COATES Talent League Girls finals action kicked off over the weekend and in the first of two Scouting Notes articles, we take a look at the two metropolitan quarter finals and some of the players who caught the eye in them.

Eastern Ranges:

#2 Zoe Vozzo
Forward | 165cm | 06/02/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 1 inside 50, 4 goals, 1 behind

The dangerous forward was a livewire in attack, not just for an obvious offensive standpoint kicking four goals, but also with her defensive pressure to continually harass the opposition and lock the ball inside 50. All four of her majors came from live play, with the first being a skilful soccer into an open goalsquare, while the other three were snaps around the body. Her best was save to last when receiving the ball by hand at speed slightly off balanced but getting ball to boot to curve around the goal post and in. Set up other scoring opportunities as well in a complete forward’s game.

#3 Scout Semple
Forward/Midfielder | 163cm | 03/10/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Linked up well between the midfield and attack, winning the ball inside and outside, but particularly spreading to link up across the ground. She started on-ball to start the fourth term with the game in the back, and hit the scoreboard in the quarter after running past to receive the handball off Vozzo to finish on the run. A lively player who has the defensive pressure to go with the offensive power

#6 Tayla McMillan
Forward/Midfielder | 161cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

After missing Round 18, McMillan made her return and started forward before rotating on-ball. Her stoppage craft and clean hands were on show again, particularly in the wet being able to consistently be a one-touch player and dish off well. A highlight for the Ranges talent was a sidestep to break away from Vic Metro teammate Johnson which brought about a friendly push from her opponent. She set up a goal to Vozzo in the third term and generally was impactful with each touch.

#10 Jordyn Allen
Midfielder/Defender | 165cm | 12/11/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Started on-ball and rotated back when required, showing clean hands and a clean set of heels to burst away in the wet. She set up the first goal of the day to Vozzo with a lovely kick inside 50 despite being pushed as she kicked it, while also able to keep the ball in constant motion from defence to attack. While not always as clinical as usual with her effectiveness by foot, it was more being under pressure and forced to just get the ball forward given the conditions. Has really developed more of an inside game in recent weeks.

#12 Emily Rankin
Midfielder | 166cm | 11/05/2008

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

Battled hard across the ground, winning a lot of her touches in close and feeding it out to teammates. Had a chance late to hit the scoreboard but instead went short to Allen to set her up for a major, with her only other attempt missing to the left in the third term. Not afraid to get her hands dirty – quite literally sliding in the mud to lay a tackle – Rankin contributed consistently both from an offensive and defensive standpoint.

#16 Ashleigh Thatcher
Forward/Midfielder | 164cm | 03/09/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Thatcher continues to put her hand up as a draft smokie having earned a State Draft Combine off the back of a really solid debut season at Coates Talent League level. She showed on the weekend her ability to use both sides of her body, and is capable of finding space on transition and being a switch option or player to get the ball to in order to run. In such a stacked team, it speaks volumes that she had a number of plays that caught the eye, especially in the wet conditions.

#35 Brylee Anderson
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 25/03/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

It was another typical Anderson inside game where she she continually got her hands to the ball and just thumped it clear, playing effectively to the conditions. She has a nice long kick and puts it into the right spots, often setting up teammates in the process. She was the most prolific clearance player on the day with seven, and though not getting a lot of space, did get to rest forward late and set up two goals to Briannan Lambe in the second half.

Northern Knights:

#2 Maddison Meagher
Wing | 163cm | 02/08/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Meagher is the ideal person in the conditions as she has explosive speed and can take grass rather than be forced to rush into dump kick situations. The Knights looked to use her when possible, and Meagher worked into space consistently to take meterage going forward. Able to roll to half-back, whenever she got goalside you could see her direct opponent visibly nervous with Meagher’s acceleration as good as anyone’s.

#3 Marlo Graham
Midfielder/Defender | 163cm | 15/11/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

Returning to the side for the big game, Graham has a tendency to look like she has not missed a beat. A standout with Johnson for the Knights, she cracked in and was fierce defensively for four quarters, while putting her body on the line. Always leading by example and courageous as they come, she copped some big tackles and just kept bouncing back. A player who darts out the back of stoppages to win the handball and go forward, Graham is just as capable as a first-possession winner too. Strong and clean, Graham spent a lot more time drifting behind the ball to be an option to take the ball forward.

#7 Scarlett Johnson
Tall Utility | 175cm | 26/11/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 9 marks, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 6 rebound 50s

Johnson started forward on Vic Metro teammate Bree Horne and quickly got to work roaming across the ground and getting involved. Quickly as the game began to turn, Johnson was thrown into defence where she went back to her usual intercepting role and clearing down the ground. She was so effective at finding space and then beginning forward forays even with the tough mounting scoreboard for the opposition. Running out the four quarters, Johnson even started on-ball in the second half, moved well through traffic and completed a game where she featured in just about every role.

