AFTER a couple of gallant defeats at the hands of Vic Metro and Western Australia, the Allies came out on top against Queensland in their final game of the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye across both teams, with an even spread from the match.

QUEENSLAND:

#7 Mikayla Nurse (Southport/Suns Academy)
Wing | 168cm | 19/09/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

The hard-running wing was again impressive, further justifying her draft potential by creating run and carry in tandem with Lappin. Her slick hands and ability to mop up behind the ball before going forward and setting up scoring chances stood out in the match, while her defensive pressure was also a highlight. She laid a brilliant run-down tackle in the first term to win a free kick, and then kept pumping the ball deep, setting up numerous scoring chances to Welsh in the last quarter.

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

Stats: 28 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 7 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Best on ground in a loss, Lappin’s national carnival has been massive and she was once more prolific on both the inside and outside. Racking up the clearances, she loves to opt for the give-and-go where the Carlton and St Kilda eligible father-daughter took grass and looked to set up her teammates inside 50. Starting and finishing strong in particular, with time and space she can do a lot of damage, and Lappin also showed courage in the air going back with the flight on several occasions.

#14 Aiyana Pritchard (University of Queensland/Lions Academy)
Tall Forward | 175cm | 12/12/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 3 behinds

A high-upside forward who continues to show glimpses, Pritchard finished with two goals but very easily could have had a couple more. Incredibly both her goals were soccers on the goalline through the middle two quarters, but it was more about her staying alert and using quick thinking to inflict maximum damage. Had a couple of set shots that missed and ultimately that finishing is an area to work on, but Pritchard is an elite athlete with natural instincts.

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

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-ager played a role around the ground and even though she only won the one clearance, still got into good spots to receive the ball. She had a shot on goal late in the match after taking a great mark while off balance, but the kick unfortunately just fell short and was rushed through. Set up a goal to Welsh earlier in the term.

#21 Alannah Welsh (Southport/Suns Academy)
Forward | 169cm | 23/11/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals, 4 behinds

Played higher up the ground to start the match then went deeper inside 50 in the second half, Welsh threatened to be the match-winner in the last term. Kicking 2.3 in the fourth term, Welsh looked unstoppable and even had an opponent change as she started to get the better of Taelah Smith after having a good battle for three quarters. She rushed a set shot she normally would nail with a snap that might have proved costly, but did put her side in with a sniff late by marking on the goalline and kicking truly in the last few minutes. Provides the X-factor up forward both in the air and at ground level with her aggression and speed.

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Able to return after her injury late in game one, McIlwain provided a key target early and looked threatening throughout the first term. In that time, the tall forward kicked a goal with some clever hands close to the goal post, hit the post and had another couple of chances that just drifted and fell short, with four shots on goal in that time. Other moments the Morningside prospect had included a couple of great kicks inside 50 to hit up Freya Ross and Welsh later in the match.

#25 Monique Corrigan (Aspley/Lions Academy)
Ruck | 187cm | 06/04/2007

Stats: 6 disposals, 9 tackles, 24 hitouts, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Might not have had a lot of the ball, but the athletic ruck held her own against Quinn, and when her direct opponent was off, really took control at the stoppages. Her follow-up work – emphasised by her nine tackles – is a testament to her defensive work – while most of her disposals came close to the coalface. Still developing, but showed promising signs.

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 3 hitouts, 2 rebound 50s

Once again took up a post as a key defender and provided some resistance behind the ball. She pushed up the ground early to take a couple of marks on the wing and otherwise dropped behind the ball to be both a target and a clever player who could guide others. Had a couple of kickouts during the third term where the first turned over looking to go longer, before opting for a safer option with the second chance.

ALLIES:

#1 Mischa Barwin (Lauderdale/Tasmania)
Forward | 167cm | 04/12/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 10 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

The tenacious Tasmanian set the benchmark for her defensive pressure in the front half, looking dangerous around the goals but also being a key reason the Allies locked the ball around the forward 50. A crucial goal on the eve of half-time was her sole major for the game but it was her work rate and second and third efforts that underpinned her performance. Quick hands and reactions always worry the opposition defenders.

