AFTER another two big wins by the NSW/ACT Academies in the Under 22 Women’s Summer Series, we take a look at some of the Giants Academy and Swans Academy members who impressed at Henson Park over the weekend. The Giants crushed AFL Canberra with a triple-digit scoreline, while the Swans ran out 75-point winners over AFL Sydney.

Below are our scouting notes from the two contests, with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

GIANTS ACADEMY:

#9 Georgia Patterson
Forward/Wing | 166cm | 26/12/2008

It was another busy game from the talented forward who spent the match in the front half, though did get a crack starting on the wing for the fourth term. She still managed to kick a goal in the term with great forward smarts and a fortunate bounce enabling her to dribble home her second major after some nice work to find space early in the second term netted Patterson her first major. Shows natural footy IQ and forward craft.

#15 Brea Trevitt
Forward | 170cm | 14/04/2008

Trevitt continues to show some serious talent in bursts, with the top-ager providing the highlight of the day. Gathering on the wing four minutes into the second term, Trevitt kicked to half-forward. She continued to run hard and received the ball back from the next touch to slam home a goal on the run with serious class. She soccered home another late in the third term, and otherwise set up Day with a set shot that just fell short. With further development this year, there is plenty of upside with the talented forward.

#23 Sophia Gaukrodger
Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 16/01/2007

Racked up the ball with ease as one of the more notable over-agers in this year’s AFLW Draft crop went about her business as she did in game one. Rotated between midfield and forward, with her two goals coming in the fourth term. The first oozed class on the run from 40m, with her finishing ability up there with the best, before a regulation set shot – from around 35m out – handed her a double for the day. Showed clean hands and smarts when around the ball in the middle.

#25 Majella Day
Tall Forward | 177cm | 11/03/2008

It was a day out – pardon the pun – for the star Murray Bushrangers forward who slammed home eight goals in the huge win. After booting 4.3 in her first game, Day’s accuracy was more on point, kicking 8.2 including five in the first half. She was a handful and AFL Canberra simply had no answers for her. Be it on the run, set shot or creating something out of nothing, it was a brilliant performance. She looms large as one of the top tall forward’s in this year’s AFLW Draft, and while her aerial work and speed off the mark meant opponents had little hope, she made her own luck by reading the play superbly and leading early.

#28 Evie Henley
Utility | 172cm | 13/07/2009

One of the bottom-agers to look out for next season, Under 16s All-Australian member Henley got her opportunity to showcase her ability across each third of the ground. Starting in defence and rotating into the middle, Henley even got to rest forward and kicked a couple of majors including a ridiculous set shot from the tightest of angles during the third term. Only got better as the game went on and she got more midfield minutes, but is strong around the ball and a lovely user by foot.

#29 Addison Hickey
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 09/06/2008

Might not have had as much of it as some others, but just kept popping up from time to time. She rotated on-ball where she had the most impact around the coalface, with her clean hands and nice decision making on show. At one moment during the fourth term, she won the centre clearance, burst forward and hit up Bonnie Swan inside 50 with precision.

#30 Morgan Stevens
Tall Defender/Wing | 177cm | 13/08/2008

The athletic tall had an up-and-down day after rotating between defence and the wing. On the field she had her usual impact when able to intercept and smartly dispose of the ball down the field or clear the danger, but also battled through a sore hand which required her to come off after an unlucky clash in the defensive goalsquare. Even took a ruck stoppage such was her versatlity, though her best work was done behind the ball reading the play.

#33 Zara Neil
Midfielder | 169cm | 09/03/2008

Really complemented the other midfielders on the day and like game one, was just really solid across the board. Remaining involved and able to set up some scoring opportunities going inside 50, Neil struck gold with what looked to be a lovely pass to Day one-on-one in the goalsquare. When her teammate and Day’s opponent went down in the marking contest, Neil’s kick carried over them and bounced home for a goal. Clean hands and has nice stoppage craft to-boot.

SWANS ACADEMY:

#1 Charlotte Tidemann
Midfielder/Defender | 169cm | 08/08/2008

After being amongst the best in the game one win, Tidemann starred throughout four quarters, and along with Russell were clearly the Swans two best in the huge performance. Her run-and-carry coming out of the back half or when on-ball was important, and she set up numerous attacking plays. Tidemann enjoys a one-two down the ground and getting to repeat contests, often teaming up with Russell to use each other’s run to put serious speed on the transition. Read the ball off hands at ruck stoppages well and while at times her speed can force her to rush a little, she has such a penetrating kick the opposition needs to pressure her otherwise she can inflict maximum damage.

