NORTH MELBOURNE’s ruck Elizabeth McGrath has had a great season in the VFLW, and has been one of the shining lights for the Roos in what has been at times a tough season for them.

Her efforts last weekend against Carlton are the subject of this week’s Player Focus.

Final Stats vs Carlton:

Disposals: 18
Kicks: 9
Handballs: 9
Marks: 5
Tackles: 2
Hitouts: 20
Clearances: 3

Game Highlights

All game McGrath showed how good she can be at getting into the perfect position in a ruck contest. She is certainly not static in her movement, she can turn her body well mid jump and get front position really well.

She was also dominant in the hitout battle, and led the stat all afternoon. She led the count eight to Carlton’s Jorja Borg’s two at quarter time, and that advantage continued all afternoon. Her final hitout count of 18 was not far off double that of Borg’s, who finished on 11.

Quarter Specific Moments

First Quarter

She did give away a free for a sling tackle in the opening term, but was a strong mark from behind in a contest and is confident enough to take the ball straight out of a ruck contest.

Second Quarter

Early in the second term McGrath did a lovely spoil from behind a pack in defence, really using her height to her advantage to attack the contest.

Third Quarter

In the opening five minutes of the third term she took down a running Amelia Klingbeil and earned herself a holding the ball free kick, which then began an attacking push from the Roos.

She also showed her confidence to take the ball straight out of the ruck and kick it, but unfortunately for her it was an ineffective kick as it was out of bounds on the full.

Fourth Quarter

There was a moment in the opening miniature of the term where her tackling pressure, which wasn’t enough to land the tackle but was enough to put Blue Mia Cowan off her kick which was then intercepted by a Roo teammate.

With only a couple of minutes left in the term she took a very nice mark on the last night of defence which denied Carlton an extra score.