A SHOWCASE of the top aspiring AFL Women’s footballers took place at Marvel Stadium on the weekend, with the Under 23 All-Stars winning a thriller against the AFLW Academy. We took a look at some of the players who caught the eye in our Scouting Notes. All notes are the opinion of the author.

AFLW ACADEMY:

#2 Elaine Grigg (Central District/South Australia)
23/12/2005 | 165cm | Midfielder/Forward

The tenacious midfielder provided plenty of dash on the wing and generally used the ball pretty well on the day. Grigg provided her usual tackling pressure, running down a number of opponents including a terrific tackle on Lauren Jactzak in the opening term. An impressive effort in the third term saw her shrug off an opponent and kick to the wing, then run to the next contest to win it cleanly. Grigg finished with 18 disposals – eight in the third term – six tackles and three inside 50s, running at 72.2 per cent efficiency.

#3 Sienna McMullen (Suns Academy/Queensland)
15/07/2005 | 164cm | Wing/Midfielder

The Suns Academy talent was a standout in the first term, racking up nine disposals to lead all-comers afield. She was effective with that ball use early, and though she had a couple of mistakes in the second term, kept on running all day long. She applied great defensive pressure, running down an opponent from behind, and showed the same flair she did in the Under 17s Futures match 12 months earlier. McMullen also had the 18 touches, as well as three marks, two clearances, two inside 50s and six tackles.

#4 Sophie Peters (Lions Academy/Queensland)
12/03/2005 | 164cm | Wing

Though the Queenslander might have only had the 13 touches, she caught the eye with her willingness to run and set up players inside 50. Her vision and footy smarts standout on the field, and it showed with her goal assist to Pisano in the final quarter. She spread well on the wing and generally hit her targets, with perhaps occasionally trying to run that extra stride or two too much. Otherwise she was very impressive, with a disposal efficiency of 76.9 per cent, as well as five marks.

#7 Lila Keck (Bendigo Pioneers/Vic Country)
20/10/2005 | 162cm | Forward/Wing

Keck lit up the game in the first term with a terrific snap around her body to get the AFLW Academy on the board, and finished with 16 disposals and 1.1 playing both forward and on the wing. She used the ball well by foot when able to assess her options, and though at times she would rush a snap forward, she put it to dangerous positions at the top of the goalsquare. Keck set up a goal to Pisano in the second term, and also drilled a short pass into Peters in the last quarter. Without a doubt her best game since returning from injury, Keck went at 75 per cent disposal efficiency, and had three clearances.

#8 Kaitlyn Srhoj (Peel Thunder/Western Australia)
10/07/2005 | 175cm | Forward/Midfielder

The ultimate utility, Srhoj started up forward for the Academy in a different move considering the winger/onballer has been learning the half-back role at Peel Thunder of late. She was pretty impressive and though often under pressure, did well to find space. Her final execution by foot at times is still developing, but her hands are clean in transition. She has the natural footy smarts to lead out as a forward, and ticked that box well. Srhoj finished with 14 touches, five marks, two inside 50s and two tackles.

#12 Mikayla Williamson (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
08/05/2005 | 173cm | Midfielder/Defender

Winning more touches than anyone else afield, Williamson racked up 26 disposals – 48 per cent contested – and spent a lot of time on the inside. She picked up the four clearances and delivered the ball inside 50 on four occasions. Looking to run and gun where possible, Williamson ran off half-back after mopping up and has been working on her kicking to be more sharp, low kicks that will go to the advantage of her teammates. Overall, she was busy across the four quarters and a key link-up player for the Academy.

#14 Molly Brooksby (Norwood/South Australia)
18/07/2005 | 171cm | Defender/Midfielder

One of a number of silky ball users, Brooksby was impressive on the inside and then winning it on the outside. Her ambidexterity came into full effect in the game, hitting targets off her left or right, and quite often between other opponents. Teaming up with fellow South Australian Goody on a number of occasions when in defence, her clean hands and composure really stood out, and she was able to win a couple of clearances off 16 disposals – 81 per cent efficiency – and four marks.

#16 Shineah Goody (WWT Eagles/South Australia)
08/11/2005 | 162cm | Midfielder/Defender

It was a quieter game by Goody’s standards, but she largely spent time in defence after starting on-ball. Despite having just the 14 touches, Goody still found a way to get involved, and always looked to hit those difficult kicks into the corridor. While they sometimes backfired with a few clangers, she generally used her superior vision and footy IQ to advantage, and was tasked with the kickouts when in the back half of the ground. She loves to run and carry, and finished with 14 disposals, three marks and five rebound 50s.

#19 Alyssia Pisano (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
01/07/2005 | 162cm | Small Forward

It was another electrifying game from Pisano, who despite just have the seven touches, was elite with each little involvement. Six of those touches were effective, she kicked 2.1 and set up another goal to Georgia Clark. Pisano kicked her goals in the second and fourth quarters, with the latter coming in the final two minutes to give her side a chance of victory. Her first was a nice one on the run off a split second kick, with her class, clean hands and ability to understand the situation key.

