AS THE Northern Academies have now wrapped up their stints in the Talent League Girls competition, the 13 full-time teams recommence in a series of smaller rounds leading up to and through the national carnival as part of an extended regular season. Returning for Round 9 are the top four teams from those sides, with a grand final rematch between the unbeaten Dandenong Stingrays and reigning premiers Eastern Ranges, while Oakleigh Chargers and Murray Bushrangers loom as the best of the rest thus far in third and fourth respectively.

DETAILS

Saturday, May 30 @ Kinetic Stadium, Frankston, 4:30pm

TALE OF THE TAPE

Dandenong Stingrays: 1st (4-1-0, 197.5%) | WWWWD
Eastern Ranges: 2nd (3-2, 135.8%) | WWWLL

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Dandenong Stingrays:

Scarlett Marsh (Midfielder/Defender) – 18.2 disposals, 2.6 marks, 4.4 tackles, 4.4 clearances, 4.0 inside 50s, 1.4 rebound 50s
Lily Brittain (Utility) – 16.6 disposals, 1.0 marks, 3.6 tackles, 1.4 clearances, 2.8 inside 50s, 3 goals
Sophie White (Ruck) – 6.0 disposals, 23.7 hitouts, 1.3 tackles, 2.0 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s
Annie Clish (Forward) – 10.4 disposals, 3.4 marks, 2.2 tackles, 1.2 inside 50s, 12 goals

Eastern Ranges:

Emily Rankin (Midfielder/Forward) – 27.0 disposals, 3.0 marks, 7.4 tackles, 5.6 clearances, 4.4 inside 50s, 1.8 rebound 50s, 3 goals
Brylee Anderson (Midfielder) – 26.0 disposals, 4.5 marks, 6.8 tackles, 3.3 clearances, 3.8 inside 50s, 1.5 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Scout Semple (Midfielder/Forward) – 18.5 disposals, 2.5 marks, 2.8 inside 50s, 3.5 clearances, 2.3 inside 50s, 1 goal
Lara Williams (Utility) – 16.8 disposals, 2.8 marks, 3.4 tackles, 1.2 clearances, 3.2 inside 50s, 2.6 rebound 50s, 2 goals

TIP

An absolute blockbuster of a match and it has been a while since Eastern Ranges lost back-to-back matches, going down to a couple of quality Northern Academy outfits. They’ll be hungry to bounce back and realistically at full strength should get the win, but it’s hard to deny how well the Stingrays are playing as such an even squad at the moment.

DETAILS

Saturday, May 30 @ Wangaratta Showgrounds, 12pm

TALE OF THE TAPE

Murray Bushrangers: 4th (3-3, 92.8%) | WLLWL
Oakleigh Chargers: 3rd (3-3, 109.6%) | WLLWW

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Murray Bushrangers:

Carmela Perri (Midfielder/Forward) – 29.6 disposals, 2.6 marks, 9.0 tackles, 3.8 clearances, 4.0 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s, 2 goals
Eliza Roche (Forward/Midfielder) – 15.8 disposals, 2.2 marks, 5.2 tackles, 2.6 clearances, 3.4 inside 50s, 7 goals
Skylah McPherson (Midfielder/Forward) – 22.0 disposals, 2.6 marks, 8.6 tackles, 3.8 clearances, 4.2 inside 50s, 4 goals
Ebony Chapman (Forward) – 9.0 disposals, 2.0 marks, 2.6 tackles, 5 goals

Oakleigh Chargers:

Isabella Mazzei (Midfielder) – 23.4 disposals, 7.4 tackles, 6.0 clearances, 4.2 inside 50s, 2.8 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Scarlett Bown (Forward) – 14.2 disposals, 3.2 marks, 3.0 tackles, 2.2 inside 50s, 6 goals
Leni Lockyer (Utility) – 12.6 disposals, 5.0 tackles, 2.0 clearances, 1.2 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s
Isabelle Godfrey (Wing) – 15.0 disposals, 2.8 marks, 3.4 tackles, 2.0 inside 50s, 3.4 rebound 50s

TIP

A blockbuster match up between two sides that should be there at the pointy end and were last year’s losing preliminary finalists. While both have been understrength to start the season and are still missing some key names, there is enough depth to make it an entertaining contest.