#2 Evie Bowie
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 31/12/2008

Another player who added some run out of the middle and in the front half, Bowie covered the ground well and showed clean hands and an ability to spread across the ground effectively. She was able to impact both offensively and defensively, and have repeat possessions at times. Got into good positions to win the ball and looked dangerous to add to a really strong first game in the series.

#3 Frances Walsh
Wing | 173cm | 30/01/2008

The Swans Academy skipper was back to her wing role during the match, and covered the ground exceptionally well to appear just about everywhere. Made her mark in the opening minute when she won the ball at half-back and then got on the end of the same transitional play to boot the opening goal of the game off a handball receive. Walsh runs both ways and while at times she was often under pressure, Walsh’s slick sidestep and quick hands helped her out of trouble.

#9 Lucinda Watson
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 25/11/2007

Another one of the plethora of midfielder/forwards out of the Swans Academy, Watson just does a lot right. Though not tall – at just 161cm – Watson is strong and clean, with the over-ager able to win the ball and feed it out to teammates, or make good decisions by hand or foot going forward. Can find the ball and if she doesn’t hit up a teammate, Watson will usually put the ball into a dangerous spot.

#10 Aurelia Russell
Forward/Midfielder | 160cm | 03/12/2008

One of the best alongside Tidemann in the match, Russell’s run and carry was vital in transitioning the ball from defence to attack, and she also showed some serious skill too. Particularly from the second term onwards, Russell was able to set up numerous goals and shots on goal, before kicking one herself out of congestion. Her run off half-back and then to win it again at half-forward and hit Grace Parsons with a low bullet at top speed was the highlight, before hacing another bullet inside 50 just two minutes later. A name to note down with her natural traits.

#12 Genevieve Hynes
Midfielder/Forward | 166cm | 31/12/2009

Just one day off being a double bottom-ager, Hynes holds her own against older opponents, with her ability to get in and around the ball and extract it out. She looked dangerous when it pinged from defence to attack, and earned reward for her effort with a long-range goal that bounced home. Complemented the rest of the midfield and can win it inside or out, as well as be a forward threat.

#15 Emma Haley
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 15/10/2008

Haley started the game on-ball then pushed forward, kicking a ridiculous goal from the pocket. Almost in a nonchalant fashion hugged against the boundary line, Haley threw it on her boot and threaded the needle with perfection, before kicking a second goal from a set shot to open the third term. Had a couple of other chances and looked lively, with her forward craft standing out in the game.

#16 Lolita Savala
Forward | 182cm | 21/04/2009

They say luck’s a fortune, and for Savala’s second goal in the dying moments, she got that bit of luck off the back of hard running. With a few minutes remaining in the match, Savala engaged in a one-on-one footrace towards goal and just managed to get boot to ball as her opponent slipped – and didn’t get a hand to it – to soccer home a nice major. She can be a touch erratic with her accuracy as she was in game one, but did kick an earlier goal from a set shot and set up Willow Orsini for a major after following up from a marking attempt.

#21 Emma McCallum
Defender | 173cm | 13/03/2009

From a tall defender viewpoint, McCallum looms as a player to watch in next year’s AFLW Draft. She applies pressure at ground level, but it is her reading of the play and positioning to intercept that really stands out. McCallum gets into the right spots, pulls down grabs and then drives the ball out of defence to set up forward forays. So strong in the air and a solid kick, she has room for growth, but is showing plenty of positives signs entering her bottom-age campaign.

#26 Jordan Davis
Tall Forward | 178cm | 10/12/2008

The Swans and Pies father-daughter built on her first game to have another eye-catching performance on the weekend. She set up a couple of teammates for shots on goal, and while she did not hit the scoreboard herself, was able to impact the game with her linking kicks from midfield to attack, while possessing some strong hands. Even went into the ruck at one stage when Wain was rested, and has great vision going inside 50.

#27 Amaia Wain
Ruck/Forward | 180cm | 31/08/2007

Best on ground in game one, Wain was again amongst the best thanks to her athleticism and follow-up work. The over-age tall just leaps over her opponents, and was a real handful at the stoppages. Not only does she get first hands to it, but if she doesn’t palm it down to a teammate, Wain is quick to recover from landing to either go after the ball herself and clear it, or lay a tackle on an opponent. Improving her ball use is the next step, but it has come a long way from 12 months ago, and she does have a booming kick. Great performance.