WESTERN Australia’s sole bottom-age AFLW Academy member, Georgie Cleaver is a high ceiling tall with plenty of exciting traits to make her a highly-touted prospect coming into her top-age year next year. The East Fremantle forward-ruck splits her time between football and netball at the national level, having only been able to play one AFLW Under 18 Championships game this year, but has stepped up in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) Women’s competition.

On the weekend, East Fremantle claimed a massive 91-point win over West Perth to remain undefeated, and though there were plenty of contributors, Cleaver was one who caught the eye aerially in particular, clunking eight marks to go with her 22 disposals, largely playing forward. She rotated into the ruck to win eight hitouts, whilst also having seven tackles and five inside 50s. In all measures bar hitouts, Cleaver’s Round 13 performance hit season-highs.

Her 2022 WAFL Women’s season has featured six consecutive games of double-figure disposals, booting goals in her four games leading up to the Round 13 clash. Having taken no more than four marks in a game this season, Cleaver doubled that tally. Though she gave away a few free kicks trying to escape the opposition’s grasp and realistically should have kicked a couple of majors with her opportunities, Cleaver still had a strong game.

We analyse that performance in our later WAFLW Player Focus.

SEASON SO FAR

Averages: (7 games):

14.6 disposals
8.9 kicks
5.7 handballs
3.4 marks
3.3 tackles
7.0 hitouts
2.1 inside 50s

ROUND 13:

West Perth 2.3 (15) defeated by Swan Districts 10.8 (68)

Stats: 22 disposals (14 kicks, 6 handballs), 8 marks, 7 tackles, 8 hitouts, 5 inside 50s

QUARTER BY QUARTER:

First Quarter:

Georgie Cleaver started at full-forward, often opposed to an undersized defender, giving her a good chance of maximising her aerial ability. Her first touch came about five minutes into the contest when she took a nice mark on the wing, and was able to hit a target at the top of 50. She took another good grab not long after, but just overcooked that next kick going inside.

At times Cleaver’s kicking style can get her into trouble, but she was finding it well around the ground, winning it on the wing and kicking to half-forward after winning a free kick for laying a strong tackle. She gave away a free kick on the wing in the eighth minute, but finished the term rotating through the ruck, including producing a double-fisted punch.

Second Quarter

Cleaver presented up off the first clearance of the second term, but could not quite take the mark, slipping through her hands. She worked hard up the ground to lay a good tackle at half-forward, and then lay another strong tackle a few minutes later. She took a good mark when opposed to the smaller Megan Norbury but missed the set shot for just one behind. Laying another strong tackle, shortly after it was Cleaver’s turn to be tackled, but was wrapped up and dispossessed by Jess Roper. Cleaver had another couple of touches to conclude the first half, with a neat in-board kick at half-forward, before a longer kick inside 50 was unfortunately turned over.

Third Quarter

Cleaver continued her aerial dominance in the third with a strong mark at half-forward five minutes into the contest, delivering with a lovely pass to Julia Teakle, before working hard down the ground to provide an option for her fellow key forward. Cleaver took the mark then had a set shot she would like again, with an awkward kick that floated into the goalsquare. Luckily for the tall, it landed into the waiting arms of teammate Ashlee Atkins who slotted a major and regardless of intention, Cleaver earned a goal assist.

The Sharks forward had a clean pickup off the deck at the eight-minute mark of the quarter, but her handball under pressure was intercepted by an opponent. Another mark outside the 50 occurred five minutes later and then she put it to the hotspot 30m out to a contest, which wrapped up her involvement in the term.

Fourth Quarter

Cleaver started the fourth quarter in the ruck and was really involved throughout the quarter, going for a mark in the opening two minutes but just dropping it, though she recovered well and gave off the handball to a teammate. The athletic tall had a nice pickup, spin and handball to Alli Nokes who set up a goal, then Cleaver went in hard laying a strong tackle in the middle a few minutes later.

Cleaver played a lot of time up the ground in the term, taking another grab in the middle of the ground, then was clean off the deck midway through the term to deliver a handball to a teammate. She was able to boot the ball down the wing off the left which proved effective enough, then had a final kick inside 50 in the 14th minute that went to her teammate’s advantage.

Closing Thoughts …

Georgie Cleaver is an exciting talent with great athleticism, versatility and hands. Though she is strong in the air, Cleaver is able to pick the ball up cleanly at ground level and still impact below her knees, which is rare for a 183cm forward-ruck. The talented tall does need to iron out some fundamentals in her game, with her kicking action affecting her set shots, but when in the field kicking, it is less noticeable going off instinct. Overall, Cleaver has some impressive upside and will be one to watch for next year’s AFLW Draft.