FEW players would catch the eye in a 118-point defeat, but West Perth‘s Megan Norbury is one who bucks the trend. The 171cm winger only turned 16 last month, but has already impressed across her three games in what has been a pretty tough initiation for West Perth in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s. Hailing from Wanneroo Junior Football Club, Norbury has been a shining light on the wing, and is known for her eye-catching athletic traits, as well as her two-way running to help out the Falcons’ defence. Despite her side suffering a huge loss to Peel Thunder on the weekend, Norbury was an impressive standout for West Perth.

SEASON SO FAR

Averages: (3 games):

14.0 disposals
7.3 kicks
6.7 handballs
3.3 marks
5.7 tackles

ROUND 6:

East Fremantle 7.10 (52) defeated South Fremantle 2.2 (14)

Stats: 17 disposals (10 kicks, 7 handballs), 4 marks, 10 tackles

QUARTER-BY-QUARTER:

First Quarter

The speedy outside runner earned an early touch with quick hands in congestion through the midfield, to start her game off on the right note. In one of her plays of the game, Norbury worked hard back into defence to actually read the flight into the defensive 50 perfectly to mark in front of Kate Bartlett and burn her off running the other way. Her pressure in the opening term was red-hot, laying a number of great tackles, including a huge front-on-tackle to be a standout player despite the Falcons falling 45 points behind.

Second Quarter

Norbury’s first major touch was a handball under pressure in the back pocket, quickly giving it over to Jessica Roper but she was immediately tackled. The winger was a little overzealous with a tackle at the top of the defensive 50, giving away a head-high free kick, but kept working hard to get back defensively and assist. She had another fantastic play with a run-down tackle, but unfortunately the linkup kick to Roper in the back pocket missed the target and went out on the full. She also showed she could be slippery through traffic later in the term, but just could not control it as Peel slammed home five goals in the last eight minutes.

Third Quarter

Norbury started the third term with a strong mark in defence in the seventh minute, as the Falcons had a few more forward forays than in the first half. After marking she was quick to give off the handball, and then later won a free kick at half-back and pinpoint a pass to the wing. She showcased her fantastic speed moments later to collect the ball through an intercept possession at ground level and shovel it out to a teammate.

Fourth Quarter

In yet another show of her defensive pressure, Norbury laid a fierce tackle in the opening minute of the final term. She worked hard back into the defensive 50 to take a strong mark and then chip across the ground to a teammate midway through the quarter. She picked up a ball directed to her off a poor kick but she made it look good, scooping it up and then looked into the corridor. Though it was not perfect, it went to a dangerous spot.

Megan Norbury is an exciting, raw talent for the 2024 AFLW Draft. The West Perth prospect is one who catches the eye with her run and dare, and is a slippery player in congestion, with quick hands. Though she is still ironing out some composure at times, for an outside player her defensive pressure is top notch. Expect Norbury to be a talent to watch over the coming years.