GEELONG Falcons talent and National Academy member Greea McKeegan has always threatened to be that match-winning star, having produced consistent performances at a solidly high level over the past 18 months. However in what was her most impactful performance to-date, McKeegan slammed home four goals and aided in her side’s two others to quite literally single-handedly rip the four premiership points out of the Western Jets hands.

While her partner in crime, Vic Country MVP and AFLW U18s best and fairest Ava Bilyk put up video game numbers of 37 disposals, eight tackles, eight clearances, 10 inside 50s and five rebound 50s to be the constant throughout the match, it was McKeegan’s purple patch – which went for just over 13 minutes – that ultimately sealed the Talent League Girls Round 18 result.

BREAKDOWN

TIME PERIOD: Quarter 3, 18:43 – Quarter 4, 10:54
STATS: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 4 goals
SCORE BEFORE: Geelong Falcons 1.2 (8) – Western Jets 3.6 (24)
SCORE AFTER: Geelong Falcons 5.2 (32) – Western Jets 3.7 (25)

GOAL #1: Q3 18:43 | Geelong Falcons 2.2 (14) to Western Jets 3.6 (24)

McKeegan started on the wing where she had been playing throughout the game, but pushed forward and got deep in the goalsquare where her initial opponent Grace Hemsley Wooley had started to make up ground, but McKeegan’s speed got her deeper faster. It looked like the Jets were going to clear when Ruby Jones won it in the back pocket but her kick attempting to go to Hemsley Wooley tragically fell short and McKeegan gathered at the top of the goalsquare and slammed home a goal.

McKeegan would look to head back to the wing for the final minute, but was told to stay forward. It didn’t matter for the dying moments of the third term with the siren sounding not long after, but was foreshadowing of what was to come.

GOAL #2: Q4 2:34 | Geelong Falcons 3.2 (20) to Western Jets 3.6 (24)

McKeegan started forward on Jacinta Eteuati, and had a couple of almost chances deep inside 50 through first two minutes, but was quickly dragged down including one just five metres out. Her second goal would come through after just two and a half minutes after a brilliant gather 30 metres out. She shrugged off Eteuati with the would-be tackle and then had the composure to finish off a step with class.

GOAL #3: Q4 8:45 | Geelong Falcons 4.2 (26) to Western Jets 3.6 (24)

After winning a handball up on the wing in the fifth minute, McKeegan had a couple of genuine chances again for goal. She almost converted her third major in the sixth minute – working opponent Madison Donoghue under the ball before being wrapped up by Armani Mauriohooho as she turned towards goal – and then again a moment later when a high Bilyk kick to the goalline just slipped through her hands. She sidestepped an opponent and went to do it with a second but had been called back for going out of bounds.

McKeegan would not be denied though, because after winning a handball receive on the wing and kicking down the ground, she was the fastest to pounce on a loose ball, and was able to snap across her body before Mauriohooho – her latest opponent – could tackle her, and she was mobbed by teammates putting her side in front for the first time.

GOAL #4: Q4 10:54 | Geelong Falcons 5.2 (32) to Western Jets 3.6 (24)

Surprisingly in her whole four-goal purple patch, it was not until her last major that the aerial specialist McKeegan actually clunked a mark. She would take seven for the game, but her grab against Zara McIntosh out in front 15 metres out was the first in the 13-minute blitz. She read the play well to direct Isabel Long to put it to the hotspot where she marked despite being closely watched by McIntosh. McKeegan went back and duly delivered her fourth goal from six touches in a brilliant, match-winning performance.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

FINAL SCORE: Q4 14:59 | Geelong Falcons 6.2 (38) to Western Jets 3.7 (25)

The Falcons would kick the last goal of the game and keep the Jets goalless in the final term, with McKeegan indirectly involved. She gathered up on the wing, handballed away to a teammate then when it turned over a moment later, applied a smother which resulted in the ball darting down the other end and leading to an Olivia Bradshaw goal.

Incredibly, McKeegan was also directly involved in the Falcons’ only other goal of the third term – to Bilyk – firing off a handball to her running teammate who was pushed in the back. Her skipper converted from close-range, which started the run-home of six of the last seven goals of the match.

WHAT DID IT PROVE?

Greea McKeegan has always had the talent and looms as that potential first-round prospect given her footballing abilities combined with her athletic prowess. She has some ups and downs, but even outside her purple patch, McKeegan was really consistent off a wing throughout the Round 18 match.

She would finish with 29 disposals, seven marks, three tackles, two clearances, seven inside 50s and of course, four goals. Her second half was filled with 16 disposals, two marks and four goals, while her spread throughout the first half was equally important.

When not impacted by school football, Geelong Falcons have some talented top-age prospects with Bilyk and McKeegan leading the way. It is not often a 37-disposal performance can be overshadowed, but both Falcons showed their importance in their respective ways.