OAKLEIGH Chargers were humbled by 57 points against Eastern Ranges in Round 21, but the top-ranked metropolitan side responded in the perfect fashion, storming past Western Jets by 60 points in the quarter final to book this preliminary final. Murray Bushrangers took the harder road, grinding out a four-point win over Tasmania Devils on the road to reach back-to-back preliminary finals.

The gulf in scoring power looms as the biggest storyline. Oakleigh boasts six Draft Combine invitees and a pick on contender in forward Bailee Martin, while Murray leans on contested ball and defensive pressure through Carmela Perri and its bottom-age brigade to try and drag the Chargers into an arm-wrestle.

DETAILS

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Murray Bushrangers

Venue: Shepley Oval
Date: Saturday, September 5
Time: 1:10pm

LAST TIME THEY MET

Oakleigh produced a commanding 64-point win over Murray in Round 9, saluting 11.8 (74) to 1.4 (10) at Wangaratta despite both sides missing key players. Perri kicked the game’s first goal three minutes in, but the Chargers scored everything else that followed.

Isabella Mazzei was best afield with 29 disposals, nine tackles and five clearances, while Molly Phillips racked up a game-high 31 disposals in that high half-forward role. Ruby Douglas added 19 disposals and six clearances, Leni Lockyer was influential from defence with 22 disposals and four rebound 50s, and Scarlett Bown booted three goals. Debutants also made their mark, with Polly Provan kicking three goals and Katie Kim adding two in first-up performances.

Murray was competitive without troubling the scoreboard. Carmela Perri was one of the best afield across both sides with 23 disposals, 11 tackles and a goal, while Eliza Roche worked hard for 18 disposals and Skylah McPherson laid 12 tackles despite a quiet night on the scoreboard. Constance Dodd was steady in defence with 11 disposals and two marks.

TOP-AGERS TO WATCH

Oakleigh’s six Combine invitees headline the competition’s most talented top-age crop. Mazzei is averaging 23.6 disposals and 6.7 tackles and returned from a round out to produce 23 disposals and four clearances against Western Jets. Zoe Curry averages 22 disposals and 4.0 tackles and continues to cover the ground well after her own stint on the sidelines, while Sophia Green has been a rock across defence and the midfield, averaging 19.4 disposals and 5.1 tackles. It will be an unusual match for Green, who represented Murray last season.

Bailee Martin is the standout forward, averaging 2.5 goals a game and producing a stunning six-goal haul against Western Jets after a quiet three quarters. State Combine pair Isabelle Godfrey and Lockyer add class beyond the headline names, with Godfrey’s 17.8 disposals and dual-sport athleticism giving Oakleigh drive off the wing, while Lockyer’s kicking out of defence, averaging 4.3 rebound 50s, has been a weapon all season.

Phillips is the standout non-Combine top-ager, leading the entire Oakleigh list with 23.2 disposals a game through her high half-forward running role, and Philpin offers further midfield-defensive class, averaging 12.4 disposals and 4.1 tackles.

Murray’s Combine representation thins out once selection is factored in. Carmela Perri is having an outstanding season, averaging 27.5 disposals and 9.3 tackles, and continued that form with 23 disposals and a goal against Tasmania. Eliza Roche provides X-factor up forward, averaging 16 disposals and 6.2 tackles, and produced a stunning goal from the boundary against Tasmania. Fellow State Combine invitee Rose Bell has been a damaging intercept defender all year, averaging 16.6 disposals and 5.6 rebound 50s. National Combine forward Majella Day hasn’t played with the Bushrangers this year, leaving Perri, Roche and Bell to carry Murray’s class into the final.

Elsewhere, Constance Dodd, Penelope Bruce and Lauren Jewitt add further experience through Murray’s back half, with Bruce’s 13.0 disposals and 2.8 clearances a game giving the Bushrangers another contested option, while Nikkita Nixon offers an aerial presence, averaging 10.7 disposals and 2.5 marks.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Oakleigh’s bottom-age crop is arguably its greatest strength heading toward 2027. Cleo Barbakas has developed into a genuine ruck prospect, averaging 15.5 disposals, 13.9 hitouts and 1.2 goals, and kicked back-to-back goals in the final term against Western Jets. Bown offers a strong marking target up forward, averaging 14.2 disposals, 3.9 marks and 1.3 goals, while Lily Parker is a classy user of the ball out of defence, averaging 15.4 disposals.

Douglas and Grace Sharkie add further depth, with Douglas averaging 14.5 disposals and 5.5 tackles through the midfield, while Sharkie has been one of the competition’s most durable bottom-agers, averaging 12.9 disposals across 15 games.

Murray’s future group is headlined by Charlie Gibson, who is averaging 21.7 disposals, 4.2 marks and 3.9 tackles across the midfield and defence, and produced 15 disposals and four rebound 50s against Tasmania. Evie Henley has been prolific through the midfield, averaging 22.8 disposals and 6.8 tackles, and kicked a nice goal out of nothing against Tasmania, while Crystal Holdsworth continues to build her case as one to watch for 2027, averaging 13.0 disposals from half-back.

Ebony Chapman rounds out the group as a hard-nosed contributor, averaging 8.5 disposals and 4.5 tackles a game.

PREDICTION

Oakleigh’s class and scoring power make it the clear favourite. The Chargers boast six Combine invitees to the three Murray can field in Perri, Roche and Bell, own a genuine forwardline spearheaded by Martin and Bown, and have a ruck advantage through Barbakas. The 64-point Round 9 result and the manner of the 60-point quarter final win over Western Jets both point to a side peaking at the right time.

Murray’s pressure game through Perri and Gibson gives it a puncher’s chance of making this a contest, and the Bushrangers have proven they can grind out finals football having done exactly that against Tasmania. But without the scoreboard impact to match Oakleigh’s forward options, and facing a Chargers side that has beaten it by double-digit margins on both occasions this season. Expect Oakleigh Chargers to progress through to the grand final.