EASTERN Ranges emphatically booked a third straight Coates Talent League Girls Grand Final place with a strong win over Murray Bushrangers. We took note of some of the top performers from the clash in the first of two scouting notes from the weekend.

Eastern Ranges:

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Semple was one of Eastern’s most consistent players across four quarters with her work in the front half valuable to getting on top. Particularly looking dangerous in the first half, two shots on goal held up in the breeze, before hitting the post in the opening moments of the second term. She finally gained reward for effort with a couple of majors and finished the game with a well-rounded performance.

#4 Asher Fearn-Wannan
Wing/Ruck | 177cm | 14/12/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 6 hitouts, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

In a perfect world, the undersized Fearn-Wannan could purely be utilised in a wing role, but her versatility and vertical jump allows her to pinch-hit in the ruck which in turn gives Bamford the opportunity to both rest up forward, and show her craft there. Fearn-Wannan can play on any line, she has nice hands and an electric first few steps that can break open the game and create angles for her teammates to stream down the field.

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

Stats: 24 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Took another step forward after a solid game in her first match back from injury. Starting forward once again, McMillan really got cooking when moved on-ball for the second quarter, winning the first centre clearance. Her clean hands both at ground level and through traffic separated her from others, and she took the game on consistently driving the legs to put the ball into goalscoring positions. She marked in space during the fourth term with her shot on goal just missing to the right.

#7 Bridie Neale
Wing | 166cm | 03/03/2008

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Neale’s statline does not jump off the page, but what really caught the eye about her game was her positioning and ability to get into positions to win the ball even if not rewarded with her work. She consistently lost her opponents around the stoppages on the outside and was able to play quite aggressive, forcing Murray to keep her accountable and drag numbers away from the contest in doing so.

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

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Allen is one of those players who does not need a lot of the ball to do damage ,and while technically it would be one of her lower production games, she bobbed up when required. Starting through the middle across the course of the match, she is not a first possession winner, but is the class that comes with a group that gets first hands to it. She used her burst on a number of occasions, applied great pressure and kicked a classy goal from close range in the first term after her teammates had peppered the goals.

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

Stats: 27 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 8 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 behinds

Just kept getting it done throughout the match, working in tandem around the ball with fellow bottom-ager Anderson which enabled the Ranges to rotate the top-agers all around. She covers the ground well and can compete in the air or at ground level, with a couple of unlucky misses on goal coming in the fourth term. Her groundball work – she won 15 – as well as her ability to extract the pill from the contest put her side on the front foot.

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

Looked dangerous in that half-forward role to start the game and got a chance on-ball through the fourth term with the game in the bag. While at times she blazed away a couple of times when she could have made slightly better decisions, what stands out about Thatcher is her knack for taking the game on and being involved in transitional plays going forward. She is willing to risk kicks on 45-angles and though it might result in a turnover, set up a late goal to Bamford and kicked one herself from a 50m penalty too.

#17 Lara Williams
Defender | 169cm | 29/08/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s

Since moving into defence midway through the season, Williams has thrived in her new role with her skills and decision making usually on-point. Though only credited with one tackle, she pressured the opposition time and time again, and at one point when dropping a mark against two opponents, did well to lock the ball up and force a stoppage in the opening term. Positioned herself well and intercepted the ball on a number of occasions to drive it back up the other end of the field.

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

Stats: 24 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 7 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Had a stat-stuffing first term of 12 disposals, three clearances and three inside 50s to really put Murray on the back foot early and negotiate kicking into the heavy breeze. She was strong in close, extracted it well and continually won clearances throughout the match. A lot of her touches came in a contested setting, and when pushing forward, applied strong pressure to the Bushrangers’ defence. Set up a goal to Bamford in the third term and covered the ground exceptionally well.

#37 Josephine Bamford
Ruck | 182cm | 03/06/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 33 hitouts, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Had the luxury of playing on undersized rucks so was able to really get first hands to it at the stoppage, then get to have an impact up forward when Fearn-Wannan took over. Bamford has been developing her forward craft, as at her best she is more of an 80/20 ruck-forward, but being able to hit the scoreboard when inside 50 is a valuable skill to have. Both of her goals came from an unconventional sense, finishing off a step in the third and fourth terms. Her one set shot was an attempt she could have a laugh about later, putting it out on the full after what was a brilliant run-down tackle and free kick in the back pocket.

Murray Bushrangers:

#3 Rain Dodd
Defender/Midfielder | 165cm | 13/01/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

The Vic Country captain got to play a little higher up the field with sister Constance back on the last line, and as has been the case most of the season, rotated on-ball at different points in the second half. Effort and competitiveness really underpin what Dodd has to offer, and though her efficiency was a challenge especially in thE conditions, what is great about the top-ager is her unwavering attack on the ball, and willingness to follow-up each and every time.

#6 Lana Carroll
Defender | 170cm | 25/09/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 rebound 50s

The bottom-ager was worth highlighting due to her impact in defence, providing a second intercepting target in the air alongside Bell. While her numbers were not quite as huge, she did mop up on a number of occasions and competed strongly. With a long kick and great strength, she is capable of holding down a key post.

#7 Carmela Perri
Midfielder/Forward | 168cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Another highly competitive player who can roll between midfield and attack, Perri is like a wrecking ball when she wins it, not afraid of anyone in her path. She competes overhead strongly, is fierce at ground level and tries to take risks in order to break open the game by foot. Had her moments that caught the eye, and has had a really good finish to the season.

#10 Sophia Green
Midfielder/Defender | 169cm | 22/11/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 marks, 9 tackles, 1 clearance

As fierce as anyone, and really strong overhead, Green clunked two contested marks and provided the Eastern coaching staff with a few headaches around her constant pressure. She only won the one clearance, but was great defensively, and did spread well to be an option for defenders to kick to thanks to her one-on-one ability. Showed quick hands under pressure and mowed down several opponents on the day.

#14 Ellie Hall
Midfielder | 174cm | 07/07/2006

Stats: 22 disposals, 3 marks, 12 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

By her lofty standards this season it was a quieter game, but Hall still worked hard throughout the four quarters to win the second most disposals on her side. Even when offensively her team is struggling, Hall brings non-negotiables of pressure and competitiveness. She laid double-digit tackles and spread well around the ground, covering it exceptionally and trying hard. Eastern put work into stopping her just racking the ball up, but she did well to still get into ball-winning positions.

#15 Nikhita Spiteri
Forward/Midfielder | 171cm | 20/07/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Brought the heat as she always does, and got an opportunity through the middle where she actually fared better than a number of others on the ground. Her defensive pressure is always elite, and she got first hands to it when it was her time to go, looking to break away with a quick first few steps and dish off to a teammate. Her fend-off on the wing in the last quarter was great, and then having the ability to still clear the ball cleanly.

#24 Rose Bell
Defender | 170cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 28 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 1 hitout, 3 clearances, 20 rebound 50s

Nothing screams defending for your life than 20 rebound 50s from 28 disposals. Often tasked with the kickouts, Bell looked to clear the area and thump the ball long, and while Eastern’s defensive setups meant it came back quickly after, the bottom-ager was there to mop up yet again. It was like watching a highlight on repeat the way she bombed it long – often to a contest to give her teammates a chance to clear – then came back where she intercepted it again and broke away. Reached her 20 rebound 50s midway through the fourth term before coming off for a rest which somewhat limited her chances to further piling onto her incredible feat.