THE NATIONAL AFLW Academy fell four points short against the All Stars at Dingley on Sunday, and in the first of two articles focusing on every player in the match, we noted down each of the prospects who donned the Australian jumper and what caught the eye about their performance.

We will do the same for the All Stars tomorrow.

AFLW ACADEMY:

#1 Marika Carlton
Defender/Wing | 159cm | 03/08/2007

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

No stranger to donning the Coat of Arms given she was a member of the National Academy last season, Carlton is back to make up for lost time and has been solid throughout the Talent League Girls program. While the Top End does not have a stack of viable top-age prospects this season, Carlton offers an over-age option with her explosive speed and smart skills evident in the way she goes about it. Running off half-back, Carlton breaks lines and storms forward more often than not, and almost kicked a nice goal in the second half that came off hands.

#2 Emma Charlton
Midfielder | 162cm | 19/06/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The potential pick one was industrious throughout the contest and clearly one of the Academy’s most productive players. Her clean hands and contested work is always outstanding, and her defensive traits are among the best in the draft crop. Her brilliant tackle in the third term stopped a certain goal then in the last quarter nailed a pinpoint weighted pass to McIlwain for a goal. Essentially the most complete player from the group.

#3 Harlee McIlwain
Tall Forward | 174cm | 07/04/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 3 goals

Playing in a stacked forwardline with limited opportunities early, McIlwain only headed into half-time with a touch. But after that she thrived, picking up eight disposals, four marks and booting three goals to be arguably best on in the second half. While only credited with one tackle, McIlwain’s groundlevel defensive pressure is always top notch, and while her consistency is still building, she has enormous upside with her aerial presence and reliability on goal.

#5 Charlotte Tidemann
Defender | 169cm | 08/08/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 9 rebound 50s

Deservedly awarded best on ground for the losing team, Tidemann was vital in creating the run and carry that has become her trademark trait. The Swans Academy member is no stranger to tucking the ball under the arm and usually releasing out of defence with a swift one-two, looking to get contest to contest consistently. With any time and space, Tidemann can inflict maximum damage, and she also performed well on the defensive end which was a big tick.

#6 Mia Geere
Utility | 171cm | 08/04/2008

Stats: N/A

Unfortunately for the Brisbane Lions Academy member, her day ended ultra early with an ankle injury seeing her finish in a moon boot without touching the ball. It was a disappointing day for the talented utility – especially ahead of the national carnival – but she has plenty of runs on the board for recruiters to evaluate.

#8 Evie Ward
Forward | 172cm | 29/10/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 behind

The Tasmanian talent provided a nice additional aerial option outside the more traditional tall forwards, and got on the end of a few inside 50s thanks to the focus on others. Strong overhead and fierce at ground level, Ward played her part and had a couple of shots on goal to-boot. One bounced into the post really unluckily, while earlier in the second term her set shot was on target but fell just short before Strachan pounced to boot one through on the goalline.

#10 Evie Bingham
Defender | 172cm | 16/06/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 11 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

The other Tasmanian prospect in the game, Bingham like Ward can play on any line, but was largely stationed behind the ball. Her defensive pressure was what stood out, and though she did give away a couple of free kicks in an attempt to break the lines or stop an opponent in their tracks, she continued to try and create out of the back half. Her holding the ball free on the explosive Maddison Meagher was superb, and she was calm in defence with ball in hand.

#11 Emily Mableson
Defender/Wing | 171cm | 05/05/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

While Mableson is enjoying a ripping season through the middle for West Adelaide in the SANFLW, the top-ager was back to defence and then rolling up to a wing at times to show off her proactive attack on the contest and natural skills. She is a player who you want the ball in the hands of, and while not explosive, she just glides around the field making good decisions and impacting transitional plays. Got caught a couple of times for pace when against Meagher – who is arguably the fastest of the draft crop – but other than that was just rock solid.

#13 Stephanie Aguinaldo
Defender | 170cm | 04/04/2008

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 7 tackles, 1 inside 50

While not a massive production day, Aguinaldo was heavily focused on defence, and she competed strongly in the air or at ground level. Her seven tackles were indicative of her intent, and she had a nice spoil in the final term.

#14 Miyu Endersby
Tall Utility | 179cm | 01/06/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 6 hitouts, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

The stats don’t tell the full story of what Endersby offers, which is incredible versatility to play across all three lines. Her ruck work – and follow-up efforts – at SANFLW level is arguably where she can have the most impact, but with Sophie White taking the bulk of the hitouts, Endersby goes to her preferred half-back role. She rotated into the ruck where she took advantage of her leap against fellow South Australian Ruby Lynch, while also drifting forward to kick the last goal of the game with the final disposal.

