MURRAY Bushrangers has made back-to-back preliminary finals after knocking off second seeded Country side Tasmania Devils on the Apple Isle by four points. In a nail-biting contest, the Bushrangers booted four goals to one in the second half – and six goals to two after quarter time – to secure the 6.3 (39) to 5.5 (35) result, stamping their ticket into the Talent League Girls preliminary finals.

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye across the two sides.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The Devils skipper is always going to bring energy and effort around the contest, which she did on the knockout stage. Ward’s repeat efforts and overall athletic profile help her impact in multiple thirds of the ground, and while still being able to tidy up her polish, impacts games in a multitude of ways. Ward had a couple of chances on goal that did not quite get the needed penetration, while also getting back to help behind the ball, applying pressure across the ground, and linking up with teammates in transition. A solid finish to a consistent year for the National Academy member.

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

Stats: 33 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 8 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

Incredible to think that Lange had a couple of late chances to almost drag her side over the line, and while they missed – under immense pressure – the amount of work she does week-in, week-out more than makes up for it. Her ability to create something out of nothing, shrug tackles, pump the ball forward to dangerous spots and work back to assist the defence, is terrific. She takes the game on and can use either side of her body. Can’t imagine there’s any arguments for Lange being the pick one favourite next year.

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

Stats: 18 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Bingham is one of those players who shows enough to suggest her development at another level could see her take her game up a notch again. Her athletic base and power helps her get out of tight spaces, she can use both sides of her body, and her defensive pressure and competitiveness really stands out across the board. Can do some fancy things at times, but loves a good spin out of trouble and then creating her own space to dispose of it quickly.

#13 Imogen Verdouw
Ruck | 182cm | 11/07/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 44 hitouts, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-age ruck saved her best performance until last with a dominant performance around the contest. She had the height advantage in her duels, and racked up 44 hitouts in the game. Verdouw has always had a nice vertical leap, but it was promising to see her have more of a say around the ground, laying tackles, getting involved in transition and even presenting as a marking target. A big preseason and further development has her in a good spot for next season.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

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

Stats: 13 disposals, 11 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

The dynamic left-footer can be an enigma at times with her unpredictability and incredible goal sense. If there was a car on offer for Goal of the Year, Roche may well have taken it home in the third term with her incredible major from the wrong side for a left footer. Tucked up against the boundary in the 17th minute, Roche made it work with an incredible finish. Her elite defensive pressure and side-to-side movement make her a nightmare for most opponents.

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

Stats: 31 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Ever industrious, Perri cracked in and provided the resistance time and time again with either fierce tackling or implied pressure, while working into space to keep the ball moving in transition. Her best work is done in close, but she has that point of difference in her fast first few steps which help her also run into space to be an option. Won some important clearances and also linked up by hand off half-back to usually start forward forays.

#10 Charlie Gibson
Midfielder/Defender | 171cm | 14/05/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

The talented bottom-ager started on-ball then drifted back to help out behind the ball. While she was caught holding the ball a couple of times, Gibson did well when finding space, having the smarts to position herself into the right areas, and take some relieving marks. Promising signs from the Vic Country representative who has the capacity to play across all three lines.

#17 Crystal Holdsworth
Defender/Midfielder | 169cm | 18/06/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Competed well at half-back and continued her trajectory as a bottom-ager to watch. Holdsworth did not need a lot of touches to make her presence felt, taking a number of marks and then looking to distribute from there. She rotated on-ball in the fourth term and applied pressure all across the ground. Has upside for 2027, and at least one more game to show those signs in 2026.

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

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 goal

The Allies-tied talent was fierce around the ball and strong both in the air and at ground level. She is a player who knows how to hit the scoreboard, booting a nice goal out of nothing inside 50 during the second term. Henley’s bread and butter is extracting the ball from the coalface, but she is not afraid to take the game on as well, with the 173cm bottom-ager tough to bring down in a tackle and most importantly, hardly ever looks rushed with ball in hand.