set shot goal. She kicked her second running back to goal with a soccer off the deck in the goalsquare during the third term, and had a few ‘almost’ marks throughout the four quarters. Sprayed one shot wide late in the match, and had a hand in the dying moments with a defensive spoil though it went back inside the Queensland attacking 50. Played a solid game without being dominant.

#25 Lexi Strachan (West Perth)
Wing/Forward | 168cm | 30/09/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Kicked a very nice early goal with a great snap while being tackled inside 50 and did well on a wing and rest forward. Her ball-winning abilities on the outside were not lost despite playing an inside role for West Perth this season, and she was able to look comfortable as a bottom-ager out there. Looked to run-and-gun when given the opportunity and was the pick of the 2008-born crop in the match.

#27 Layla Quinn-Schofield (Subiaco)
Forward | 166cm | 27/07/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

Impressed as the most dangerous forward even though she only kicked the one goal. While the Subiaco forward might have finished with a lower efficiency, her impact was far greater than on a stats sheet given her defensive pressure and knack for taking risks going forward. Quinn-Schofield earned reward for effort by getting on the end of a transitional chain and slamming home a goal, while otherwise worrying other players with her repeat efforts and throwing her body on the line.

#32 Olivia Crane (Subiaco)
Wing/Defender | 182cm | 08/10/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

After missing all of last year, Crane has come back losing none of her smarts and after a successful return through the WAFLW, showed it for the state side as well. In particular Crane was lively early, intercepting a lot of play coming her way, starting on a wing then drifting to defence whenever Queensland had ascendancy. The Sandgropers looked for her to use her elite skills and vision to save the day, with her composure always impressive. Took a nice intercept mark over Alannah Welsh late in the final term at centre half-back to save a potential goal.

QUEENSLAND:

#6 Molly Ferguson (Maroochydore/Lions Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 165cm | 20/04/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Certainly looked busy through the midfield for the Lions winning her fair share of the ball and getting in and under when required. She created space for herself and showed great footy smarts such as a quick tap towards the boundary line to a teammate when Maya Louvel-Finn was bearing down on her. In general she is clean by hand or foot and was just reliable all across the board, getting the ball forward on a couple of occasions into scoring positions.

#9 Annabelle Foat (Bond University/Suns Academy)
Midfielder/Forward | 164cm | 23/04/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

After a slow start to the game, Foat worked into the match with 16 of her 18 touches in the final three terms, and was really busy in transition during the third quarter. Her defensive pressure was particularly impressive as per usual, with the defensively-focused mid looking to quell the strength of her opponents around the ball. She had a hand in a number of scores when going forward or inside 50, and was just consistent across the board.

#12 Sunny Lappin (Southport/Suns Academy)
Wing/Midfielder | 170cm | 28/11/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Lappin was one of Queensland’s best in the win, finding plenty of space off a wing and running in transition. She showed clean hands when under pressure and won a stack of clearances when rotating into the stoppages. A well-balanced midfielder who has honed in on her contested game this year, Lappin had a number of score involvements with her ability to pump the ball inside 50 into dangerous spots. Had a massive last quarter with eight disposals.

#13 Rhianna Ingram (Southport/Suns Academy)
Defender | 167cm | 20/10/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

Translated her Coates Talent League Girls form onto the national stage with a really busy game out of defence. Aside from the second term where she was hardly required and did not get a touch, Ingram finished with 16 disposals and five rebound 50s, providing important drive out of the back 50. She held her position well at half-back and even produced a highlight play with a fantastic run-down tackle on Lucy Greenwood in the middle.

#15 Mia Geere (Wilston Grange/Lions Academy)
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 08/04/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Looked really lively all across the front half and won some critical clearances, bursting down the ground and taking grass wherever possible. Geere produced numerous highlights including a brilliant mark using Morgan as a step ladder, and thumped the ball in deep in the dying moments to keep the pressure on. The Wilston Grange junior kicked a terrific goal from 40m out which bounced home to get her side up and about, and won the very next centre clearance returning to the middle.

#22 Harlee McIlwain (Morningside/Lions Academy)
Tall Forward | 176cm | 07/04/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 3 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

McIlwain looked ever threatening throughout the day as a leading target inside 50, leaping for everything and just refusing to be beaten. The bottom-ager consistently brought the ball to ground not giving the defence an inch, and had a number of ‘almost’ marks throughout the match, just slipping past her finger tips. Got her side going with a nice mark and long-range goal in the first term and would have had a chance to win the match herself in the final few minutes. Unfortunately the day ended in the worst way possible, landing hard in a marking contest and having to be stretchered off with two minutes to play. A really promising performance for the future though.

#26 Georja Davies (Southport/Suns Academy)
Key Defender | 185cm | 17/01/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 4 hitouts, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 6 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The match-winner who kicked a goal despite playing defence the whole match, Davies was sent behind the ball to combat Wolmarans and the West Australian height back there. She had a brilliant first term, keeping her fellow National Academy member statless, while having nine disposals herself. She did not spend much time on her after that, preferring to be that intercepting force or calm head behind the ball, but then with McIlwain injured late, went forward to contest the ruck and kicked the winning goal in an instant.

#28 Edie Fraser (Coorparoo/Lions Academy)
Forward | 174cm | 28/08/2009

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 3 goals

After making the All-Australian team in a standout carnival at Under 16s level this year, the 2009-born Fraser was the most lively forward on the ground, playing deep and booting three goals. Two of them came in the third term including one on the outside of the boot and another intercepting off hands from a kickout. Had the chance to slot a fourth goal but the kick drifted and just fell short, but was imposing as that target close to goals.