#21 Mel Staunton (GIANTS Academy/NSW-ACT)
24/01/2005 | 168cm | Forward/Midfielder

Earning the Academy’s MVP award for the day, Staunton impressed the coaches with her willingness to have a crack around the ground and dare going inside 50. She had 17 disposals – 70.6 per cent efficiency – as well as three marks, four tackles, three clearances and one behind in the loss, but put pressure on the opposition defence. She had a number of kicks deep inside 50 to give her forwards a chance of winning one-on-one contests.

#22 Lauren Young (West Adelaide/South Australia)
16/09/2005 | 178cm | Key Defender/Forward

A standout in the win, Young was superb in defence, and attack, turning the game for the Academy in the second half when she kicked two goals. Strong overhead, but more importantly reading the game well and running off her opponent to drive it forward when in defence, Young showed off her versatility in the match. She was able to use both sides of her body to dispose of the ball, and also got her hands dirty by winning a free kick for a great tackle on Carbone in the second term. She was unlucky not to be given a third goal after marking in the goalsquare, turning around and booting it home, but it was deemed in the back. In the final term, she released the handball to Peters to set up Pisano for the last goal of the day. Young managed 17 disposals – 76.5 per cent efficiency – two marks, three tackles and two goals.

#24 Georgie Cleaver (East Fremantle/Western Australia)
14/08/2005 | 183cm | Ruck/Forward

Starting in the ruck and rotating with Vukic, Cleaver was solid across the game with her work at ground level, and while the final execution was a bit hit and miss at times, she continued to dig deep. Her athleticism was on show in the centre square and she also laid some nice tackles, finishing with 13 disposals, 11 hitouts, two inside 50s and three tackles.

#25 Marnie Robinson (Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)
08/06/2005 | 173cm | Tall Defender

Doing well in defence against some quality opponents, Robinson held her own and was able to provide some neat passes out of defence. Strong with ball-in-hand when given time and space, Robinson was able to clunk a number of strong marks and use the ball at 58.3 per cent disposal efficiency. She pushed up the ground and was able to hold a high line when required. Robinson finished with 12 disposals, three marks, three tackles, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s.

#28 Jaime Henry (Swan Districts/Western Australia)
05/10/2005 | 178cm | Midfielder/Defender

The Swan Districts midfielder has not played in a few weeks and though she was not at her best, still had a solid game across the board. She used her strength to advantage and shovelled out handballs to teammates, as well as putting a couple of long kicks to the danger zone throughout the first half. Though Henry went a little quieter through the middle two terms, she finished strong and was able to head home with 12 touches, three marks, four tackles and a clearance.

#30 Jess Vukic (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
09/11/2005 | 179cm | Ruck/Defender

Returning from injury like a number of others in her cohort, Vukic looked comfortable when in defence as she did in the ruck. Showing some good hands above her head – though she had a couple more marks she could have taken – she generally disposed of it well for a big, and was able to get in on the clearances, extracting it from stoppages on three occasions. After some decent time on the sidelines, it was a promising first-up performance for the 179cm natural talent. Vukic had eight disposals, three marks, 11 hitouts and three clearances.

U23 ALL-STARS:

#1 Dominique Carbone (Western Bulldogs VFLW)
25/09/2001 | 161cm | Midfielder/Forward

The sole player in the game with AFL Women’s experience, Carbone did as one would expect of her, and was among the best afield in the game. She lead the team in the midfield and kicked a couple of good goals credit to her work rate. She just seemed to find space when drifting forward, and converted both her set shots, with another attempt in the final term touched on the goalline. Evasive in close and clean when spreading to the outside, Carbone won a couple of centre clearances then lead all-comers when it came to tackling. The former Hawk had 16 disposals, three marks, four clearances, nine tackles and booted 2.1.

#4 Candice Belbin (Tasmania Devils)
14/07/2004 | 163cm | Midfielder/Forward

Belbin’s strength stood out in the game and she was mostly impactful through the middle where she was able to win the ball one-on-one and give off to a teammate on the outside. She took a strong mark in the middle of the ground against McMullen, but it was paid a free kick instead, then sidestepped her nimble opponent to kick inside 50. Though not a massive ball-winner, Belbin recorded 10 disposals, one clearance and had three tackles.

#5 Ava Campbell (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
29/07/2005 | 174cm | Tall Defender

Stationed in defence, Campbell showed she could have a similar impact at the next level up from Coates Talent League, with a number of important plays. She saved a couple of potential goal-scoring chances for the Academy, and ran off whenever possible. Though she turned the ball over on a number of occasions, she kept working hard to the end while under immense pressure and had 15 disposals, three marks, two inside 50s and four rebound 50s.