DETAILS

Saturday, May 30 @ Queen Elizabeth Oval, 11:00am

TALE OF THE TAPE

Bendigo Pioneers: 13th (1-5, 38.3%) | LLWLL
Calder Cannons: 7th (2-3, 95.0%) | LWLWL

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bendigo Pioneers:

Lacey Nihill (Utility) – 28.8 disposals, 4.6 marks, 8.0 tackles, 2.4 clearances, 4.6 inside 50s, 3.2 rebound 50s
Georgia Garlick (Defender) – 22.0 disposals, 3.2 marks, 5.6 tackles, 2.4 clearances, 1.0 inside 50s, 5.6 rebound 50s
Issy Boulton (Utility) – 22.8 disposals, 2.7 marks, 8.7 tackles, 4.2 clearances, 4.2 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s, 8 goals
Sage Dennis (Forward/Midfielder) – 17.8 disposals, 3.0 marks, 6.3 tackles, 2.3 clearances, 1.8 inside 50s, 1.8 rebound 50s

Calder Cannons:

Renee Ford (Midfielder) – 24.0 disposals, 10.3 tackles, 5.0 clearances, 1.0 inside 50s, 2.3 rebound 50s, 2 goals
Sienna Colgan (Midfielder) – 19.3 disposals, 2.8 marks, 4.5 tackles, 2.3 clearances, 2.0 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals
Lily Frangoulis (Midfielder/Forward) – 17.0 disposals, 8.0 tackles, 3.4 clearances, 2.6 inside 50s
Elebertina Schuliga (Wing/Midfielder) – 17.0 disposals, 2.3 marks, 9.0 tackles, 2.0 clearances, 4.7 inside 50s, 1.7 rebound 50s

TIP

Calder has shown to be that step above when at full strength, and though coming off a loss to the Northern Territory – the team that the Pioneers managed to beat easily in the Top End – expect the Cannons to have a host of big names returning. If all the Pios big guns can fire, they can give it a shake, though.

DETAILS

Saturday, May 30 @ DSV Stadium, 11:00am

TALE OF THE TAPE

Western Jets: 6th (2-3, 110.2%) | WLWLL
Geelong Falcons: 12th (1-4, 38.8%) | LWLLL

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Western Jets:

Addison West (Midfielder) 23.4 disposals, 2.8 marks, 5.6 tackles, 4.4 clearances, 3.6 inside 50s, 2.0 rebound 50s, 3 goals
Nartasha Elbayeh (Forward) –
Tayla Olivieri (Midfielder/Forward) 16.3 disposals, 1.5 marks, 8.0 tackles, 1.5 clearances, 3.3 inside 50s, 3 goals
Ruby Jones (Midfielder) 18.2 disposals, 3.8 marks, 6.2 tackles, 2.6 clearances, 2.4 inside 50s, 1.4 rebound 50s

Geelong Falcons:

Marlie Collett (Wing/Midfielder) – 11.2 disposals, 2.8 tackles, 1.0 clearances, 1.8 inside 50s
Jayme Lasky (Tall Defender) – Vic Country hub member, First game in 2026
Holly Confoy (Defender/Wing) – 9.5 disposals, 1.0 marks, 1.5 tackles, 2.5 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s
Lua Payne (Utility) – 13.8 disposals, 1.0 marks, 3.2 tackles, 1.2 clearances, 1.0 inside 50s, 1.8 rebound 50s

TIP

A lot of the Falcons’ success relies on how the top-end talent performs with a relatively young squad still learning to gel and build for the future. The Western Jets have some serious match-winners when up and about, and as a whole look like a real mid-table team that can do damage on its day so would be favourite in this contest and with the Falcons minus key stars, expect Western to win.

DETAILS

Sunday, May 31 @ Shepley Oval, 10:45am

TALE OF THE TAPE

Gippsland Power: 10th (1-5, 58.5%) | LLLLL
Tasmania Devils: 8th (2-3, 67.7%) | WLLLW

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Gippsland Power:

Lily Milner (Midfielder/Forward) 21.2 disposals, 2.3 marks, 6.8 tackles, 4.8 clearances, 4.2 inside 50s, 3.0 rebound 50s, 5 goals
Grace Dillow (Midfielder/Forward) 19.2 disposals, 2.3 marks, 4.5 tackles, 4.0 clearances, 2.2 inside 50s, 3 goals
Olivia Holmes (Forward/Midfielder) 16.8 disposals, 2.5 marks, 5.5 tackles, 1.7 clearances, 3.5 inside 50s, 1 goal
Elizabeth Sowden (Defender) 12.5 disposals, 1.8 marks, 7.3 tackles, 1.2 inside 50s, 4.0 rebound 50s

Tasmania Devils:

Matilda Lange (Midfielder) 29.2 disposals, 1.6 marks, 5.6 tackles, 7.6 clearances, 5.0 inside 50s, 2.6 rebound 50s, 6 goals
Evie Ward (Midfielder/Forward) 23.3 disposals, 1.8 marks, 4.0 tackles, 5.0 clearances, 4.0 inside 50s, 2.0 rebound 50s
Evie Bingham (Midfielder/Forward) 20.3 disposals, 2.3 marks, 5.0 tackles, 3.8 clearances, 3.0 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound 50s, 1 goal
Olivia Lyons (Defender) 15.0 disposals, 2.6 marks, 1.8 tackles, 5.8 rebound 50s

TIP

Both these sides have some serious top-end talent and the likely winner of the midfield battle will get the upper hand. With Lange leading the way and Tasmania capable of a massive performance, the Devils will be favourite, though Milner and Dillow always pose issues for the opposition and in defeats, the Power have been competitive throughout matches.