EASTERN Ranges and Calder Cannons enter their knockout quarter-final on the back of two of their most impressive performances of the season. The reigning premiers dismantled top-ranked metropolitan side Oakleigh by 57 points in Round 21, while the Cannons kicked seven consecutive goals through the middle of their match to defeat Murray Bushrangers by 35 points.

Eastern carries the stronger recent head-to-head form after defeating Calder by 41 points earlier this month, but that result was considerably tighter than the final margin suggests. The Cannons remained within 15 points at three-quarter time before the Ranges kicked four unanswered goals, leaving Calder with both a warning and evidence that it can remain competitive for long periods.

DETAILS

Eastern Ranges (#2 Metro) vs. Calder Cannons (#3 Metro)

Venue: Shepley Oval
Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 2:50pm

LAST TIME THEY MET

Eastern recovered from a quarter-time deficit to win 10.8 (68) to 4.3 (27) when the teams met at Highgate Recreation Reserve in Round 18. The Ranges kicked eight goals to two after the opening change, but only led by 15 points at three-quarter time before breaking the game open with four unanswered majors in the final term.

Emily Rankin was instrumental with 28 disposals, five marks, five tackles, five clearances, six inside 50s and a goal. Brylee Anderson accumulated 32 disposals, eight tackles and a goal after collecting 20 touches in the second half, while Scout Semple added 17 disposals and five clearances.

Eastern also generated plenty of drive from defence. Lara Williams had 17 disposals, four inside 50s and four rebound 50s, Maeve Gill took four marks from 15 disposals and Ellie Busch finished with 14 disposals, six tackles and four rebound 50s.

Calder’s younger players were among its leading contributors. Holly Clough worked hard between attack and midfield for 17 disposals, four tackles and three clearances, while Tilda Sinclair provided 18 disposals, five tackles and composure behind the ball. Victoria Goudy also showed promising signs with 19 disposals and four clearances despite being eligible for the 2028 AFLW Draft.

Both sides produced greater scoreboard impact in Round 21. Eastern defeated Oakleigh 12.5 (77) to 3.2 (20), with Anderson dominant around the contest and Adelaide Caldicott kicking four goals. Calder beat Murray 12.7 (79) to 7.4 (46), as its pressure and spread turned an even opening into a decisive seven-goal run.

TOP-AGERS TO WATCH

Anderson is Eastern’s leading draft prospect and enters the final in outstanding form. The powerful 173cm utility averages 25.1 disposals, 6.8 tackles, 3.7 clearances and almost a goal per game, and her ability to win the ball at the source before surging forward makes her difficult to contain. She had 30 disposals, nine clearances, eight inside 50s and two goals against Oakleigh and shapes as the player most capable of taking control of this contest.

Rankin provides a similarly influential presence while offering a different balance of traits. The Ranges captain averages 26.6 disposals, 7.1 tackles and more than five clearances and inside 50s, combining clean hands and sharp decision-making with an ability to hurt opponents when resting forward. Her consistency and leadership will be particularly important if Calder applies the early pressure it produced in the previous meeting.

Semple is another National Draft Combine invitee with genuine game-breaking ability. The midfielder-forward does not require a huge possession count to influence a match, using her power, evasiveness and two-sided disposal to create damaging moments through the middle or inside 50. She had 17 disposals and five clearances against Calder in Round 18 and will again look to drive the ball forward at every opportunity.

Adelaide Caldicott has become one of the most improved prospects in the draft pool. The 172cm forward averages 16.4 disposals, 4.9 marks, 4.9 tackles and 1.6 goals, playing taller than her height through strong hands, intelligent leading patterns and a willingness to compete once the ball reaches ground level. Her four-goal performance against Oakleigh underlined the challenge awaiting Calder’s defence.

Eastern’s State Combine representatives add quality in important roles. Bridie Neale provides hard running and balance on the wing, averaging 15.4 disposals, while Gill anchors the defensive unit with her positioning and aerial strength. Gill’s ability to restrict Bailee Martin last weekend was a significant factor in Eastern’s win and makes her likely matchup with Calder spearhead Chloe Bullen one to watch.

