EASTERN Ranges broke through for their first Coates Talent League Girls premiership on the weekend with a well-balanced contribution from across the 23 players. We take a look at some of the standouts from both the Ranges and Dandenong Stingrays from the grand final.

Eastern Ranges:

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 goal, 1 behind

It only took less than a minute for Semple to make her mark, kicking the game’s opening goal with a clever snap around her body to get her side up and about. She was the difference on the scoreboard for most of the first term, having another couple of chances in the second that missed including one poster, while showing some nice strength one-on-one and a knack for getting into ball-winning positions.

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 4 hitouts, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Typically ran hard all day, and though it was not her best game, she did her job in the sense she won the ball and pumped it forward. Had eight disposals to half-time so was quieter in the second, but was up for the fight and applied pressure when the ball came on her wing. Took a few ruck stoppages too which has been the case over the course of the season.

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

Stats: 29 disposals, 3 tackles, 8 clearances, 11 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The most consistent four-quarter performer of the day and in the end, the standout winning best afield honours. Eastern’s skipper had game-highs in disposals (29) and inside 50s (11) while having the second most clearances (eight) to be a real menace around the coalface. More than a few times she burst from the congestion to put the ball inside 50, often putting it to advantageous positions. Ran hard, put her body on the line and extracted it from the contest perfectly with a complete all-round game on the biggest stage.

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Allen’s ball transition throughout the year has been a highlight and it was again on the biggest stage. She run and gunned, worked back into defence and usually put the ball in advantageous positions under pressure or not. Her one shot on goal drifted across the face in the second term and fell a little short, but other than that was proactive in her attack on the contest. Created crucial movement from the back half into attack.

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

Stats: 25 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 6 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Started the contest with a huge holding the ball free kick after starting forward, then moved on-ball to start the second term and racked the pill up with ease. Had a 14-disposal second half which was the most of any player on the ground and ended up with the second most disposals too. She worked hard between inside and outside, got into the right spots, took the ball at half-back or gathered well at half-forward, always looking to move it on. Her inside work has always been fantastic, but showed plenty of outside impact in the grand final too.

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

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Had her moments as she so often does, and linked up between midfield and attack. She worked up the ground from a high half-forward role and had a couple of shots on goal in the second half. Her first from a set shot 20m out sprayed right, but then Thatcher made no mistake on the run slotting it classily in the final stanza.

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

Outside the big five ball-winners, Williams was perhaps the most influential on her side playing out of defence and using it well often under pressure. She took her chances, backed herself and was not afraid to tuck the ball under her arm. At one point she even bounced off two tacklers at half-back and had to dump the ball on her non-preferred left boot, but it worked. All her 14 disposals were kicks, but she rarely wasted one with only a single turnover, and a kicking efficiency of 78.6 per cent.

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 9 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Unsurprising that the bottom-ager was huge on the big stage, using her strong frame to impact the game around the stoppages and racking up the ball with ease. She won a stack of contested possessions and clearances, pumping the ball inside 50 and feeding it out to her runners. She even snapped a nice goal during the third term for some reward for effort, and would arguably have been next best behind McMillan overall. Anderson recorded 72.7 per cent disposal efficiency with a massive 16 contested possessions.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 17 hitouts, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Really controlled proceedings once outside the stoppage, and held her own at times at the ball-ups too. While Sophie White won the bulk of the hitouts, Bamford’s work around the ground was superb and she provided a great aerial presence which has been an improvement for the top-ager this year. She worked forward and even rotated there at times, and while a couple of her kicks were a bit rough, she got into ball-winning positions and involved herself in proceedings like another midfielder.

#54 Zoe Wilkinson
Forward | 170cm | 17/05/2007

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 goal, 2 behinds

Looked dangerous inside 50 alongside twin sister Mathilde as the pair both hit the scoreboard on the big day. The former inside midfielder who has blossomed as a rotating forward did just that in the win, converting her sole major from a mark at the top of the goalsquare just seconds before the half-time siren. While hearts were in mouths as she played on to boot it home, she beat the buzzer and got her team up and about. Had a couple of other chances that missed, but looked an aerial threat.

Dandenong Stingrays:

#5 Mizuki Brothwell
Defender | 175cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 rebound 50s

A clear standout for the Stingrays, Brothwell provided plenty of push back to the Ranges’ constant forward forays, recording six rebound 50s and seven marks, many of them either intercepts or as a spare option to go to in order to move the ball forward. She had to rush a fair few of her kicks particularly going wide which resulted in last touch rules against, but when the heat was on in the first term, Brothwell provided the most resistance. Did what she could alongside the likes of Marsh, Merhmann and skipper Charlotte Hewitson.

#9 Nalu Brothwell
Forward | 174cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Was starved for opportunities at times, but Brothwell pushed up the ground to get involved, taking some strong marks and working it forward when given the chance. She had a chance in the third term when bursting away inside 50, before finally grabbing reward for her work, slamming home a major from the top of the goalsquare. Capped off her season with a solid performance considering the lack of forward half possession.

#10 Matilda Argus
Midfielder/Defender | 166cm | 08/01/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 11 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Alongside Mizuki Brothwell, Argus was a standout for the Rays’ with her run and carry between the arcs. She was one of the few who consistently pumped the ball forward and was particularly lively in the first term when the game was at its hottest. She not only provided transitional run, but laid enormous defensive pressure on the opposition, not allowing the Ranges to have an easy time. Her hands were fantastic, barely wasted a touch with a disposal efficiency of 87.5 per cent and even took a contested mark on the day.

#11 Scarlett Marsh
Defender | 162cm | 03/04/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 1 inside 50, 7 rebound 50s

Another great performance out of the back 50 from the small defender who has had a memorable finals series. She often took kickouts or was the one next in the chain, driving the ball from the defensive arc up the ground. Usually was neat with ball in hand, and like Argus also ran at an elite efficiency of 88.2 per cent. Each time Marsh won the ball it was comforting for her teammates, and she took a number of great marks as well.

#12 Alice Cunnington
Utility | 174cm | 30/06/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s, 1 behind

There might have been some question marks on her fitness after a race against time from her preliminary final injury, but Cunnington looked lively when involved, starting forward then moving on-ball at times. She had very limited room or space to create as she so often would love to do, instead working into defence to mop up and assist her teammates. Did her best to link up between defence and attack, but was often more in damage control looking to provide resistance rather than having the freedom to really do damage forward of centre.

#15 Charlotte Gilmore
Wing/Midfielder | 172cm | 21/12/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

Might not have had a stack of the ball, but Gilmore looked to move it well usually through one-twos, or drop back and slow down the Ranges’ repeat entries. She even moved inside late in the third term and showed a more contested presence, and while she is definitely more of an outside player due to that endurance-speed mix she boasts and positioning IQ when on the wing, she had her moments there.

#28 Gabrielle Mehrmann
Tall Defender/Ruck | 179cm | 11/09/2008

Stats: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 13 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

Another player who can hold her head high from a strong couple of performances, Mehrmann did well one-on-one in the defensive 50 to take a few great intercept marks and use her strong frame effectively. The bottom-ager rotated into the ruck for the last term as well, and while it could be a second role for her, she has really impressed deep in that back 50 when under immense heat. All seven of her disposals were effective too so did not panic under pressure.