GEELONG Falcons won the battle between two of the single win sides over the weekend, defeating Bendigo Pioneers by 54 points in a comprehensive performance at Queen Elizabeth Oval. Despite missing Vic Country MVP Ava Bilyk and National Academy member Greea McKeegan, the Falcons piled on seven goals to two in the first half and set up the 11.11 (77) to 3.5 (23) victory.

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye, with all notes the opinion of the individual author.

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#1 Jordan O’Bree
Forward | 160cm | 26/11/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

O’Bree brought great pressure and effort to the attacking half. She showed excellent technique with her tackling, winning a holding the ball free kick early with a brilliant tackle just inside 50, and later doing well to smother the ball in defensive 50. O’Bree consistently looked to get the ball moving forward, and while at times she threw it on the boot under pressure, her intent to gain territory was clear.

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

Stats: 18 disposals, 9 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Dennis was a fierce competitor all day, starting on-ball and bringing absolutely ferocious tackling pressure that saw her cling on to opponents and refuse to let go. She showed nice agility with a sidestep at half-forward and was involved in chains coming out of the middle. While she occasionally tried to do too much and was caught in tackles, she often managed to shuffle out a handball or win a free kick, continuing to work hard even when moved into defence in the third term.

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

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 14 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Garlick was consistent in a different role for the Pioneers, combining scoreboard impact with immense defensive pressure inside the forward 50 rather than the defensive one. She hit the scoreboard early in the second term after marking in the goalsquare, and later slotted her second from a 25m set shot after an intercept mark and a 50m penalty. Garlick’s work rate was exceptional, pushing up to stoppages, applying strong tackles, and showing clean hands off the deck to keep the ball moving for her side.

#9 Beth Morris
Midfielder/Defender | 167cm | 04/09/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 1 mark, 15 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

A massive tackling game from Morris, who started on-ball and was a constant presence at the coalface. She broke through a forward stoppage early to boot a rare goal that bounced home, setting the tone for her day. Morris stood tall in contests, provided quick hands out of traffic, and executed a crucial smother in defensive 50 to stop a certain goal. Her defensive efforts, highlighted by her 15 tackles, were instrumental in disrupting the Falcons’ flow.

#11 Mia Clark
Defender/Midfielder | 167cm | 05/04/2009

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 7 rebound 50s

Clark was a key distributor out of the back half, taking the bulk of the kickouts and looking to switch up angles to open the game. She worked incredibly hard up and down the ground, pushing up to the wing to help out and then dropping back to take intercept marks. When moved on-ball in the third term, Clark read the tap beautifully to win a great centre clearance and applied a huge tackle in defensive 50, showcasing her versatility.

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

Stats: 26 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 9 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s, 2 behinds

Nihill was the Pioneers’ most influential player, dominating the clearances and providing tremendous drive. She showed fantastic breakaway speed and lovely looping handballs out of stoppages, reading the taps to perfection. Nihill was always on the move, linking up well through the middle and displaying great defensive smarts to sweep up across half-back. Despite being winded heavily in the final term, she returned to win the last centre clearance of the day, capping off a superb performance.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Lacey Nihill (Bendigo Pioneers)

GEELONG FALCONS:

#9 Jemma Andrews
Midfielder/Forward | 181cm | 28/09/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 3 hitouts, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Starting on-ball, Andrews was a lively presence who hit the scoreboard early with a goal from the open goalsquare following a handball receive. She showed great vision in the second term, taking a strong intercept mark at half-forward and delivering a lovely deep kick to set up a goal. Andrews consistently gathered the ball out of the middle, used her agility to turn out of trouble, and spread well to the outside to provide a linking option.

#16 Ksenia Dear
Midfielder/Forward | 167cm | 05/08/2009

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Dear provided a strong body around the contest, showing phenomenal strength in one-on-one situations to win the ball off the deck and kick cleanly into the middle. She set up a goal inside 50 with quick hands and delivered a nice drilling pass down the middle that found a target right on the siren. Dear consistently managed to get her hands free or shuffle the ball out even when caught in two-person tackles, ensuring the ball kept moving forward. While cleaner hands at ground level are an improvement for the former Suns Academy member, Dear possesses some eye-catching traits.

#18 Marlie Collett
Wing | 169cm | 05/10/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Collett provided great run and carry, frequently clearing the ball down the ground from half-back. She pushed forward dangerously, earning a shot on goal after holding a mark and taking the ensuing 50m penalty to set up a score. Collett later broke through a tackle inside 50 to snap a terrific goal in the forward pocket. Her spacing across the ground and long kicking inside 50 were features of her outside game.

#23 Holly Confoy
Defender | 172cm | 06/04/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 2 marks, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 9 rebound 50s

Confoy was a rock in defence, tasked with the majority of the kickout duties and consistently going long to clear the danger area. She read the play well to intercept and clear from the defensive side of the wing, taking the ball at speed across half-back and thumping it down the line to contests. Her nine rebound 50s highlighted her importance in repelling the Pioneers’ attacks.

#24 Lexie Whatley
Ruck | 187cm | 24/08/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 5 tackles, 38 hitouts, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s

Whatley was dominant in the ruck, using her height advantage to control the hitouts with decisive taps down to her midfielders. Beyond her ruck work, she showed great ground-level ability for a player of her size, picking the ball up cleanly off the deck, firing out quick handballs, and applying strong tackling pressure. Whatley’s strength was evident as she frequently got handballs away while being tackled, adding a physical presence around the ground.

#25 Audrey Murnane
Forward | 175cm | 26/07/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 4 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Murnane was a key link player for the Falcons, starting forward before pushing up the ground to have an impact. She showed clean hands to pick up the ball on the run, thumping it inside 50 to set up a goal, and positioned herself perfectly to take a good mark that led to another scoring opportunity. Murnane held her line well on the wing, brought the ball to ground in one-on-one contests, and moved smoothly through congestion when shifted on-ball in the final term.

#27 Claudia Collins
Forward | 176cm | 26/05/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 4 hitouts, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

Collins was the most dangerous forward on the ground, booting three goals in a clinical display. She slammed home her first off the left boot with a quick look, added a second with a snap from deep inside 50, and kicked her third after using her body brilliantly to nudge her opponent under the ball for a mark 25m out. The Vic Country representative always looked like putting on a big score and could extract the ball from forward stoppages as well.

#29 Meyah Fursland
Defender | 175cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 rebound 50

Fursland was solid in defence, providing quick hands away under pressure and taking kickouts long to half-back. She showed clean pickups and shuffled handballs out effectively when tackled in the back pocket. Fursland looked to charge out of defence when the opportunity arose, taking an intercept mark and pushing the ball inside 50, while also displaying good hands through traffic on the wing.