#15 Aiyana Pritchard
Forward/Wing | 175cm | 21/12/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Given the strength of the forwardline, Pritchard rolling onto a wing has been a great point of difference not only for the Academy in the match, but for the Lions Academy of late, and for Queensland in the upcoming national championships. She competes so well in the air – pulling in a one-handed mark at one point – and whenever she works into space, her elite athleticism makes opponents sweat. Can still round out her game, but her raw flaws of last season have come on in leaps and bounds.

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s

Stevens is one of those players teammates can rely on with ball in hand as she always looks calm and never rushed. Her booming kick helps her clear the area, but usually she assesses all the options before making a decision, and as is her go, the Giants Academy member took several strong marks. Just played her role out of the back 50 and supported her teammates without anything flashy.

#17 Bailee Martin
Tall Forward | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

The potential top pick was on managed minutes for the game given it was her first match back for a while. She looked dangerous at different points spending time on the likes of Dragons, Grace McIntyre and Maya Duane, and realistically having minimal chances. She made the most of her mark inside 50 during the second term to slot her only goal, while also attempting an impossible dribble from the boundary in the first quarter but the All Stars were there to play goalkeeper.

#18 Grace McIntyre
Wing/Defender | 173cm | 31/12/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

McIntyre was one of three additions to the Academy squad. The Sandringham Dragons talent has always had the look that she can compete at a high level, and it was the performance as that defensive winger that really stood out. She took several key intercept marks on the last line and also applied fierce defensive pressure once the ball hit the deck. Her kicking is still developing, but was fairly effective in the game, and she certainly did not look out of place amongst the cream of the crop, clearly in the top few through the first half.

#19 Greea McKeegan
Forward/Wing | 176cm | 15/12/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

One of those players whose 10 disposals feel like 20 and if she can get the game on her terms, watch out. Another star who teammates will look to get the ball in because she has a long raking kick, and when she has time to maximise it, can nail targets further afield. Her passing inside 50 is where she can shine, and though she only took the one mark and did not hit the scoreboard herself, set up the opening goal to Semple, and then another one to Martin.

#20 Brylee Anderson
Defender/Midfielder | 173cm | 25/03/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

With the amount of contested ball-winners in the side, Anderson does not necessarily need to be that first-possession winner, and like a number of others, is more than capable of playing in a variety of roles, including out of defence. She is a fierce player who constantly pressures the opposition, and while she has had more influential games, Anderson’s clean hands and willingness to do anything for the cause enables her to still impact even when sharing the inside minutes.

#22 Scout Semple
Forward/Midfielder | 162cm | 03/10/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Coming off an MVP in the Academy’s first game against Carlton VFLW, Semple was again amongst the best out there, impacting through the middle and up forward. After being jumped, it was the Eastern Ranges utility who settled the team down with an important goal, and nearly kicked another later on after an intercept mark and subsequent set shot hit the post. Has the power/speed combination that worries opposition midfields and her ability to know where the goals are certainly helps too.

#23 Majella Day
Tall Forward | 173cm | 11/03/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals, 4 behinds

Day seems to enjoy not having to be the number one focal point the entire match, as the opposition has to pick between her, Martin, McIlwain and Pritchard for who to focused on, and it enables one or two to get off the chain. Day was a little wayward with her shots on goal – including one late when she could have lowered the eyes – but she set up McIlwain in the fourth. The ones she kicked came in different fashions with a soccer off the deck under pressure and then a great mark over the smaller Ferguson which was followed by a converted set shot.

#29 Sophie White
Ruck | 184cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 5 disposals, 3 tackles, 27 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The Dandenong Stingrays tall is a fluent tap ruck with a nice jump and great technique to get first hands to it and palm down to her teammates. She really took advantage of her height and leap to dominate the stoppages, and while she is never a huge ball-winner, certainly can make her presence felt around the stoppages. One play outside the ruck contest that caught the eye was a huge smother on the wing to force a turnover and then kicked forward.

#30 Lexi Strachan
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 30/09/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

Strachan was one of arguably a dozen players who just played her role, did nothing wrong, but as what always happens with these games, shared the load so did not get a stack of time to individually shine. She got her chance to hit the scoreboard reading the ball off hands superbly as everyone went up for a pack mark in the goalsquare late in quarter two and the West Perth talent stayed down, won the ball over the back and booted it home. She went into the middle and also dished off cleanly, and is set for a big national carnival.

#31 Mia Carlshausen
Defender | 171cm | 10/04/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 rebound 50

Another West Australian who was just consistent as ever, Carlshausen looked composed with ball in hand out of defence. She took a number of strong grabs – including a goal-saving mark in the second term – and can be so lethal by foot when exiting the back 50. Has the potential to play up the ground as well, but her reading of the play, combined with her natural skills and smarts make her a terrific rebounding defender.