TASMANIA Devils secured the all-important 12-point win over Calder Cannons down on the Apple Isle with some key AFLW Draft prospects putting in huge shifts. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye in the 5.9 (39) to 3.9 (27) result with not much between the two sides.

All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#1 Georgia McIntee
Forward | 163cm | 11/07/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

One of those bottom-age players who just keeps popping up and doing a lot of nice things, McIntee has some draftable qualities. Though only small, she is clean above her head, reads the play well and has some smart leading patterns. While she didn’t kick a goal herself – only kicking the one behind – she set up numerous scoring chances for her teammates with her vision to spot out little gaps in the attacking 50 very impressive.

#2 Evie Ward
Midfielder/Defender | 172cm | 29/10/2008

Stats: 34 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 8 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

An enormous game from the Devils’ skipper who was the subject of our Talent League Girls Player Focus for Round 17. She was huge at stoppages, linking up well by hand or just clearing the immediate area with a quick kick here or there, and even helped behind the ball too. She kicked an early goal and almost kicked a second in the final minute of the game, finishing as a clear best on ground in the win.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Evie Ward (Tasmania Devils)

#6 Matilda Lange
Midfielder | 170cm | 30/01/2009

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 12 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 behinds

After some enormous disposal tallies this year, Lange played a greater first-possession role with the likes of Ward and Bingham adding more additional power around the stoppages. The bulk of Lange’s touches came from the coalface with a ridiculous 12 clearances, usually breaking clear or firing out a quick handball to release a teammate. She still had her chances on goal with a couple of behinds, and when you have the kind of statline she had and it’s more of a typical performance rather than out of the box, it tells you all you need to know about her quality.

#7 Evie Bingham
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 16/06/2008

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

It was a mixed start for the National Academy member with some rushed plays and dropping a mark she should have taken in the open 25 minutes. However once she got into the game more, Bingham had a number of valuable contributions, including not taking possession in the air under pressure to tap to McIntee in space, and then also using her slick sidestep to kick inside 50 to the hotspot during the fourth term. Showed she can use both sides of her body and while not the finished prospect, has some exciting traits.

#8 Olivia Lyons
Defender | 174cm | 20/07/2009

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

As competitive and combatant as you’ll see, Lyons continued her really consistent bottom-age season. Against the Cannons she was tasked with the kickouts and usually on the last line defending at all costs, and has the ability to play on talls and smalls. While Lyons has spent time in each third of the ground this season, she was most needed behind the ball, and with her strong tackling pressure, one-on-one ability and penetrating kick, she was able to gain some valuable metres from deep in defence and just make life difficult for the opposition in general.

CALDER CANNONS:

#1 Charli Calleia
Defender | 169cm | 28/10/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Tried her heart out in the back 50 and continued to battle on, and while her execution let her down by foot, was just a fierce competitor who threw herself at everything. Racking up a team-high eight hardball gets – phenomenal for a deep defender – Calleia refused to let her opponent win contests, and while sometimes her quick kicks out of the defensive 50 resulted in it coming back, she defended for her life and saved a goal under immense pressure on the goalline.

#4 Chloe Capeci
Wing | 167cm | 16/12/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Running hard off a wing all day, Capeci covered the ground well and was able to push in to the contest and be an outlet option for her teammates. She applied plenty of strong tackles, locking the ball up and even winning a free kick at one point. Like Calleia, nothing was easy with the Tasmanian defensive setup propelling the ball back from where it came, but she continued to battle on for four quarters.

#10 Coco Balmain
Midfielder | 175cm | 01/01/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 behind

Balmain has built some great form as a bottom-ager this season, and again on-ball throughout the match, Balmain had some crucial touches. She naturally applies great defensive pressure, but is a two-way prospect who can also start attacking plays as well. Her best moment came to start the third term where she won a free kick going head-to-head with Lange, kicked inside 50 then pushed forward to win it back and take a shot on goal that was touched in the goalsquare. Showed clean and quick hands and was the most prominent Calder midfielder.

#22 Felicity Mahoney
Midfielder | 175cm | 30/07/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The father-daughter prospect for Collingwood, Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs – dad Josh – is a good size and can play just about any role. She was stationed around the ball for the most part, and while not winning a clearance, still competed really well. Her hands are her greatest attribute as she can flick off quick handballs under pressure and constantly gets the ball out of congestion. However she was particularly heavily weighted to her hands over kicking it clear. Has some good foundational traits though.

#37 Olivia Goldstein
Wing | 171cm | 18/11/2010

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

Can’t recall too many times that her dad Todd burst out of defence taking multiple bounces along the wing and looked to sidestep smaller opponents, but the North Melbourne father-daughter prospect has that in her repertoire. She loves to run and gun, is a good size for a wing or can play off half-back, and does her best work with grass in front of her. Even if she runs herself into trouble can link up with teammates running in transition. Has her ups and downs, but there’s natural talent there.

#40 Victoria Goudy
Midfielder | 173cm | 14/01/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Another double bottom-ager who is carving out a handy debut season for the Cannons. Goudy has really locked in to a midfield spot and at 173cm with potential growth to come, there is plenty to like. She knows where to find the ball, be it running forward or dropping back, and she is not afraid to work in traffic. Her defensive pressure was very good and like most she has areas to work on with her final execution at times but has a long kick that will certainly help in the coming years.