MURRAY Bushrangers solidified their place inside the top four Country spots with a dominant last three quarters to see off Tasmania Devils at Highgate Recreation Reserve. The first quarter shootout – which yielded seven goals and a seven-point lead to the Devils – would prove to be the exception to the rule, as the visitors kicked just two behinds after that, while the Bushrangers booted 5.9 to run out 8.10 (58) to 4.4 (28) victors in Round 18.

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye across both teams.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

#5 Eliza Roche
Forward | 165cm | 03/03/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 behind

The dynamic forward had a mixed bag of a day in the sense that she did a lot of things right and just missed out on getting the rewards through a few wayward finishing attempts. She worked up the ground, applied great defensive pressure, set up her teammates and caused all sorts of headaches by bursting clear and leaving opponents in her dust. Is normally a good finisher on goal, but was promising to see her apply everything else even when the scoreboard reward wasn’t going her way.

#6 Skylah McPherson
Forward/Midfielder | 169cm | 22/01/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 5 goals, 1 behind

The 169cm forward slammed home five goals in a best on ground performance, and unselfishly left a sixth on the table for it to bounce through for a teammate. McPherson’s performance was our Talent League Girls Player Focus for the week, and just about everything she touched turned to gold. Her most impactful game of the season given she rarely wasted a disposal and inflicted maximum damage.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Skylah McPherson (Murray Bushrangers)

#9 Carmela Perri
Midfielder | 168cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 28 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

It was another fierce performance from Perri who was unrelenting in her attack on the contest and opposition. Her defensive pressure is always red-hot and she extracts the ball consistently be it through first or second-possession football. The top-ager’s work rate to get to the outside is another big tick, with her athletic traits a real point of difference to go with her inside work. Her kicking is the knock, but she does most other things really well.

#24 Rose Bell
Defender | 170cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

It’s hard not to love what Bell does as a player, as the border-based Bushranger is a natural footballer. She reads the play exceptionally well, competes in the air, and has a penetrating and accurate boot. Each time Tasmania tried to poke holes in the defence, the great wall that was Bell continued to stand up. If she didn’t mark it, she was bringing the ball to ground, and not only defended well, but attacked effectively too. Got her hands dirty at ground level with some fierce tackles as well.

#30 Evie Henley
Midfielder/Defender | 173cm | 13/07/2009

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

A strong presence both around the contest and behind the ball, Henley supported both Perri and Bell with her stronger frame and was able to consistently get her hands free to dish off quick handballs or extract from the stoppages. Her strength overhead is another big tick, and she has shown this year she can play across all three lines. A really solid performance throughout the match.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

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

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Coming off a massive game the week before, Ward did not quite reach those heights, but was still clearly among the best Devils in the game, predominantly spending her time around the ball. She extracted it effectively, and was able to show off her quick hands under pressure. Her efficiency by foot was again a little hit and miss, largely due to the enormous pressure that the Bushrangers put on anyone with the pill. Continued to battle throughout the four quarters and was particularly impactful in the air, clunking a contested grab amongst her five marks.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 18 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

As fierce of a defensive performance as you’ll see, Bingham is not notably a high-volume ball-winner but she was either hanging onto the Sherrin or her opponent just about the entire time. Her 18 tackles were six more than any other player on the field, and considering it was not a muddy slogfest, to rack up that many tackles is very impressive. She is known for her ability to step through traffic and get the ball forward, but it was her hunt and chase that really stood out. Used the ball neatly by foot too.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 9 rebound 50s

The tough defender was at it again, providing a consistent performance even when under siege from the Bushrangers’ forward forays. She will battle in the air, and mop up off the deck, with Lyons usually tasked with the kickouts. Thanks to her booming kick and for half the game a blustery gale behind her back, Lyons was able to not only clear the danger, but quite often get it to the wing or into the centre. Takes the game on an has nice balance between her offensive and defensive traits.

#9 Luca Murgatroyd
Forward/Midfielder | 177cm | 01/04/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Using her size around the stoppages for some important midfield minutes in the absence of fellow bottom-ager Matilda Lange, Murgatroyd showed she can play any role required of her, winning a number of clearances and also bringing the defensive heat too. Her ability to free her arms in a tackle and dish off the handball proved important, and for 177cm, her on-field athleticism matches up with some of her eye-catching preseason testing results.

#14 Aliera Denholm
Forward | 155cm | 02/04/2011

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals, 1 behind

If you’re a 155cm triple bottom-ager playing in the Talent League, chances are you have off-the-charts ability. The 15-year-old Denholm made her debut with the Under 18s side and not only held her own, but was genuinely one of – if not the – best for the losing side. She provided the early spark with two first-quarter goals, one from a classy finish in the pocket, the other from a holding the ball free kick and set shot conversion. Always looking dangerous, Denholm had another highlight when clunking a contested mark over the top of an opponent who had at least 15 centimetres on her. She’s only small, but her highlight reel is going to be insane.