AFTER being down early in the fourth quarter, the Allies booted the last four goals of the game to run over the top of Vic Country and notch up an AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships victory on the opening weekend, 8.8 (56) to 5.8 (38).

>> MATCH REPORT: Allies 8.8 (56) def. Vic Country 5.8 (38)

We took note of some of the players from both sides who caught the eye.

ALLIES:

#1 Evie Ward (Tasmania Devils)
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 29/10/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Ward was a versatile presence for the Allies, rotating between on-ball and forward, while also finding herself deep in defence when required. She showed great composure to mark in the back pocket and get herself out of trouble in the dying seconds of the first term. Her ability to win a centre clearance and get the ball forward in the third term was a highlight, as she continued to work it forward in transition.

#3 Aurelia Russell (Sydney Swans Academy)
Utility | 160cm | 03/12/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

A classy runner who played between the wing, attack and on-ball. Russell was instrumental in the final term, helping drive her team to victory. She showcased elite vision and lateral movement, executing a brilliant fake and sidestep to open up the play. Her hard running was rewarded with a goal from the goalsquare in the final quarter. Russell’s clean hands and well-weighted passes, including an absolute bullet inside 50, made her a constant threat in transition.

#6 Frances Walsh (Sydney Swans Academy)
Wing | 173cm | 30/01/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Walsh was a key playmaker off half-back and down the wing, finding plenty of the ball and consistently driving her team forward. She demonstrated lovely delivery by foot and was not afraid to apply fierce tackling pressure in the defensive 50. Her intercept marking and ability to execute well-weighted passes under pressure were crucial in setting up offensive thrusts.

#9 Rose Bell (Murray Bushrangers)
Defender | 170cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 rebound 50s

Bell’s work behind the ball was crucial, reading the play perfectly to take strong intercept marks in defence. She was proactive in her run, gathering the ball and handballing to space to keep the momentum going. Her standout moment came in the final 90 seconds, laying a goal-saving tackle on Hannah Griffiths 15 metres out, showcasing her desperate defensive efforts to match her offensive proactivity.

#10 Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils)
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 30/01/2009

Stats: 28 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 12 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Lange was absolutely enormous and undoubtedly best on ground. The Tasmanian bottom-age gun led from the front with strength, speed, and skill. She dominated around the stoppages, consistently thumping the ball out of the centre and executing brilliant sidesteps. Her ridiculous strength was on display as she shrugged off tackles and fired off handballs under pressure. Lange’s elite kicking was a feature, highlighted by a pinpoint pass to Day for the winning goal, and she also managed to snap a brilliant goal of her own from a forward stoppage.

#11 Evie Bingham (Tasmania Devils)
Forward | 172cm | 16/06/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

Bingham brought fierce tackling pressure inside 50 and was clever with her ball use on the forward side of the wing. She consistently thumped the ball inside 50, setting up scoring opportunities, including a long kick that led to a goal for Day. Her quick hands and ability to receive and drive the ball into the middle were valuable assets for the Allies.

#12 Charlotte Tidemann (Sydney Swans Academy)
Defender | 169cm | 08/08/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Tidemann was a reliable interceptor in defence, clunking good marks and racking up the ball from the back half. She showed great burst speed down the middle and on the wing, kicking deep inside 50 to create danger. Her defensive pressure on the boundary and a big tackle at centre half-back highlighted her two-way work rate. While her kicking under pressure can still develop, if she has any time and space she will cut the opposition to pieces. Loves to run and look for the one-twos before a piercing kick through the corridor.

#13 Evie Bowie (Sydney Swans Academy)
Utility | 170cm | 31/12/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Bowie was busy on the wing and in the middle, finding plenty of the ball early and working hard to mop up in defence. She applied fierce tackling pressure and was clean with her hands, extracting the ball from congestion. Her transition running and long kicking to half-forward were effective, and she set up Russell’s goal with a quick kick out of a pack in the final quarter. Found plenty of the ball and was one of the Allies’ most consistent players.

#14 Peggy Rock (Northern Territory Academy)
Forward/Midfielder | 166m | 20/07/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50

Playing forward and rotating on-ball late in the match, Rock was clean with her hands and quick to get the ball away when tackled. She showed great agility with her sidesteps and was dangerous around goals, executing quick snaps around her body to the hotspot. Her follow-up work after dropping a mark at one stage demonstrated her persistence and work ethic.

