OAKLEIGH Chargers took control in the second and fourth quarters to pile on 11 goals to nil in those quarters to do all the damage against the Western Jets in a 10-goal victory. The other two quarters were fairly even, but headlined by a six-goal haul to Bailee Martin – four in the final term – the Chargers stormed to a 13.3 (81) to 3.3 (21) win.

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye in the match.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#3 Cleo Barbakas
Ruck/Forward | 182cm | 07/01/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 tackles, 9 hitouts, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

The bottom-aged ruck had her work cut out for her against Kuol, going in undersized, but was more than capable when able to get a leap at it. Her hitout numbers were naturally low for a number one ruck, but her best work came at ground level with her follow-up work, or where she could position herself effectively around the ball. Hit the scoreboard with back-to-back goals later in the fourth term, filling her boots alongside Martin.

#5 Isabelle Godfrey
Wing | 162cm | 11/08/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

One of the most lively throughout the match, Godfrey ran hard all day and overcame a slow first term to be involved in just about everything. She took multi-bounce runs, had high metres gained, and always looked inside if there was an option there. Improving her efficiency by foot when at speed, Godfrey is building great form coming into the pointy end of the season, with the dual-sport basketballer getting better with each coming week. Her run and carry combined with her dancing feet are huge pluses.

#11 Isabella Mazzei
Midfielder | 169cm | 06/06/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Returning to the side after missing the final round of the regular season, Mazzei was industrious across the four quarters, producing a solid performance for the Chargers. She shared the work around the clearances, was fierce in her tackling prowess, and looked to pump the ball inside 50. Mazzei had plenty of eye-catching battles – such as trading holding the ball decisions with Vic Metro teammate, Addison West. Ready for a big preliminary final.

#13 Zoe Curry
Midfielder | 172cm | 09/10/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Curry got back in Oakleigh colours after time on the sidelines and had a big start for spending more time resting towards the end. She cracked in hard across the course of the game, never giving her opposition an easy way out, and when having the ball in her possession, still cleared it with clean hands. She covered the ground well, used her penetrating kick to advantage, and while her efficiency was hit-and-miss, she still played a crucial role in the win.

#17 Scarlett Bown
Tall Forward | 179cm | 22/09/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 3 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Enjoying Martin being back in the side to be the second banana in the forwardline, Bown works up the ground to be a marking target to then use her skills to put the ball into dangerous spots. She might not have hit the scoreboard, but always looked dangerous, and each time she got front position, looked like winning it. Had a great battle with Jacinta Eteuati at different points, and was not afraid to fly for marks.

#18 Bailee Martin
Tall Forward | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 1 inside 50, 6 goals

Incredible to think that Martin booted six goals and realistically could have done better, dropping a couple of uncharacteristic marks and relatively being contained as best as anyone can for three quarters. Once the dam wall broke, the defensive pressure up the field wore off, and Martin got front position in the one-on-ones, it was all over. She clunked marks on the lead, worked her opponent under the ball when the kick went over the top, and booted four last quarter goals, including two in the last two minutes to really fill her boots.

#19 Lily Parker
Defender | 170cm | 21/12/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

One of those players who does not need a lot of touches to make an impact, Parker is such a lovely ball user, with not just her decision making, but her penetration and weighting. Wheeling onto that trusty left, she takes the game on and can spear absolute bullet passes downfield, and is one of those players who teammates love to get the ball in her hands. On more than a few occasions she hit a pass to quite often an outnumber, but her precision was outstanding to hit her teammate perfectly.

#31 Sophia Green
Defender | 170cm | 22/11/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Worked hard in the defensive 50 with a couple of teammates going down with injury and having to carry the load, though fortunately towards the end, the ball was up the other end of the ground. Green got proactive, pushed up the field, used both sides of her body and naturally brought the pressure that she so often does. Most of her work was done in the defensive 50, and though she can be a little rough off the opposite left at times, does not think twice about using it which is a valuable asset.

#36 Molly Phillips
Forward | 165cm | 01/10/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

No one can ever deny Phillips’ work rate, with the top-ager boasting one of the best endurance bases in the talent league. She plays that high half-forward role exceptionally well, and just gets into space, burning off opponents through her repeat running. She is not the most polished, and while only credited with the one tackle, that was largely because Oakleigh had more of the ball and were able to use Phillips as an outlet on the outside. Kicked a nice goal under pressure out of nothing midway through the second term which was great reward for effort.

WESTERN JETS:

#1 Charli Parsons-Jones
Midfielder/Forward | 167cm | 02/10/2009

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-aged left-footer works hard and puts her body on the line consistently, while bringing fantastic defensive heat to the contest. She can be a little erratic with her work under pressure, but she continues to pump the ball forward, boasting quick hands and an ability to get he ball to boot effectively. Strong overhead for her size, she clunked a nice mark in the first term inside 50 with great positioning, and though her set shot fell short, was soccered home anyway.

#2 Addison West
Midfielder | 167cm | 16/05/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

Coming off a couple of big weeks, West had a quieter outing, but was also hampered by cramp during the second half. She played out the game and was still able to get her hands on the ball, but was largely used in a quick hands out of a stoppage capacity. Her set shot in the fourth term didn’t strike right and it fell short – fortunately marked by D’Ambrosio – and while she has had bigger games, still battled hard and was tough against the momentum.

#4 Ruby Jones
Wing | 172cm | 02/03/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s

Ran all day and provided a target on the outside, overcoming a slow first half of just five touches to finish with 15 and get involved in everything throughout the second half. Her seven-disposal third term was particularly of note, with her ability to pressure the opposition and look for the one-two’s around the contest, and then burst into space. She sometimes was overzealous with her tackling, but she positioned herself well and intercepted on a number of occasions.

#5 Tayla Olivieri
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 14/02/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Spent the bulk of her time on-ball then went forward in the last term where she provided pressure at ground level. Unfortunately it was one-way traffic for the last 10 minutes, but Olivieri is one of those players who will fight tooth-and-nail until the final siren with her heart on her sleeve. Her elite defensive pressure was one show, and her clean hands out of the stoppage a feature, with one of her more consistent games to finish off her year. Undersized compared to some of the Oakleigh midfielder, but fought the good fight.

#7 Jacinta Eteuati
Defender | 169cm | 27/05/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

One of the most prolific interceptors going around, the bulk of Eteuati’s touches come from either marks at half-back, or mopping up in the defensive 50. She gets front position time and time again, and while not overly strong compared to some opponents, has a nice leap and usually times her jump so well. She was unlucky to give up a goal for a dangerous tackle early in the game, but got on with it and provided consistent rebound out of the back half against the flow.

#17 Alana D’Ambrosio
Forward | 159cm | 09/10/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds

The bottom-ager finished off her 2026 campaign well, with her damaging left-foot wreaking havoc at times. Strong in one-on-one contests once she had the right position, the sub-160cm talent nailed an early goal of which the passage started with her mark on the defensive side of the wing. That ability to dart forward and then find space to receive it again two disposals later was critical, and she should have kicked another when marking a West set shot that fell short, but could not get it to bend enough from her preferred pocket. Had some outstanding passes up the field as well.

#42 Aluk Kuol
Ruck | 191cm | 10/07/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 28 hitouts, 6 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

It is incredible to think how much development Kuol has completed in the last month, with her form since returning from Vic Metro seemingly getting better and better. The last fortnight of her top-age campaign was fantastic, and she really got involved against a quality opponent in Barbakas. Gone are the days of just winning a hitout, she is winning it between the arcs in transition and then also applying pressure at ground level to win free kicks in situations outside the ruck contest. Her draft stocks would be growing given her size and rapid development.