#6 Frances Walsh (Sydney University/Swans Academy/NSW)
Wing | 173cm | 30/03/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Walsh’s running capacity throughout the match allowed the Swans Academy member to again impact the game, providing transition from defence to attack. She got behind the ball often to be an outlet option, doing the team things well and happy to delay the release by hand to draw an opponent. After a 50m penalty a minute into the third term, Walsh went to the top of the goalsquare and made no mistake, giving the Allies a perfect start to the second half.

#7 Kiera Yerbury (North Shore Bombers/Swans Academy/NSW)
Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 24/07/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Adding a point of difference to the midfield amongst some heavy first-possession winning onballers, Yerbury creates her own space around the stoppages and in transition. Her knack for sidestepping and selling candy before bursting forward allows her to gain extra meterage and often gets the ball to space. Her finishing can still be tidied up, but her impact-per-possession is enormous as emphasised by half of her disposals being inside 50s, quite regularly beginning from the stoppage.

#16 Priya Bowering (Lauderdale/Tasmania)
Midfielder/Forward | 167cm | 02/01/2007

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

Another strong and consistent performance from Bowering who did not put a foot wrong all carnival for the Allies. She might not have had the numbers of last match, but she played her role and impacted around the stoppages and in transition as well. When given time and space, her footy IQ, vision and penetrating kick come to the fore, and she is willing to open up play with direct disposals into the corridor. Had a couple of chances on goal that missed, but remained active until the final siren.

#23 Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers/Giants Academy/NSW)
Tall Forward | 175cm | 11/03/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 3 goals, 1 behind

Kicked a couple of brilliant goals among three majors, with her first being a genius snap under pressure that went high and curled around the goalpost, before a quarter later producing a well-timed dribbler from deep inside 50 that bounced home. While her first two attempts resulted in both a goal and a behind, she was constantly putting the opposition on edge and showed she could kick off both sides of her body as well.

#25 Harriet Bingley (Old Scotch Collegians/Tasmania)
Forward | 172cm | 23/03/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 goals, 1 behind

Bingley is one who has dug deep all carnival but got more reward for her efforts in the hard-fought win. She kicked her side’s first goal with a clever snap six minutes into the first term, then nailed the sealer by getting boot to ball in the last six minutes of the match while under pressure. She had another couple of chances that went begging including out out on the full from a set shot. Still, her presence inside 50 complemented the likes of Day and Curry well.

#28 Isla Wiencke (Belconnen Magpies/Giants Academy/ACT)
Midfielder/Forward | 175cm | 30/03/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

As has so often been the case, Wiencke got going from the second term onwards after not having a touch in the first term, using her clean hands in close to record seven disposals by half-time. Wiencke is known for her extraction abilities and she certainly did that when on-ball, but she had a couple of brilliant run-down tackles on opponents to win holding the ball free kicks. Really stood tall when the pressure gauge was right up.

#35 Zoe Curry (Oakleigh Chargers/Giants Academy/NSW)
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 09/10/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Curry’s game was centred around her eight-disposal third term where she really started to get ahold of the Queensland defence. Rolling between half-forward and the midfield, she competed well in the air and when it hit the deck, having a few chances on goal that narrowly missed or went across teh face. That term is when the Allies really got on top and helped set up the side for a memorable win.

#39 Madeleine Quinn (UTS Bats/Swans Academy/NSW)
Ruck | 185cm | 10/02/2007

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 tackles, 18 hitouts, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Competed well with Corrigan in the middle and both players showed their traits around the stoppages. She was the sole ruck for the Allies – other than Grace Parsons chopping out – and she was able to apply groundlevel pressure while getting involved in transition. Her tap work is a feature of her game, but so is her follow-up work and ability to run hard into space with brilliant athleticism.