IN A LIKELY title-deciding battle, South Australia kicked clear of Vic Metro with a five goals to one third term to secure a 20-point victory at Alberton Oval on Sunday. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye across both sides as the two teams have their weekend off next week before their last games of the national carnival the week after.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#4 Hope Taylor (South Adelaide)
Wing/Forward | 160cm | 26/07/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

The South Adelaide small got up the ground and worked hard to get her hands on the ball where she was able to be really lively in and around the contests. Her work rate has really improved the last six months, and she can still be that damaging forward – though the set shot she would normally nail she missed – but also have that two-way running ability that was her key improvement coming into the year. Clean under pressure.

#5 Layla Vizgaudis (South Adelaide)
Forward/Midfielder | 161cm | 22/04/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

After a rare quiet game last time out, Vizgaudis got back to business even with relatively low on-ball minutes compared to others. Instead she spent most of her time in that front half, being a link between midfield and attack. She almost kicked a goal twice in the last few minutes – run down going towards goal and then a set shot after hte siren from a tight angle that missed – but still she was lively and has terrific skill and smarts.

#7 Maia Freemantle (Woodville-West Torrens)
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 13/04/2009

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

A real all-round game from the Eagles bottom-ager who started forward, then went on-ball to start the second term, and showed she could play either role effectively. Her goal in the third term when able to gather and sidestep Maeve Gill to run into an open goal was all class, and her defensive pressure both around the contest and in transition was important as well. Didn’t do one thing above anything else, but more just did everything well.

#8 Emily Mableson (West Adelaide)
Defender | 171cm | 05/05/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

The composed West Adelaide defender has had a carnival to remember thus far and would arguably be leading the MVP race given her consistency. No stranger to that or big games as the Under 16s MVP of this side two years ago, Mableson is such a smooth mover with slick skills and underrated strength when under pressure. She can get her hands free in a tackle and is rarely rushed, while also having the game nous to know when to kill time off the clock when settling or parking the bus is required.

#9 Emma Charlton (South Adelaide)
Midfielder/Forward | 162cm | 19/06/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Charlton played a little bit of everywhere but bulk rotating between midfield and attack, copping a bump that left her a little sore but fighting on as she always does. Given South had taken control in the third term after she was in attack, Charlton remained in the front half for the forward term, laying a huge tackle to win holding the ball. She’s had bigger numbers, but her ability to play in other positions enables teammates to roll through the midfield and give a different look on the inside.

#12 Julia Faulkner (Woodville-West Torrens)
Utility | 164cm | 06/05/2008

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

Faulkner played across all three lines in the game, starting forward where she quickly made an impact by soccering home a goal off the deck five minutes into the match. That came not long after she had snapped around her body only to be smothered. She rotated on-ball early in the second term then in the second half was in defence where she didn’t always see a lot of it but still had her moments through groundlevel pressure. In the fourth term she had an eye-catching moment by dancing around a couple of opponents and shrugging a tackle to work into space and kick deep inside 50.

#14 Lani Cocks
Midfielder | 162cm | 15/09/2009

Stats: 27 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The talented bottom-ager racked up the most disposals on the ground and looked to have more of an emphasis in having her head on a swivel this week. While at times Cocks can tend to blaze away – thanks to her burst speed and long kick – she linked up by hand more often than before, or looked for the shorter options which was beneficial. While still refining the consistency in that element, her impact on the game was profound and she gained plenty of metres breaking from the stoppage and also showed her strength in the air around the ground. A perfect example of the two examples was breaking through opponents to try and take a shot but being run down from that extra second taken, compared to winning it, sidestepping and snapping around her body through traffic for a goal, all in the third term. Her confidence is what drives her game and backing herself consistently makes her damaging.

#15 Lucy Moore (Woodville-West Torrens)
Midfielder/Forward | 165cm | 30/04/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 12 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Really took control of the midfield in the game where she might only be credited with two official clearances, but her ability to actually take meterage even if she is technically the second possession winner, is what really makes her such a wonderful player. She bursts from the stoppages and kicks forward, and when she doesn’t have the ball in her hands, she is laying fierce tackles. Her decision making is usually very good, and her kicking at least goes to the right spots to have an impact inside 50. Moore’s first quarter goal where she read the play well to swoop on an errant pass and break past an opponent to finish on the run was all class.

#17 Lily Whiteman (Sturt)
Wing | 164cm | 14/05/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 5 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Whiteman is one of those players who has a balance between toughness and class. She’s not necessarily a massive ball winner, but she can have an influential impact with ball in hand or when she is in the area. Her work to never switch off helps and the fact she literally won the most clearances on her team – five – despite playing on a wing – shows how she is not simply there to just space, she has the capacity to break forward and win the ball once the ruck has tapped it in her path. Her fourth quarter goal was terrific and really sealed the game.

#27 Ruby Lynch (Woodville-West Torrens)
Tall Defender/Forward | 182cm | 14/11/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals

With South Australia on the ropes at half-time – the margin was close but the Croweaters hadn’t scored in over 30 minutes – Lynch was thrown forward and switched with Polly Turner to provide a different look to the forward 50. While Lynch is not quite as strong from a contested marking point of view as Turner, she has ridiculous reach and incredible athleticism for a player of her size. She posed all sorts of headaches for the Vic Metro defence, kicking two goals in the third term, including a footy smart tap in front of her against Gill to run on and slam it home, before a mark on the edge of three quarter time to kick another one. Helped turn the game for her side.

