A SEVEN-goal haul to Bailee Martin helped steer Vic Metro to a dominant 50-point win over state rivals Vic Country at RSEA Park on the weekend. In even spreads across both sides, we highlighted a few of the players who caught the eye in our scouting notes.

VIC COUNTRY:

#3 Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)
Defender | 165cm | 13/01/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

One of the standouts for Vic Country with her drive out of defence. Dodd does not just look for a quick kick, she follows up and often wins repeat possessions within a chain. Not only does she do that effectively, but she competes well in teh air and at ground level. Was consistent throguhout the four quarters and never stopped trying with some great team-first moves including tackles or blocks.

#9 Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder/Defender | 168cm | 04/08/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 12 tackles, 5 clearances, 2 rebound 50s

Spent the bulk of her day through the midfield while dropping behind the ball at times to settle down the team. Aside from an uncharacteristic turnover across goal to Martin in the third term, the Geelong Falcons skipper was industrious and effective both inside and outside. Her double-digit tackles come as no surprise, and one of them was a fantastic run-down tackle on Bown to save a possible goal.

#12 Alice Cunnington (Dandenong Stingrays)
Forward/Defender | 174cm | 30/06/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals, 1 behind

Dangerous in the front half before going into defence for the second half, Cunnington lit the fuse for Country with a couple of goals midway through the first two terms. She was on the move for both and could have had a third which bounced into the post during the first term. Had a late shot in the last five minutes that just fell short and stayed in too. Competed well in the air.

#19 Ella Stoddart (Gippsland Power)
Defender | 174cm | 30/01/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

Mopped up time and time again in defence, looking to clear the ball to safety or switch lanes to the open side. Using it effectively by hand or foot, the in-form Gippsland defender ran at 82 per cent disposal efficiency with the bulk of them in the defensive 50 thwarting Metro’s repeat forward 50 entries. Spent time on Martin late in the match and was beaten one-on-one though so was everyone else. One of the better Country players.

#23 Ella Jeffrey (Bendigo Pioneers)
Defender | 167cm | 09/08/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Had a tough start to the game on Martin but once moved got to play a little more free, taking the kick-ins and placing a high emphasis on ball retention. A neat user by foot, Jeffrey went at 94 per cent efficiency and outside of kickouts looked to create some run and carry from defence. She is not afraid to scrap as well, and took a nice mark in defence playing in front amongst multiple opposition in the first term.

#25 Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 175cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

Recorded a team-high 19 disposals and was prolific from the back half, playing a higher role compared to Stoddart or Jeffrey. While at times she could have had a touch more composure, she provided great run and carry, and was quick to dispose of it. Often a key link between half-back and the wing, Brothwell worked hard and played her role effectively.

VIC METRO:

#3 Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder | 162cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 9 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Another outstanding game from McMillan who was critical through the middle particularly for her run and carry. Often a second or third possession winner, McMillan would receive the ball and burst forward, setting up numerous forward forays and scoring assists. Her disposal both under pressure and in space was fantastic and her knack for getting to the right spots around the stoppages was first class.

#7 Marlo Graham (Northern Knights)
Midfielder | 165cm | 15/11/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Added extra toughness to the midfield and still found plenty of her own ball, flicking out handballs to teammates or working back into defence to assist. Her disposal by hand or foot is clean and damaging, and in the first term delivered a brilliant low bullet to Hargreaves on the lead. Seemed to link up nicely with her fellow star midfielders and capped off a great three games.

#11 Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 167cm | 12/11/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Much of the same as she has all carnival from defence, running hard from the back 50 down the ground, providing score assists on multiple occasions. Her highlight kick inside 50 was a well weighted one to Martin’s advantage in the goalsquare during the first term, though her evasion and determination to run all over the ground were consistent for four quarters.

#13 Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers)
Defender | 167cm | 07/09/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Clean off the deck and reliable by hand or foot, Thorn casts a well-balanced figure from the defensive 50 with her mix of offensive and defensive traits. The Chargers defender worked up teh ground at times to make her presence felt, quite often competing well one-on-one in marking contests. Aside from being caught holding the ball by Jovie Skewes-Clinton which cost a goal, Thorn saved quite a few potential scoring chances with her work rate.

#20 Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 172cm | 25/03/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Though her usual numbers are much higher, Anderson played a different role inside 50 next to the dominant Martin. The midfielder has also spent time in defence before but on this occasion was purely inside 50, presenting as a marking option. She kicked two goals – in the first and third terms – while also unselfishly setting up two other goals to Zoe Vozzo – via hand – and Olivia Jesser – with a kick – meaning four of her nine touches resulted in goals.

#21 Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights)
Defender/Wing | 175cm | 26/11/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Another big game from the versatile defender who rolled between defence and wing and pressed hard up teh ground. Her aerial strength and smarts as a combination make her hard to out-mark, and she usually does nice things with ball in hand. Couple those aspects with her evasion techniques, and her knack to get her hands free while being tackled, and she was able to influence in a variety of ways. Most importantly, Johnson stretched the ground and found space to be an option in transition.

#24 Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers)
Tall Forward | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 marks, 2 tackles, 7 goals, 2 behinds

What a massive game is was from the talented bottom-ager who was simply unstoppable at full-forward. Her all-round athletic profile is a nightmare for defenders, as the potential top pick for the 2026 AFLW Draft cycled through three defenders on the day. If she doesn’t beat you in the air, she’ll beat you on the ground, and had two in the first, one in the second, one in the third and three in the final term including two in the last few minutes. Just too quick, too smart, too strong.

#25 Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 173cm | 20/12/2007

Stats: 35 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 8 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Stuffed the stats sheet en route to an MVP with her play between the arcs and going forward vital in getting on top. Bown capped off her performance with a terrific finish on goal in the last five minutes of the match, though it was not just getting on the end of a chain. The Chargers talent won the ball at half-back and started the transition, sprinting forward all the way to get to the last disposal and slot it on the run.

#29 Josephine Bamford (Eastern Ranges)
Ruck | 182cm | 03/06/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 24 hitouts, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50

Got her opportunity to solo ruck and it paid dividends with her best performance of the national carnival thus far. A lot of her touches were usually slick handballs in traffic, but her clean hands at ground level meant she was able to follow-up from her smart ruck craft. Provided enough aerial presence around the ground as well and remains one of the top ruck choices in this year’s AFLW Draft.

#32 Asher Fearn-Wannan (Eastern Ranges)
Wing | 177cm | 14/12/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 2 inside 50s

Once more got bang for buck from her disposals as the hard-running Ranges wing covered stacks of ground between the arcs. Had a rare centre bounce ruck stoppage to attend to, but other than when Bamford was rotated off for a brief moment, got to play her natural running game on the outside. Seemed to use it well and always looked to take grass and as many metres as possible.