TIAMA Collard produced a highly productive and balanced performance despite her side’s Round 16 loss to South Fremantle. Splitting her time between the forward line and the midfield, Collard was a constant threat, demonstrating her class, ball use, and work rate across four quarters. Her performance was the subject of our Player Focus for the competition.

>> AFLW DRAFT Q&A: Tiama Collard (Peel Thunder)

Tiama Collard
Club: Peel Thunder
Height: 164cm
DOB: 08/04/2009

STRENGTHS:

+ Ball use
+ Work rate
+ Clean hands
+ Defensive pressure
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

– Strength
– Decision making under pressure

ROUND 16: vs. South Fremantle

Statistics: 29 disposals (8 contested, 21 uncontested), 8 marks, 3 clearances, 3 tackles, 6 inside 50s

FIRST QUARTER

Collard began forward against Cienna Leslie and immediately showed her class. Early in the term, she executed a lovely clean pickup inside 50, spinning out of trouble and firing off a quick handball. Her forward craft was evident when she won a holding free kick, delivering a nice short pass before pushing deep into attack.

Her ability to read the play allowed her to mark in front on the wing, following up with a lovely, effective kick down the ground. She continued to be a rebounding force, taking a mark at half-back and delivering a pinpoint, slicing pass to the wing.

Even when under pressure, her intent was clear; a thump forward from a handball receive on the wing was just wide, but the right idea. She capped off a strong opening term by winning a free kick on the wing, initiating a one-two passage, and kicking effectively inside 50.

SECOND QUARTER

Collard maintained her momentum in the second term, showcasing her running capacity. An early handball receive saw her dish off quickly in transition while keeping her feet moving. Her agility was on display when she sidestepped out of traffic, kicking high to a contest in the middle.

She consistently found space, marking well in the middle of the ground and hitting a teammate with an effective pass, though the mark was dropped. Her clean hands were a feature, gathering smoothly and turning away from trouble on the wing.

Later in the quarter, she marked at centre half-forward and delivered a beautiful kick inside to Georgia Tait on the lead. A late move on-ball yielded immediate results, as she won a high free kick and executed a short, low and effective pass to a leading target.

THIRD QUARTER

Returning to the forward line for the third quarter, Collard experienced some mixed moments early. A kick off a step from half-back was intercepted by the Sharks in the centre, and she was shrugged off a little easily despite repeat pressure acts. Another long kick down the line to a one-on-one contest was picked off by a bigger opponent, and a hurried bomb off a step met a similar fate.

However, Collard quickly adjusted her decision-making. Receiving at half-back, she opted to look back and handball away rather than kicking long. She followed this up with a clean pickup and handball, before winning a receive and delivering a lovely kick inside 50 to a target in front.

Her work rate was immense; after having a kick intercepted, she won the ball back when it turned over, took a mark, took a bounce, and hit a short pass. Her defensive pressure in the final minute was outstanding, highlighted by strong tackling, and she finished the quarter with a neat, effective short kick from half-back.

FOURTH QUARTER

Starting forward once again, Collard had an early blemish when pinged for holding onto Mackenzie Webb at half-back. However, a move on-ball at the seven-minute mark sparked her final-quarter impact. Under pressure, she managed a nice, quick, effective kick, and later gathered in the middle, executing a one-two before kicking well off a step.

Her ability to draw free kicks was valuable, winning one for in the back and dishing off to the running Charlie Fletcher. Collard finished the game strongly, coming off half-forward and firing out a quick handball to advantage, capping off a prolific and well-rounded performance.

SUMMARY

For a player splitting her time between the forwardline and the midfield, it was a performance that showcased her immense talent. Collard looked at home throughout – her clean hands, the willingness to apply pressure, and the composure with the ball all pointing to a player who brings genuine quality.

The areas to develop are largely products of decision making under pressure, as seen in the third quarter, but she showed great maturity to adjust her game as the match wore on. Her 29 disposals at 72.4 per cent efficiency highlight her class and importance to the Peel Thunder side. If she continues to back her leg speed and take the extra time to dispose of the ball, then she will become more consistently damaging. An exciting talent for the future.