CALDER Cannons produced a convincing win over Bendigo Pioneers at Queen Elizabeth Oval on the weekend as a number of top and bottom-age prospects impressed across the board. The usual suspects battled hard for the Pioneers, but ultimately the depth of the Cannons’ outfit proved too much, coming away with a 15.12 (102) to 1.3 (9) win.

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye in the match.

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#6 Sage Dennis
Midfielder | 161cm | 22/08/2009

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

With Beth Morris out of the team, Dennis became the more go-to contested ball-winner, starting in the middle and extracting the first possession from the coalface out to the wing. She covered the ground well, helping out in defence and applied pressure all over the ground, always trying to break clear and create speed on-ball. Though Dennis was caught cold in a Balmain tackle running off half-back, her willingness to take the game on was a positive and her decision making – even when her kicking at times was a touch rushed – was sound.

#8 Georgia Garlick
Defender | 170cm | 01/07/2008

Stats: 30 disposals, 7 marks, 10 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 rebound 50s

Garlick produced another consistent game out of the back half, using her penetrating left boot to advantage and putting her body on the line whenever required. She was quick from hand to foot or to dish off and release a teammate, with Calder’s setup in the front half press more the reason for any turnovers coming out of defence. Garlick is damaging when able to get onto her left side and took a number of relieving intercept marks, while bringing similar defensive heat to her offensive work. A really well-balanced game and another 30-plus disposal performance in a tough loss.

#12 Issy Boulton
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 21/11/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 1 mark, 12 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 rebound 50s

Combined well with Dennis around the stoppages and applied her incredible defensive pressure to the opposition midfielders with another double-digit tackle game. She has shown her capacity to play off all lines and she creates space with a slick sidestep one way and kick downfield. Her tackling effort inside 50 in the first term lead to a shot on goal, but her set shot from 30m fell short, though was fortunately marked by a teammate. Has had higher production games, but still played her role well.

#14 Lacey Nihill
Utility | 172cm | 01/05/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 11 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

Nihill’s versatility is one of her greatest strengths, and the fact a player can start on the wing and play that role through the first half, then drift back to come from defence when the team is under siege, before moving on-ball to start the last term, is a real credit to her adaptability. On-field, she has a nice athletic base and with time and space makes good decisions and uses the ball well. Her decision-making in particular when it came to putting speed on the ball or slowing down and waiting for the right option was great, and if she can tidy up her execution under pressure, then she has a really strong all-round game. Offensively and defensively impacts in all facets of the game.

CALDER CANNONS:

#1 Charli Calleia
Forward | 169cm | 28/10/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 goal, 1 behind

The top-ager was up in attack for the game which was a positive given the state of the game, and her ability to play across all three lines – like quite a few others in the match – was great. Had a quick look from close range that went to the right in a chance gone begging, but did her best work around that half-forward region. She finally got on the board in the last five minutes to help tick her side over the ton.

#5 Renee Ford
Midfielder | 167cm | 06/07/2009

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Has a knack for finding the ball, and usually in heavily congested situations. Her burst off the first few steps catches the eye and she is not afraid to put her body on the line in marking contests as well. Looked to link up by hand out of the clearances, and even got forward to produce a classy snap in the final term off hands. That finishing ability showed she has the capacity to play inside 50 as well, while going back and setting up a late goal with a great centre clearance.

#6 Lily Frangoulis
Forward/Midfielder | 152cm | 20/04/2008

Stats: 29 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 9 inside 50s

It’s on repeat every week, but Frangoulis is the type of player you enjoy watching. She attacks it hard, wins the contested ball, impacts on the outside, can play midfield, wing or attack, and runs all day. Generally clean with ball in hand, she just looks dangerous when she goes near it and you get the sense that if she was 10cm taller, then there’s a different conversation being had. A really exciting pocket rocket whose first few steps are electric and she was rewarded with some huge numbers and one of the best on the ground.

#9 Holly Clough
Forward/Ruck | 184cm | 20/01/2009

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 14 hitouts, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

The sole confirmed Vic Metro main squad member from the Cannons is still developing but had greater impact than her stats might suggest. Rotating between attack and the ruck, she is just a few little moments away from having enormous influence on a game. For a 184cm player Clough moves well and she can jump which helps, while also having the strong frame which is hard to move for opposition defenders. Her ability to close in and pressure opponents who should be faster – like Boulton in the first term – was a credit to her mindset, while she also got reward on the scoreboard after a great mark at the top of the goalsquare and played on as her opponents napped to slam it home.

#10 Coco Balmain
Midfielder | 175cm | 01/01/2009

Stats: 30 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Hard to knock as best on ground in the win, and was outstanding across the ground playing through the middle. At 175cm, Balmain has been deployed as both a tall defender and midfielder, and she uses her frame to apply pressure to the opposition and also work to the outside. Her size enables her to compete in marking contests, and she is incredibly fierce at ground level as well. Balmain finished off nicely during the second term after a great tackle to win a holding the ball free kick and then converted the set shot from 35m. The Cannons’ bottom-ager was the subject of our Player Focus this week.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Coco Balmain (Calder Cannons)

#15 Chloe Bullen
Forward | 170cm | 15/01/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 goals, 2 behinds

After starting in defence against the Northern Territory nine days earlier, Bullen continued where she left off in the second half of that game, up forward. It paid dividends as the medium-tall booted four goals from six scoring shots and had another couple of ‘almost chances’ as well. Strong overhead and able to manufacture scores both directly and indirectly, she was a handful for the Bendigo defence. Even when the ball was not coming to her nicely, she found a way to conjure something up, and was definitely in the top few players on the ground.

#22 Felicity Mahoney
Forward/Midfielder | 173cm | 20/07/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 behind

The three-way club-tied prospect found plenty of the ball and was able to utilise her clean hands around the contest to match that of her defensive presence. She can rack up the ball on the inside quite quickly, and was able to spend a lot of time in the forward half where she transitioned the ball from midfield to attack. Set up a nice goal during the second term despite a slip and then moved on-ball. Continued to work hard throughout the game.

#37 Olivia Goldstein
Wing | 171cm | 18/11/2010

Stats: 26 disposals, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Speaking of club-tied players, no doubt North Melbourne and Essendon fans will be keeping close tabs on the 15-year-old Goldstein over the next few seasons. She had the most impact of the four Talent League Girls games she has played, with the Under 16s Vic Metro rep working hard up and down the ground. Her groundballs can still develop, but once with ball in hand, she showed some nice speed with a quick burst and desire to look for the one-twos. Her defensive pressure in the game was also a big tick.