WITH a Talent League Girls Grand Final spot up for grabs, Dandenong Stingrays’ top-ager Scarlett Marsh produced one of the most impact-per-possession quarters in the hottest of heats to provide her team with a blistering start in Saturday’s preliminary final.

The Stingrays booted 4.4 (28) to 0.2 (2) in the opening quarter against the Eastern Ranges in what was a mouthwatering grand final rematch. Twelve months earlier, the Ranges had claimed a maiden girls’ flag by taking care of the Stingrays, but at Shepley Oval, it was Dandenong’s time to shine.

Leading from the front was Marsh, who though her full match stats paint a picture of an impressive performance, it was her brilliant impact forward of centre to essentially put the reigning premiers on the back foot from the get-go and take advantage of the strong breeze in the Stingrays’ favour.

BREAKDOWN

TIME PERIOD: First Quarter
STATS: 6 disposals @ 100% disposal efficiency, 2 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 goals

Scarlett Marsh started on-ball and immediately won a clean handball out to release a teammate, effectively getting her hands on it and not being overawed by a star-studded Eastern on-ball group. The Vic Country representative was already busy directing traffic around the forward stoppage inside 50, but a split moment later, it would be her time to shine.

With Eastern winning the stoppage in heavy traffic, a dump kick came out in Marsh’s direction just inside 50. The number three sent the ball quickly towards the one-on-one in the goalsquare, but with the aid of the breeze, it bounced over hands and through for the game’s first goal just a minute into the game. A right-angled bounce stumped all those near the drop of the ball and had the home crowd up and about early.

Another effective handball off a forward stoppage not long after to get it out to Lily Brittain made it three effective disposals, before Marsh read the play like a picture book. As a teammate laid a fierce tackle on an Eastern defender, the rushed handball spilled out for the midfielder to intercept and then proactively charge forward and nail another brilliant goal on the run from 35 metres out.

While Marsh has kicked goals before, and had a really consistent season, it was like she has gone to another mode in the preliminary final. In the first eight minutes, Marsh had two goals from four disposals and was looking like the most damaging player on the field.

Her quarter was far from done though. When National Academy member Scout Semple tried to charge out of the centre stoppage following Marsh’s second major, guess who was there to produce a crucial smother? The absolute intent from the red-hot Marsh stopped the potential clearance from eventuating.

Her next disposal came in the 11th minute of the match, receiving a handball on the wing and delivering a pointed pass to half-forward. While it slipped through fingers, Dandenong retained possession and Marsh had her fifth effective disposal from as many touches.

A deft tap to intercept in the middle provided Indiana Busuttil the chance to charge away and kick deep inside 50, before Marsh’s defensive instincts rolled on later in the term. At a forward 50 stoppage, she laid a brilliant tackle on Brylee Anderson to force a rushed spill, then pounced on the loose ball and fired out an effective handball. That touch made it six from six effective disposals to go with her four clearances and two goals.

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

FINAL SCORE: Dandenong Stingrays 8.7 (55) def. Eastern Ranges 5.4 (34)

Incredibly, Marsh’s Purple Patch was not the only highlight of her match, in fact, her best highlight came right on the edge of half-time. Not content with a fortunate bounce or classy finish as goals, Marsh ramped up the difficulty and jaw-dropping nature of her scoreboard impact.

Against the breeze tucked up on the boundary from 25 metres out, the right-footer checksided a dribble under pressure, and the heavy numbers inside 50 could only watch on in awe as her perfectly weighted snap curled around the goal post and in. Fittingly, with 30 seconds left on the clock, she was mobbed my teammates as the Stingrays went 20 points clear at the main break, answering Eastern’s two second quarter goals.

Marsh finished the game with 21 disposals, two marks, five tackles, seven clearances, three inside 50s, two rebound 50s and three goals. The Stingrays are a really even team across the board, and Marsh is at the forefront of her sides’ draftees, with National Academy member and ruck Sophie White boasting the sole National Draft Combine invite, while Marsh, key forward Hannah Griffiths and key defender Gabrielle Mehrmann all headed to the State Draft Combine.

WHAT DID IT PROVE?

Scarlett Marsh has always been a naturally gifted player with her football IQ, skills and vision all very good. A dual-sided prospect, Marsh is not afraid to use her opposite left if the occasion calls, and sometimes looks even too comfortable in doing it compared to many of her peers.

While her trusty right is far more damaging, the defender-turned-midfielder has settled into life around the ball, and while she is not a big body compared to other inside ball-winners, she knows where to run and get to in order to find the pill and get it moving quickly in transition.

Her stoppage craft and offensive run is complemented by her defensive characteristics, and while she has been known to occasionally hit the scoreboard – four goals in 12 games prior to the preliminary final – her three goals in a half unlocked another side to her ability.

Some clubs might have knocks on her size/strength to be an inside midfielder, and others tend to view her as a really good all-rounder without one standout trait. However when up and going, her kicking can absolutely be a weapon, and her knack for being deployed in just about any role on the field is another big tick.