#23 Phoebe Hargreaves
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 15/07/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

The Knights skipper started on-ball each quarter and rotated forward to be a defensive presence inside 50. Leading from the front, Hargreaves brought the heat everywhere she went and thrived in the muddy conditions. Her clearance work was on point and while her efficiency was down, most of the time it was about gaining important field position to relieve the pressure.

Oakleigh Chargers:

#2 Chloe Thorn
Midfielder/Forward | 167cm | 07/09/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 11 tackles, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Thorn started on-ball and rotated forward where she was able to stretch the forward 50 well and be an option to ensure the Knights defenders could not congregate in the one spot. Thorn has always been a fantastic defensive player, and combined with her ultra-clean hands and work rate, she impacts wherever she goes. While not necessarily a clearance player, Thorn does apply a lot of team acts such as blocks or crunching tackles, enabling others to find space.

#9 Chloe Bown
Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 20/12/2007

Stats: 39 disposals, 5 marks, 7 tackles, 8 clearances, 11 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

A simply ridiculous game by the Vic Metro MVP who brought her own ball and was not fazed by the muddy conditions. Getting to 39 disposals with still over five minutes to play, Oakleigh opted to rest her up for the preliminary final, having been clear best afield throughout. She started on-ball, racked it up there, went forward and then booted two goals before moving back to the middle for the third term and having 16 disposals to end the quarter at 33 with 20 minutes to play. While at times she can still throw the ball on the boot, her decision making is effective and her impact is consistently at an elite level.

#11 Isabella Mazzei
Midfielder | 170cm | 06/06/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

It was no surprise that Mazzei thrived in the conditions with clean hands and a determination to win the ball for her side. A real see-ball, get-ball type who brings as much defensive intent as offensive nous, she did get caught or forced into making an error on the odd occasion, but she gave as good as she got and was effective by hand and in shovelling the ball forward. Had a slow start with three disposals in the first half, before racking up a massive 12 in the third term.

#13 Zoe Curry
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 09/10/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Curry started forward then moved on-ball in the second term where she immediately had an impact with six disposals and four clearances. Her best work is done around the stoppages, and she motors away with strength to thump the ball inside 50. Her work around the ball enabled Chloe Bown to go to work up forward, and she set up scoring opportunities as well and was arguably next best behind the Vic Metro MVP.

#26 Teagan Murtic
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

Started forward and then moved on-ball, with the top-ager remaining consistent throughout and having a number of touches under pressure. She clunked a strong contested mark at one point and even when playing midfield, spread well to be an option on the outside. Linked up well between midfield and attack, with her sole shot on goal missing as she was bumped when she kicked it in the first quarter.

#32 Scarlett Bown
Tall Forward | 178cm | 22/09/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 hitouts, 3 goals, 1 behind

After seven goals against the Dragons in the two teams’ last encounter, no doubt Sandringham coaches were getting a sense of dread when Bown had three majors by quarter time. She was the difference in the first term, and while all three were from close range, she was posing a real problem. Setting up a goal to her sister in the second term, Bown did not get many other chances after the opening term but presented well and should have had a fourth in the last quarter but it unluckily hit the post.

Sandringham Dragons:

#2 Grace McIntyre
Wing | 172cm | 31/12/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

The hard-running bottom-ager did what she could in terms of her game in the wet conditions, and while controlling the pill was made difficult by said conditions, McIntyre looked to keep the ball in front of her and gaining critical meterage. Of her 14 disposals, 11 came in the first half, before fading a little, but also through lack of opportunity due to Oakleigh’s dominance and it being a highly contested game.

#10 Macy Watkins
Midfielder | 172cm | 24/05/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 12 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Watkins was massive defensively, laying double-digit tackles in the mud and doing her best to quell the Oakleigh midfield. She won her fair share of clearances and worked hard around the ball, hunting it with hunger trying to will her side to get back into it. Like many on the day, Watkins’ efficiency was down, but she never stopped trying and threw herself at every contest to try and win the ball back.

#16 Charlotte Embelton
Defender | 178cm | 16/04/2009

Stats: 19 disposals, 9 marks, 1 clearance, 4 rebound 50s

The double bottom-ager provided a real shining light for the Dragons in defence, often at full-back and being an intercepting machine. Coming off a strong Under 16s campaign with Vic Metro, Embelton has gained great exposure at Under 18s level this season, and it culminated to her best game of the year. Clunking nine marks – three contested – she consistently defended the goals and got into the right spots to intercept. While her kicks going long were often picked off and sent straight back, Embelton did try to play the percentages and showed plenty of signs in the match.

#55 Grace Perrett
Midfielder/Defender | 177cm | 08/04/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 14 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

An important player in the game, Perrett provided great support to Watkins and ended up arguably being the Dragons’ best across defence and midfield. She won her fair share of clearances, dropped behind the ball to intercept, and consistently harassed the opposition to try and force turnovers. Just does the team things right and is capable of playing a variety of roles which will help given her size and strength.