VIC COUNTRY avoided a winless national carnival and finished the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships on a high with an impressive 10-point win over rivals Vic Metro. Country booted four last quarter goals into the breeze which proved the difference, with only one goal a quarter kicked up that end previously in the match. The contest featured incredible performances from Ava Bilyk and Bailee Martin. We took note of some of the standout players from each team.

>> MATCH REPORT: Vic Country 11.4 (70) def. Vic Metro 9.6 (60)

VIC COUNTRY:

#2 Issy Boulton (Bendigo Pioneers)
Forward | 160cm | 21/05/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

The only over-ager in the match showed promising signs, deployed up forward after spending time across all thirds in the Talent League Girls competition. What stands out about Boulton’s game are her incredibly clean hands and quick disposal methods, able to fire out passes with rapid speed. She brings immense tackling pressure as well, and while she did miss a couple of chances on goal during the third term, already had one on the board from the first quarter in the last minute.

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

Stats: 31 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 7 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

It was another first-class performance from Bilyk who lead from the front all day and produced what was yet another best on ground performance and easily deserving MVP of her side. She racked up the most disposals and clearances in the game, while kicking two goals including the match-sealer, providing strength overhead and at ground level. A really well-balanced player, Bilyk continues to go from strength to strength and the Geelong Falcons skipper has all but justified a first round selection with her 2026 form.

#7 Lily Milner (Gippsland Power)
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 25/01/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

Played a predominant forward role in the match and was the livewire to start the match, booting two goals in the opening term. She showed her range with the second of those coming from 40 metres out, and rotated on-ball at times as well through the match. Her fierceness at the contest was on display after a huge hip-and-shoulder on Leni Lockyer in the third term, and then she set up a goal to Skylah McPherson as well.

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

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Has really slotted into the more permanent forward role for Vic Country, and while it took until the fourth term to kick a major, Dillow looked lively throughout the contest in the front half. She lead out with vigour, trapped the ball and looked to put it into dangerous areas, and set up a major to Shiloh Little with a deep kick. Her major came after pouncing from close range, kicking off a trio of majors in the first eight minutes of the final term to secure Vic Country the victory.

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

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

McKeegan rotated between forward and the wing in the match as she so often does, and was able to use her speed and evasion to create her own space and keep the ball moving. Though she could sometimes rush and it resulted in turnovers, she constantly looks for high-risk, high-reward positions and not only snapped a goal herself after a set shot fell short, but she set up Dillow’s major as well with a long kick deep inside 50.

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 rebound 50s

Tough and consistent as ever, Garlick held down the fought in the back half and was able to finish up as one of the better Vic Country players in the win. She loves to spear passes with serious penetration even when off balance, and while if it doesn’t quite strike right can go astray, when they come off, they look ultra-impressive. The left-footer put in a strong defensive shift and applied tackling pressure as well as being the extraction outlet in the back 50, often saving the day and driving the ball from danger.

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

The bottom-ager got her chance starting on-ball again and was quick to get her hands to it. While not racking up a stack of possessions, she still had her fair share in a low-disposal game, and was able to use her hands well through traffic. She worked hard defensively to clear the ball from danger at different points, and continued to attack throughout the match to get involved in scoring transitions going forward.

VIC METRO:

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

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 tackle, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

A genuine footballer who continues to show up each week and put up consistent numbers and performances. There was no one thing that stood out about Rankin’s effort which is her to a t. She just does a lot right, and her clean hands, extraction ability and second efforts all are on display each time she runs out. It was nothing flashy, but the Eastern skipper gets her hands dirty and makes others better, with her work around the coalface even more important in the absence of Ranges teammate, Brylee Anderson.

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

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

Semple started on-ball and rotated forward at times, looking dangerous with ball in hand. Her quick and clean disposal methods usually make something happen, and though she was a little fumbly at ground level, always backed up with second and third efforts. She reads the stoppages well and and can draw free kicks by getting to the ball first, making the most of her 13 touches in the loss.

#12 Lara Williams (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 168cm | 29/08/2008

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

In her second Vic Metro game for the carnival, Williams stepped up from game one to feature as a link-up player in defence. Often the first option from the kickout, the Eastern top-ager used the ball effectively and was not afraid to sidestep opponents to create space. She took a nice one-on-one mark in the fourth term against Boulton, and while not a natural one-on-one defender, fought the good fight and showed off glimpses of her run and carry.

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

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Like Rankin, Mazzei is one of those players who just offers consistent performances each and every week. So strong in the hips, clean with her hands and the ability to break away when required, the Oakleigh Chargers midfielder was fierce at the coalface. She won her share of possessions and while not having a heap of transitional running in the game, chased down opponents and fed it out to teammates when given the chance. Mazzei set up a goal in the second term and continued to compete both in the air and at ground level.

#20 Grace McIntyre (Sandringham Dragons)
Wing/Defender | 173cm | 31/12/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 6 inside 50s

Recording a team-high 22 disposals, McIntyre was full of run and carry on the outside and spread into open grass where she could take off, or hold back and intercept before sending the ball forward again. Half of her touches came from handball receives which is exactly her game in a nutshell. Able to take a mark, kick forward then follow up for a secondary touch, McIntyre is always looking to be there on the outside to drive the ball forward. She was often under pressure, but she still found space and was prominent on the attacking end with her last long kick setting up Martin’s seventh major.

#22 Alli Allen (Northern Knights)
Defender | 172cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 7 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Ultra competitive and neat with her disposal, Allen won the MVP honours for Vic Metro. She missed last match and was sorely missed, but returned and brought back the fierceness in the defensive end. She hardly made a mistake with ball in hand, and while her primary focus is to defend, she offers some offensive drive as well, which is what makes her even more valuable to her side. Capped off a really nice national carnival.

#23 Bailee Martin (Oakleigh Chargers)
Tall Forward | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 1 inside 50, 7 goals, 1 behind

Any question marks on what Martin was capable of given she had missed the last match and was well held in game two, were quickly erased as she put on a show with seven majors in a dominant performance. Yes, two of them came in the last minute in the definition of consolation goals, but even they were slotted from respective pockets. She was kicking them from everywhere and at both ends, beating opponents on the lead and one-on-one. Her reading of the ball in flight was terrific and she threatened to single-handedly drag Vic Metro over the line. Her best performance of the year in what has been an interrupted season.