#20 Morgan Stevens (GWS Giants Academy)
Tall Defender | 177cm | 13/08/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 4 hitouts, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

Stevens was a strong defensive presence, reading the ball perfectly coming out of the back half. She took ruck stoppages in the defensive 50 and applied great one-on-one pressure to nullify contests and force the ball out of bounds. Her intercepting and composed short passing out of the back pocket provided stability for the Allies’ defence.

#23 Majella Day (Murray Bushrangers/GWS Giants Academy)
Tall Forward | 173cm | 11/03/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 4 goals, 2 behinds

Day was the dominant target up front, kicking four goals and providing a constant threat inside 50. She kicked her side’s first goal by waiting for the ball to spill out and snapping truly. Her strong one-on-one marking and great bodywork on the goalline allowed her teammates to capitalise, and she was the recipient of Lange’s elite pass to boot the winner. While she missed a couple of shots she would normally nail, her presence was the difference between the sides.

VIC COUNTRY:

#3 Scarlett Marsh (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 162cm | 03/04/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 rebound 50s

Marsh looked composed coming out of the back 50, displaying nice hands and neat, effective kicking from the kickouts. She applied great tackling pressure, notably executing a strong tackle while outnumbered on the wing. Her lovely weighted kicking in defence and composed sidesteps at half-back were highlights of her game.

#5 Ava Bilyk (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 07/07/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 7 clearances, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

Bilyk was sensational for Vic Country, laying the first tackle at the centre bounce and consistently winning clearances while being held. She read the tap work brilliantly, snapping a goal off a burst in the opening moments of the game. Her brilliant composure off a step and ability to shrug off tackles to get a handball away made her a standout in the midfield. She put her side in front with a lovely finish from long-range and was strong over the ball all day. Clearly best-on from Vic Country in defeat.

#10 Grace Dillow (Gippsland Power)
Forward | 164cm | 03/06/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Dillow competed hard as a forward, showcasing a clean pickup and the ability to dish off well. She took good marks at half-forward and thumped the ball forward effectively. Her highlight was a great goal in the first quarter, bouncing it home on the run with a classy finish. Has the strength overhead to match her groundlevel pressure and class with ball in hand.

#14 Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers)
Wing | 172cm | 01/05/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s

Nihill was busy on the wing and in defence, gathering the ball and getting it away when tackled. She executed lovely kicks to half-forward and showed good composure with quick hands under pressure. Her intercept marking on the wing and efficient kicking downfield were key features of her performance. Worked hard up and down the ground and was often a target for the designated kicker from defence.

#17 Greea McKeegan (Geelong Falcons)
Forward/Midfielder | 176cm | 15/12/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

McKeegan was a threat in the front half, providing a good lead-up target and taking nice marks inside 50. She showed great effort with a checkside out of congestion and applied strong tackling pressure on the wing. Her persistence paid off when she gathered the ball in the nick of time on the goalline to slam home an early goal in the final quarter. Spent some time on-ball, but her aerial presence up forward was key.

#18 Georgia Garlick (Bendigo Pioneers)
Defender | 170cm | 01/07/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

Garlick caught the eye in defence, taking solid marks and executing fantastic kicks into the corridor. Her lovely kicking down the wing was effective, and she took the kickouts short and safe to maintain possession. She also applied a great tackle in the back pocket to win a holding the ball free kick during the third term. The left-footer was one of the most effective players coming out of the back half for Vic Country.

#19 Carmela Perri (Murray Bushrangers)
Midfielder | 168cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Perri was a strong presence at the stoppages, winning clearances and feeding out handballs from congestion. She racked up the ball early, kicking to clear and throwing it on the boot when necessary. Her ability to gather in the middle and kick to space helped drive Vic Country forward. While her composure under pressure can develop when extracting from stoppages, she gets her hands dirty consistently to crack in around the contest.

#21 Olivia Holmes (Gippsland Power)
Forward/Midfielder | 170cm | 08/08/2009

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

Holmes rotated through the middle and attack, winning clearances and looking dangerous in and aroudn the forward 50. She laid a great tackle to win a holding the ball free kick late in the game and took a series of nice nice intercept marks at both ends. The bottom-ager competed well when around the ball.

#35 Sophie White (Dandenong Stingrays)
Ruck | 184cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 tackles, 38 hitouts, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

White was unstoppable in the ruck, dominating the hitouts all day, including 17 in the opening quarter. She set up Bilyk with a brilliant tap down for the opening goal and consistently provided decisive taps. Her ability to get involved early, provide effective follow-up work and execute quick hands away made her a key contributor for Vic Country.