DANDENONG Stingrays enter the Talent League Girls finals as the unbeaten benchmark, but Geelong Falcons should arrive at Shepley Oval with renewed confidence after producing one of their best performances of the season to secure fourth place in the Country/Tasmania conference. The Stingrays completed their campaign with a 13-1-0 record without suffering a loss, while the Falcons booked their finals berth by defeating Tasmania by 37 points in Round 21.

The contrast makes for an intriguing knockout contest. Dandenong has greater depth across the ground, a powerful ruck division and several dangerous goalkickers, while Geelong possesses two high-end 2026 draft prospects and an emerging bottom-age group capable of making the game more competitive than the teams’ previous meeting.

DETAILS

Dandenong Stingrays (#1 Country) vs. Geelong Falcons (#4 Country)

Venue: Shepley Oval
Date: Saturday, August 29
Time: 10:30am

LAST TIME THEY MET

Dandenong was far too strong when the sides met in Round 12, winning 12.9 (81) to 3.5 (23). The Stingrays broke the match open with five unanswered goals in the third term, although Ava Bilyk was arguably best afield for Geelong with 33 disposals, five marks, eight tackles, nine clearances, 10 inside 50s and four rebound 50s.

The Stingrays had contributors everywhere. Molly Reimers won 28 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances, Lily Brittain kicked four goals from 19 touches and Zoe Zach finished with 25 disposals, five tackles and four clearances. Ella Bologa also provided 21 disposals and eight rebound 50s, while Annie Clish and Shiloh Little made their presence felt inside 50 and in the ruck respectively.

Geelong will take encouragement from its latest outing, when it defeated Tasmania 9.6 (60) to 3.5 (23). Bilyk again led the midfield with 22 disposals, six tackles and seven clearances, while the Falcons’ younger brigade supplied significant support. Dandenong was less convincing in Round 21, establishing a 29-point half-time lead against Sandringham before going scoreless after the main break and holding on by two points.

TOP-AGERS TO WATCH

Dandenong’s National Combine representative is Sophie White, an athletic 184cm ruck who can take control at stoppage. White averages 18.9 hitouts this season and demonstrated her dominance with 43 against Tasmania in Round 20. Her early bodywork, reach and athleticism make her difficult to counter, and Dandenong will look to capitalise if she can give its midfielders first use.

State Combine invitee Scarlett Marsh is one of the Stingrays’ most consistent performers. The defender-midfielder averages 19.9 disposals and 4.3 tackles and is valuable for her decision-making, clean kicking and ability to compete both aerially and at ground level. Marsh’s versatility allows Dandenong to use her at the contest or behind the ball depending on the state of the game.

The Stingrays’ other State Combine invitees are Gabrielle Mehrmann and Hannah Griffiths. Mehrmann is a versatile 180cm key-position prospect who can help in defence, the ruck and around the ground, while Griffiths is a physical 181cm tall who supplies pressure, secondary ruck minutes and scoreboard impact. Griffiths has averaged 5.3 tackles and kicked nine goals from 12 games, giving Dandenong another player capable of influencing the game without needing a large possession count.

Bilyk is the standout prospect in the match and shapes as an early selection in the 2026 AFLW Draft. The Falcons captain won Vic Country’s MVP and averages 27.4 disposals, 6.9 tackles and more than six clearances for Geelong. Her ability to read the ball off hands, win first possession and work from contest to contest will be central to the Falcons’ hopes of matching Dandenong around the ball.

Fellow National Combine invitee Greea McKeegan gives Geelong a different type of draft prospect. The 176cm forward-wing has aerial strength, endurance and a penetrating kick, while her ability to play through several roles adds to her appeal. McKeegan averages 21 disposals, five marks, 7.5 tackles and 1.1 goals and enters the final in strong form after collecting 17 disposals, six marks and seven tackles against Tasmania.

Meyah Fursland rounds out Geelong’s Combine group. The 175cm defender is a strong competitor with intercepting ability and a long kick, traits that will be important against Dandenong’s varied forward line. She averages 11 disposals and 4.4 tackles and will need to remain composed when the Stingrays lock the ball in their front half.

White’s ruck battle with Lexie Whatley could shape the supply at ground level, but the most important contest is likely to be Geelong’s midfield against Dandenong’s collective depth. Bilyk is capable of winning the individual battle even when her side is beaten, yet the Falcons must prevent the Stingrays from spreading the load through Reimers, Marsh, Zach and Evi Irving.

FUTURE PROSPECTS:

Dandenong’s 2009 crop gives the top seed considerable class. Brittain can play through the midfield, on a wing or forward and combines quick hands with sharp football intelligence. She averages 16.1 disposals and has kicked 11 goals, including four against Geelong in Round 12. Clish has been one of the competition’s most dangerous forwards, kicking 22 goals in 13 games, while Bologa’s composure, vision and willingness to attack difficult kicks make her a damaging rebounding defender.

Little adds a genuine 184cm ruck prospect and produced 23 hitouts in the previous meeting. Her development outside the stoppage will be important, but she has already shown an ability to dominate the aerial battle and gives the Stingrays another option should White spend time forward.

Among the 2010-born Stingrays, Shae Anderson is already showing clean hands and natural finishing ability. She kicked two goals from 16 disposals against Sandringham and is named on Dandenong’s extended interchange for this final.

Geelong’s future group is just as interesting. Ksenia Dear has averaged 19 disposals and seven tackles as a hard-working 2009-born midfielder, while the 181cm Jemma Andrews provides size, strength and first-possession ability at stoppage. Andrews finished with 18 disposals, four tackles and five clearances against Tasmania and should again provide important support for Bilyk.

The 185cm Ella Condon is a key defender with strong hands and sound reading of the play, and Holly Confoy can intercept behind the ball or step into the midfield. Both were influential in Geelong’s Round 21 win, with Condon taking seven marks and Confoy collecting 21 disposals, six marks and five tackles.

The Falcons also have a dangerous scoring option in Claudia Collins, who kicked four goals from seven scoring shots against Tasmania and averages 1.7 goals across seven appearances. Her movement and finishing offer Geelong a potential avenue to goal, although she will face a much sterner defensive unit this weekend.

Of the 2010-born players, Emilia Evans stands out for her contested work and pressure, averaging 14.1 disposals and 8.6 tackles. She had 18 disposals, 15 tackles and six clearances in the last meeting with Dandenong, and that willingness to defend repeatedly could prove vital if the Falcons are placed under sustained pressure.

PREDICTION

Geelong enters with confidence and has enough midfield quality to challenge Dandenong for periods. Bilyk, McKeegan and the Falcons’ emerging 2009 group should ensure the contest is tighter than the 58-point result in Round 12, particularly if Whatley can limit White’s influence and Collins provides a reliable target inside 50.

Dandenong, however, has been the competition’s most consistent side and owns advantages in depth, ruck flexibility and forward-half variety. Even if Geelong contains one avenue to goal, the Stingrays can turn to Clish, Brittain, Griffiths and their fleet of forwards. The late fadeout against Sandringham offers the Falcons a glimmer of hope, but Dandenong should respond at home and progress to the preliminary final.