#29 Caitlin Hardin (North Adelaide)
Defender/Midfielder | 19/03/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Plugging along and playing her role, Hardin was a consistent contributor starting in defence and rolling into the middle as she has this carnival. The North Adelaide product set up the third term Lani Cocks goal and when she wasn’t trying to break away from the stoppages, she was using quick and clean hands oun the outside. She can sometimes throw it on the boot forward but generally is a really quick decision maker to at least put pressure on the opposition defenders.

#33 Miyu Endersby (Central District)
Ruck | 179cm | 01/06/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 22 hitouts, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

While not quite having the dominance of the week before – coming up against some slightly more experienced ruck/forward options compared to the ruckless Allies, Endersby still took home the chocolates in the battle and got first hands to it more often than not. Her follow-up work including her defensive pressure was great, and she has a booming kick that can relieve pressure from behind the ball. Another solid game across the board.

VIC METRO:

#3 Maddison Meagher (Northern Knights)
Wing/Defender | 163cm | 08/02/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Meagher had less space to work with in the game with plenty of pressure around the ground, but the Northern Knights top-ager still worked her way to some running highlights. She mopped up off half-back and drove the ball downfield, while also intercepting well and looking to create space herself. She won a free in the middle when she was rundown from behind, while also able to link up with teammates by hand in transition.

#4 Somer McCormack (Northern Knights)
Forward | 162cm | 22/01/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

McCormack did her draft chances no harm in that permanent forward role where her size and smarts might suit the best. While she has been tearing it up as that mid/forward for the Knights, the top-ager made her presence felt with a goal against the momentum in the first term for Vic Metro when her team couldn’t buy a major. That helped turn the momentum, and while she did miss a couple of looks, her defensive pressure inside 50 was very good.

#5 Isabelle Godfrey (Oakleigh Chargers)
Wing/Forward | 162cm | 11/08/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 4 inside 50s

Always a high impact-per-possession player, Godfrey just seems to have a lot of time with ball in hand even though she is always going at speed. Her lateral movement speed looks like it would break most ankles but she makes it work seamlessly and once she spins into the clear, she is hard to catch. Set up a goal to Bown with a nice kick inside 50, and spent time up forward where she looked lively in moments. Always tends to have more impact than the stats suggest.

#6 Addison West (Western Jets)
Forward/Midfielder | 167cm | 16/05/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

The Western Jets prospect was busy throughout the game and has a real all-round game that includes toughness and athleticism. She can be a little more precise with her kicking when under pressure, but she is a power runner and is strong overhead for her size. Had a shot on goal in the last quarter that missed, but set up Luella Hall with her major in the first term. Passed the eye test with her impact because she consistently put herself in positions to win the ball.

#9 Emily Rankin (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder | 166cm | 11/05/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 rebound 50s

Rankin’s floor is as high as anyone’s even at this level because you know the minimum output you’re going to get from the Eastern skipper. She has had bigger games, but Rankin kept battling on to the final siren, showing clean hands in traffic and a willingness to get involved contest to contest. She is a really good all-round player and though on-ball is always working hard at both ends to bring others into the game. Finds space as well which is a big tick.

#11 Scout Semple (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder/Forward | 162cm | 03/10/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 4 clearances

The National Academy member had her moments in the match, particularly around the coalface where she was able to win a number of clearances. She took a strong intercept mark in the second term and delivered well by foot, with her quick hands and link-up play a feature in the contest. Didn’t win a stack of it or was able to trouble the scorers, only really had the one chance from a tight angle set shot. Solid with room to improve for the final game.

#17 Isabella Mazzei (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 169cm | 06/06/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Arguably Vic Metro’s best in the loss, Mazzei was everywhere and a tireless worker around the ball. She racked up disposals at will, but was usually linking up from the inside to outside both through hand and then to breakaway and kick forward. She worked behind the ball when required to assist the defence, and also pushed forward to create a contest. Had a chance in the second term on goal but opted for the pass that just went the wrong side of her teammate’s advantage. Ticks a lot of boxes and it is just refining that execution by foot.

#19 Scarlett Bown (Oakleigh Chargers)
Tall Forward | 179cm | 22/09/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 5 hitouts, 1 inside 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Came into the match and really threatened to be the difference maker up forward in the absence of Bailee Martin. Bown clunked half a dozen marks and had chances on goal, booting one, missing one and setting up others. At times she pushed into the middle of the ground to be an option on long leads, and worked hard constantly with her forward craft. Hadn’t played in a little while so to come out and put that performance together, it bodes well for when Metro takes on Country in a couple of weeks.

#20 Grace McIntyre (Sandringham Dragons)
Wing/Defender | 174cm | 31/12/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s

The Sandringham Dragons talent is gifted with a lot of eye-catching traits from her aerial ability, speed and reading of the play. She has been in some great form of late, and she had some line-breaking runs again on Saturday. In one play during the fourth term, McIntyre gathered deep in the backline and went to half-back switching play, then took off down the field to time her run brilliantly at half-forward, burst inside 50 and took a shot on goal, but it unfortunately went wide. If she is able to refine her kicking, then she can go to another level, with her other traits holding McIntyre in great stead for the future.