WHILE another battle between Eastern Ranges and Oakleigh Chargers was the highlight of the metropolitan fixtures for Round 2 in the Talent League Girls competition, the other four Vic Metro region sides faced off on the same day. We took a look at those games and some of the players who stood out.

Sandringham Dragons 4.14 (38) def. Calder Cannons 1.3 (9)

Sandringham always looked to have the game under wraps in what was an inaccurate kicking display in conditions that made life tough. There were plenty of out-on-the-fulls and last touches throughout the game as the wind wrecked havoc. A more balanced Dragons lineup did enough to see off a determined Cannons defence.

Ignoring pure numbers, bottom-ager Luella Hall really impressed for the Dragons with her work off a wing. She can tidy up her precision at times, but her 17 disposals, six marks, four tackles and six inside 50s told a tale of a player who spread well and used her elite speed to impact. She broke the 20m sprint record in the preseason, so good luck catching her.

Though small, Isla Mattsson went about her business unassumingly and racked up a team-high 27 disposals. Her quick hands out of congestion looked good, and she actually won a game-high six clearances to-boot which is outstanding for a 158cm bottom-ager. Alongside her, another bottom-ager in Chloe Moffat showed some promising signs and has been touted as one to watch for the Dragons over the next 18 months.

From a draft-eligible perspective two players outside the Dragons’ Vic Metro hub impressed the most with Isla Tucker (26 disposals, six tackles, four clearances, eight inside 50s and three rebound 50s) enjoying some midfield time to add to her rebounding work out of the back half. She has a really piercing kick and great versatility is a big tick. The other was over-ager Izabela Ignjic who looked dangerous up forward with a couple of great goals including one from an impossible angle. Ignjic comes with high wraps from the coaches.

Vic Metro hub members, Grace McIntyre (16 disposals, five marks, five tackles and six inside 50s) and Felicity Mahoney (11 disposals, four marks, five tackles, two clearances and two rebound 50s) both had fair games, the former providing plenty of run on the outside, while the latter cracked in. Chloe Capeci was the pick of the Vic Metro hub trio trio with 18 touches, four marks, four tackles and three rebound 50s in defeat.

Having joined the Cannons this season, Renee Ford‘s ball-winning and pressure around the stoppages looked great, as she finished with 28 disposals, 11 tackles and four clearances in a standout performance for Calder. She has headed south after being a Townsville-based Suns Academy member. Coco Balmain and Chloe Bullen a pair of tall defenders to not, combining for 38 disposals and 19 rebounds in a backline that was under siege.

Northern Knights 2.1 (13) def. by Western Jets 6.16 (52)

It was a tough watch for both sides for different reasons, with Western really controlling the game but kicking 6.16 in difficult conditions, while the Knights only got 18 entries for the match and kicked their goals in bookended quarters.

Piper Dixon played a fairly complete game given the conditions, booting 2.4 – leaving some majors out there – from 22 touches. Her seven tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s showed she should settle into that mid-forward role well this season, while bottom-ager Charli Parsons-Jones and fellow hyphen and over-ager Shakaila Gardiner-Dunn also looked lively in the front half.

Though Addison West had the most four-quarter impact for the game with her ability to mix class with toughness, emphasised by a long-range majors early in teh game. Has found that perfect balance of inside-outside work, while partner in crime Tayla Olivieri (20 disposals, 10 tackles) and wing-midfielder Ruby Jones (18 disposals, seven tackles) also really stood out.

The Western Jets midfield will be key to how they go this season, and while not winning a heap of it in close, Kiara Boyd got her hands dirty with 11 tackles. Any time a player can out-tackle Olivieri in a game, you know you’ve done well.

Northern only has the two Vic Metro hub members this season, and they both had their moments. Alli Allen always brings the defensive heat, laying 11 tackles as well from her 17 disposals largely down back. The explosive Olivia Meagher laid seven tackles from 13 touches and had her usual highlight reel runs, albeit in wet conditions, to remind everyone what she is capable of.

From the Knights, Somer McCormack was the best. She provided the pressure and also did what she could around the stoppages, while also kicking a great goal in the first term after a fantastic gather in the wet. Both McCormack and Lola Stone look to be workhorses across four quarters for the Knights.