THE GWS Giants Academy produced a dominant display at Lavington Oval, running over Murray Bushrangers 11.12 (78) to 3.3 (21) in Round 5 of the Talent League Girls, with a five-goal final term blowing the margin out to 57 points.

We took note of some of the players from each side that caught the eye.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

#5 Eliza Roche
Forward | 165cm | 03/03/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Roche was competitive throughout a difficult team performance, doing her best work through quick hands in tight situations and consistent forward pressure. Her goal in the final term – getting goalside in space and running in from point-blank range – was a composed finish in a game where chances were scarce for the Bushrangers. Always a strong defensive player, Roche laid five tackles and a fierce two-way commitment to winning the ball back whenever she lost it. An honest showing in a team that was outclassed.

#6 Skylah McPherson
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 22/01/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 1 mark, 12 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Like Roche, McPherson is no stranger to applying plenty of tackles, and she was rewarded with a dozen in a predominant midfield role. She was a constant competitive presence through the middle – winning holding-the-ball frees, providing movement in transition and contributing at both ends – and she regularly extracted the ball out of congestion. A player who refuses to stop competing regardless of the situation, and has really thrived since transition from a forward role into a midfield spot this season.

#9 Carmela Perri
Midfielder | 168cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 28 disposals, 2 marks, 11 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Perri is a natural accumulator and she again posted big numbers with 28 touches and 11 tackles in a losing side. She was at the centre bounce most of the day other than resting forward, and kept finding it through quick dish-offs and contested ball work, showing the endurance and physicality that have made her one of the competition’s genuine accumulators. Her fierce tackling on the wing in the final term when the result was well beyond doubt reflected a player who never stops competing.

#10 Charlie Gibson
Midfielder/Forward | 171cm | 14/05/2009

Stats: 31 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s

The bottom-ager’s 31 disposals was the highest of any player on the ground and showed her ability to find the ball consistently across all four quarters. She covered ground effectively between the inside and outside, showing a good mark at centre half-forward in the third term before driving it to the hotspot, and her composure in moving the ball quickly from the wing was a feature. Her disposal wasn’t always rewarded with the right outcome when under pressure, but her capacity to rack it up against quality opposition is already clear. A promising bottom-age showing.

#24 Rose Bell
Defender/Forward | 171cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 9 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Spent the first half down back then the second half up forward, which was arguably the reason why the Giants managed to kick away late in the game. A competitive player one-on-one, Bell kept Day to only a goal before the floodgates opened up for her teammate-turned opponent in the second half. Her goal in the third term – winning a free kick and converting a set shot from the goalsquare – was a fitting reward, and her charge forward to just outside 50 in the second term that led directly to a Bushrangers goal showed her attacking dimension.

GWS GIANTS ACADEMY:

#1 Isla Judd
Wing | 166cm | 12/10/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Judd was tidy and ran both ways across the wing, doing her best work with smart pressure acts at half-back and clean ball use in transition. Her defensive work was a feature and she consistently found options going forward with short passes to space. Floats under the radar with a lot of quality top-age Giants, but popped up to contribute well and just kept being noticed with deft decisions going forward.

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

Stats: 8 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 goals

Trevitt’s day was defined by two contrasting set shot moments – a badly shanked effort from 25 metres that bounced out of bounds, followed shortly after by a composed conversion from 20 metres straight in front that showed what she is capable of. A second goal capped a quiet disposal day that nonetheless showed her aerial marking ability and forward instinct. Three tackles from a forward reflect her defensive pressure, and when the ball came her way she was generally dangerous. Her ability to play midfield – though she did not get a chance in this game – is what can set her apart given her strength overhead.

#19 Morgan Stevens
Defender | 177cm | 13/08/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Stevens was composed and reliable from the defensive half despite spending part of the game patched up around the head early and changing numbers from her usual #30 to #19. Her kicking was again a genuine asset – a long clearing kick from centre half-back to centre half-forward in the second term and a clean long kick-out to half-back in the final term were the highlights – and a strong intercept mark late in the game showed her reading of the play. Does the team things quietly and consistently.

#22 Darcie Prosser-Shaw
Midfielder | 171cm | 02/06/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 7 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal

Prosser-Shaw was outstanding alongside Gaukrodger in the Giants’ engine room – seven clearances and eight inside 50s from 21 disposals is a dominant midfield return, and she kept driving forward and creating throughout. She uses the ball better when having time and space, but has a booming kick and generally can put it into dangerous areas. Prosser-Shaw’s goal in the final term – a composed finish from 25 metres – was the reward for a big day’s work. Six tackles alongside the clearance numbers reflects genuine two-way commitment as well.

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

Stats: 33 disposals, 5 marks, 10 tackles, 7 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 7 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

The over-ager was best on ground and produced one of the performances of the season – 33 disposals, 10 tackles, seven clearances and eight inside 50s across all four quarters in a complete midfield display that controlled the game from start to finish. Her goal in the first term – recovering a smothered Day kick to snap from 40 metres – was the moment that set the tone, while a brilliant pass to Day in the goalsquare in the third term for a direct goal assist showed her vision beyond her own scoring. It marked the final game in the Under 18s for Gaukrodger who earned her chance with the GWS Giants via the AFLW Preseason Draft on Monday night.

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

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 3 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 3 goals, 1 behind

Three more goals for Day, who continues to make every opportunity count inside 50. A long-range set shot was her most impressive conversion, and a quick snap off the left from close range played on in the final term showed her improvisation. Gaukrodger’s brilliant pass to her in the goalsquare in the third term for her second was the cleanest of her finishes. She was kept relatively quiet by a hard-working Bell for much of the first half, but she somewhat got off the chain in the second half which reflected what she is capable of.

#32 Alana Fraser
Tall Defender | 175cm | 27/09/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 4 hitouts, 1 clearance, 6 rebound 50s

Fraser was composed and reliable across the defensive 50 throughout, doing the team things quietly while providing consistent rebound. She reads the ball in flight and positions herself well consistently, while having a lovely kicking technique. Smart, clean and reliable – exactly what a defensive tall – who can also provide run and carry – needs to be.

#40 Ava Saad
Ruck | 178cm | 23/11/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 29 hitouts, 1 inside 50

Saad produced a dominant performance around the stoppages, being too big and strong for her opponents all day. Her decisive tap downs were a consistent feature – setting up the Giants’ forward chains from the centre bounce and providing clean first use for her midfielders repeatedly – though the Bushrangers also looked to shark her taps. Saad also showed her football sense with a clean mark at half-back and an accurate kick to space on the wing, and four tackles reflected genuine follow-up work after her taps. A player who controlled the stoppages and gave her side a significant physical advantage throughout.