#6 Sarah Grunden (Calder Cannons/Vic Metro)
25/02/2005 | 168cm | Medium Forward

After a quiet start to the game with just one disposal in the first term, Grunden had a lively second quarter, getting involved at half-forward, she had five more disposals, including a neat kick from the middle to half-forward. She looked to have laid a great tackle in the same quarter but was pinged for in the back. Grunden recorded a goal assist to Lily Jordan in the third term with a slick short kick, then had a chance herself in the last term. Though her snap missed, she bounced back to deliver a slick handball under pressure inside 50 shortly after. Grunden had nine disposals, two inside 50s and laid three tackles.

#7 Ava Jordan (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
29/04/2005 | 148cm | Small Forward

Able to play as that exclusive forward inside 50, Jordan added that point of difference with her reading of the play at ground level further afield to win it a fair bit at half-forward. She had the 12 touches and laid four tackles, then capitalised at the top of the goalsquare while being tackled, snapping through a clever goal for the All-Stars. Naturally the 148cm forward won a couple of free kicks for high tackles and made good decisions with ball-in-hand, particularly with quick or well weighted handballs.

#10 Jemma Rigoni (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
04/06/2004 | 173cm | Tall Defender

The potential Melbourne father-daughter prospect just has those eye-catching traits, even if she does not win a lot of it. She still had 10 touches in the game, but there were a couple of occasions where she ran off half-back and kicked down the ground, and even put one kick inside 50 from the corridor. She would sometimes rush the final touch, but still had a 60 per cent efficiency from 10 touches, three tackles and two rebound 50s.

#11 Charlotte Simpson (Geelong Cats VFLW)
02/03/2004 | 168cm | Inside Midfielder

Another player like Carbone who was tipped to be a big player in the game, Simpson is an over-ager who was close to the mark last season. A pure inside ball-winner, Simpson racked up seven clearances, two more than anyone else on the field, and was a bull in close. She dragged the equally strong Piper Window to the ground, and also worked hard to spread to the outside. She came off with a shoulder complaint in the third term but returned to play out the match. Simpson had a notable spoil at half-forward to keep the ball locked in the front half of the ground in the third quarter, and would end up with 20 touches, two marks and four inside 50s.

#14 Chloe Adams (Geelong Falcons/Vic Country)
13/12/2005 | 165cm | Midfielder/Forward

Teaming up well with her former Geelong Falcons teammate, Adams picked up five clearances, three of which came in the first term. She was busy in that quarter with six touches , and though she was quieter in the second quarter, she worked her way back into the match. She does a lot right on the defensive end, and has begun impacting even more offensively. A prime example with her snap off the left in the goalsquare to score for the Under 23s in the first term, then ran-down Goody. Adams had 15 disposals, four marks, five clearances, seven tackles and a goal in the win.

#16 Lily Jordan (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)
29/06/2005 | 164cm | Medium Forward

Continuing her form in 2023, Jordan was busy in the front half and unassumingly had an impact under pressure inside 50. She set up a goal to her namesake Ava Jordan at the top of the goalsquare in the second term, then nailed a set shot a minute in the third term after a clever lead. Jordan hurt herself contesting a marking contest midway through the third term, but worked through the match. She had a flying shot on goal in the last quarter but missed to the right. The GWV Rebels forward kicked the one goal from 12 touches and four tackles.

#21 Meg Robertson (Dandenong Stingrays/Vic Country)
06/06/2005 | 171cm | Midfielder/Defender

After a big game for Vic Country in the trials, Robertson backed that performance up with another solid effort for the All-Stars. The top-age utility played the midfield and rolled back into defence at times as opposed to a more forward 50 role for the Stingrays at times, but seemed comfortable enough. She was not as clean as usual, but still worked hard to collect 14 disposals, three marks, three inside 50s and lay three tackles.

#22 Brooke Smith (Dandenong Stingrays/VIc Country)
21/02/2004 | 170cm | Defender/Midfielder

In a throwback to past seasons, Smith started in defence and was able to provide plenty of dash, with her foot skills on display. She was elite in her disposal, with 88.2 per cent of her disposals hitting targets, while taking four marks, laying five tackles and recording three inside 50s and eight rebound 50s. Smith has a booming kick coming out of the defence and she took a great intercept mark in the third term by positioning herself perfectly in front of Young at the top of the goalsquare. Able to be utilised in a number of roles, Smith deservedly picked up the Under 23s’ MVP in the match.

#25 Nyakoat Dojiok (Collingwood VFLW)
07/01/2003 | 175cm | Tall Forward/Ruck

The 20-year-old is a player with a stack of eye-catching traits, but is just yet to put it altogether. With more composure, she could have kicked four or five goals, but instead had to settle for the one, which was ironically the most difficult of the lot, a tight angle set shot on the non-preferred side for a right footer to win the game. Though she can be a little fumbly at times, once she wins the ball she is quick to make a decision on what to do next, even if she has more time to assess the options. Once she adds that element of composure and is a little more consistent, she can be just about anything.