TASMANIA DEVILS proved too strong for Bendigo Pioneers in the Round 19 Talent League Girls contest, having 24 scoring shots to six in the victory at Shepley Oval. The Devils piled on 10 of those scoring shots in the first term, and while inaccuracy hurt, they booted 9.5 after quarter time to get more bang for buck, 12.12 (84) to 3.3 (21).

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye from both sides.

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#5/17 Georgia Garlick
Forward/Defender | 170cm | 01/07/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 hitout, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

The smooth-moving left-footer started in attack before being moved into defence in the second half. While her usual penetrating kick was a little wayward at times trying to go for distance, her hands under pressure and through traffic were very good. She was willing to do the team things such as apply a block in the second term enabling Nihill to burst forward, and kept popping up from time to time with great ferocity at ground level.

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

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 10 tackles, 1 rebound 50

The tenacious bottom-ager was predominantly around the ball while resting forward, and her typical high-level pressure was on show. Dennis’ contest to contest work to lock the ball up or cleanly dispose of it when at the stoppages was important, and while she did not win a heap of it, still contributed well and had a crack.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Morris started each quarter on-ball and tried to make her presence felt at the coalface, while also sliding back into defence and being a stronger, competitive body in the backline. She tended to throw the ball on the boot out of the defensive half, but was able to gain some important distance, and lay some fierce tackles to put similar pressure on the opposition when they tried to charge towards goal.

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

While the bulk of Nihill’s game was off half-back, she spent one centre bounce in the middle, but her best work was done between the arcs. She often won it at half-back and had no qualms about taking off, producing multiple bounces and releasing to teammates. On many occasions throughout the four quarters, the talented top-ager broke the defensive zones, drew opponents and allowed overlap play, with one such effort in the third term finally leading to an Eve Jukes major. Loves the freedom that comes with the role because her metres gained would be off the charts.

#35 Harper Delamare
Defender | 160cm | 26/10/2010

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

The double bottom-ager was handy in the defensive 50, being a neat option to clear the ball or find short, sharp passes back into the corridor. She tended to look for those little darts where a 15-20-metre pass could release a teammate to go. They didn’t always work out perfectly, but she complimented her drive from the backline with some nice aerial strength, and fantastic groundlevel defensive pressure.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

A crafty bottom-aged forward, McIntee just finds ways to get involved even when not winning a stack of the ball. She kicked two goals – one from getting goalside after a long kick in and then a similar spot up the other end to grab it in the goalsquare and fire it home. Setting up another chance in the second term and having some near misses early in the contest, McIntee is a threat at ground level but can present as a marking target too.

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

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

The National Academy member was busy throughout the game primarily in the midfield where she was able to boot the ball long to set up potential scoring chances inside 50. Her ability to hold a high line at half-forward when Devils has possession was important, and she even capitalised on a chance when in the pocket and turning to an open goalsquare. Another quick shot a quarter later went across the face, but Ward continued to remain busy in the front half of the ground and around the ball.

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

Stats: 30 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles, 8 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Starting forward and then rotating into the midfield, Lange just racked up the ball as if she was a full-time midfielder, and finished with an equal game-high clearance tally. She is constantly near-unstoppable when on the burst with her strength and ability to break tackles with a remarkable centre of gravity enabling her to really take the game on. That allows teammates to be freed up and she can begin scoring plays from there, and while at times she has to throw on the ball on the boot out of congestion, Lange can do so on either side of her body. Her sole goal came after intercepting from a dropped mark after a kickout and slamming it home in the last few seconds of the third term.

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 8 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Was the direct rotation for Lange where Bingham started on-ball then rotated forward, racking up the same amount of game-high eight clearances. She was strong both with and without the ball, breaking tackles and laying them just as fiercely. Her knack for using both sides of the body comes in handy, with the right-footer winning her fair share of the ball and putting pressure on the opposition defence. Set up a number of shots on goal for her teammates.

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

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

A player who is priming herself for a full-time midfield spot in 2027, the 177cm Murgatroyd is able to get the ball moving forward thanks to her extra reach compared to her opponents when it is bobbling in congestion. She kicked a couple of goals at either end of the match, with a strong mark at the top of the goalsquare late in the first term, and then an intercept at speed chopping off a pass to strike truly late in the fourth for the last goal of the match. Made the most of her limited touches with a high impact-per-possession game.

#13 Imogen Verdouw
Ruck | 182cm | 11/07/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 33 hitouts, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Had a field day through the ruck with 33 hitouts – Bendigo only had 18 total – as she and Lelanni Kikoak proved a handful for the undersized Pioneers’ ruck division. Verdouw did her best work at the stoppages with her taps getting first hands to it for the Devils, while she also took a couple of strong marks in the final term after dropping one under pressure earlier in the game. A long-term prospect with upside for the future.