Chloe Bullen is Calder’s leading scoring threat after finishing the home-and-away season as a joint competition-leading goalkicker. The 170cm top-ager has kicked 22 majors from 14 appearances after moving from defence into attack, using her strength, powerful kick and improved forward craft to average 1.6 goals. Calder will need to create enough clean entries to give her opportunities against Eastern’s disciplined backline.

Lily Frangoulis is one of the Cannons’ most productive top-age ball-winners, averaging 16.1 disposals, 5.4 tackles and 2.9 inside 50s. The 152cm prospect brings speed, energy and X-factor, and her ability to win contested ball before accelerating into space gives Calder a player capable of disrupting Eastern’s more highly rated on-ball unit.

Charli Calleia and Chloe Capeci give Calder flexibility behind the ball and through the midfield. Calleia is a tough and competitive defender who can shift on-ball, while Capeci averages 17.9 disposals and 4.8 tackles and produced 27 touches in Round 20. Felicity Mahoney adds another composed option between the wing and defence, with her work rate important against Eastern’s capacity to spread from stoppage.

Eastern has six selected players invited to either the National or State Draft Combine, while Calder does not have a representative on the current lists. That difference reflects the Ranges’ top-age quality, though the Cannons’ improvement has been driven by a more even group and a younger core that has grown rapidly across the season.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Perri Goulding headlines Eastern’s 2009-born group and has been selected for the Marsh AFL National Futures program. The forward-midfielder averages 16.2 disposals, 6.7 tackles and 2.6 clearances, combining clean hands and smart forward craft with the contested game required to take on a larger midfield role next season. She had 20 disposals, seven tackles, six clearances and a goal against Oakleigh.

Fellow National Futures selection April Dye gives Eastern a developing ruck-forward option, while Alira Barnard-Rossely continues to build as a high-pressure forward-midfielder. Barnard-Rossely averages 15.9 disposals and kicked a goal from 22 touches last weekend, using her running to connect the midfield and forward lines.

Tillie Baldwin is another dual-position tall capable of influencing the ruck and scoreboard, as shown by her 16 hitouts and two goals in Round 21. Sophia Davey offers size and first-possession ability through the midfield, while the selected 2010-born group includes Camryn Rabie, who averages 14 disposals, 3.3 marks and 3.3 tackles.

Calder’s 2009 crop has driven much of its improvement. Clough and Elebertina Schuliga have both earned National Futures selection, with Clough offering a powerful 184cm presence through attack and midfield and Schuliga supplying explosive speed on the wing. Schuliga averages 13.7 disposals, 6.2 tackles and more than three inside 50s, making her pressure and metres gained equally important.

Renee Ford and Coco Balmain give the Cannons two more high-output bottom-agers. Ford averages 18.7 disposals, 8.3 tackles and 3.3 clearances and can be deployed around the ball or across half-forward. Balmain has been one of Calder’s most consistent performers, averaging 22.5 disposals and 7.6 tackles and finishing Round 21 with 21 touches, 11 tackles, seven inside 50s and a goal.

The Cannons also possess an exciting 2010-born trio. Goudy averages 19.5 disposals and produced a season-high 28 touches last weekend, Olivia Goldstein provides run and evasion between half-back and the wing and Marlo Atkins has shown clever leading patterns and natural forward craft. Their emergence gives Calder a group capable of influencing this final despite being two years from draft eligibility.

PREDICTION

Calder enters with confidence after consecutive high-scoring wins and has enough forward threats to challenge Eastern if it can maintain pressure around the contest. Bullen gives the Cannons a proven finisher, while Frangoulis and the bottom-age combination of Balmain, Ford and Schuliga can make the game uncomfortable. Calder remained within striking distance for three quarters in Round 18 and must reproduce that intensity without allowing another late breakaway.

Eastern, however, appears to be peaking at the right time. Anderson, Rankin and Semple give the Ranges a powerful and experienced midfield combination, Caldicott has emerged as a reliable marking target and the defence contains the intercepting and lockdown options to restrict Calder’s scoring. The Cannons should provide a stronger challenge than the previous margin suggests, but Eastern’s top-end talent, depth and finals experience should see the reigning premiers progress to the preliminary final.