SOUTH Australia finished off its AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships carnival on a high, posting a hard-fought win over Queensland at Adelaide Oval by 20 points. As always, we noted down some of the top performers from the match in our Scouting Notes.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#1 Elaine Grigg (Central District)
23/12/2005 | 161cm | Midfielder/Forward

The tenacious midfielder had some eye-catching moments in the match, and typically put her body on the line as she always did. The one area that was noticeably impressive was in her kicking, running at 100 per cent efficiency by foot, and while her work by hand was a little rushed and not as clean as it could be, she kicked a terrific goal in the fourth minute of the third term where it bounced home. Laid another nine tackles, a team-high in the match.

#3 Violet Patterson (Glenelg)
09/01/2006 | 170cm |Wing/Forward

The bottom-ager played her best game of the national carnival, amassing 20 disposals and having four inside 50s. She was clean at ground level and hit her targets going forward, finding both Rasheed and Young inside 50. Her hands between the arcs were clean, and she won a lot of her touches off the deck.

#6 India Rasheed (Sturt)
29/11/2006 | 172cm | Forward/Midfielder

It was another outstanding game from Rasheed who ran at 90 per cent by foot, and 85 per cent overall from her 20 disposals despite running at 50 per cent contested. She did well when inside and then up forward, and though she only kicked a goal with the last kick of the game, was the distributor and creator in the forward half. Impressively she laid nine tackles too, most of which came in the first half.

#9 Shineah Goody (WWT Eagles)
08/11/2005 | 162cm | Midfielder

Having to fight off some close checking early around the stoppages, Goody worked her way into the game and became the equal highest ball-winner on the ground. Her work at ground level was outstanding, and her clearance ability head and shoulders above the rest. She was tough and clinical on the inside, and produced some incredible well-weighted passes going forward. She had the chance to convert a set shot as well, but that drifted for a behind.

#10 Jasmine Evans (Central District)
05/02/2006 | 165cm | Wing

Popped up throughout the game when she was needed and had some nice plays between the arcs. Her elite kicking was on display again, and she finished the game with 91.7 per cent disposal efficiency. Making good decisions with ball-in-hand, Evans was able to deliver safely when coming out of defence and also hit-up Young at half-forward with a perfect pass. Overall, she was one of the eye-catchers across the carnival.

#13 Piper Window (Glenelg)
30/07/2005 | 167cm | Forward/Midfielder

The South Australian skipper cracked in hard all game and though her efficiency by foot still gave her some issues, her second efforts and work rate was impressive. She put her body on the line, competed in the air and looked to win the pill at all costs. More often than not, Window found herself under immense pressure and the one to extract it from the coalface.

#14 Molly Brooksby (Norwood)
18/07/2005 | 172cm | Defender/Midfielder

Another player who was incredible by foot, Brooksby has made a name for doing just that, finishing with 87.5 per cent disposal efficiency on the day. Aside from a couple of direct turnovers looking to bite off a touch too much. Her delivery in transition was remarkable, and she set up multiple scoring opportunities with her delivery inside 50 or to half-forward, rolling between half-back and the midfield.

#20 Zara Walsh (Sturt)
12/03/2005 | 172cm | Forward

After not touching it in the first term, Walsh bobbed up to play her role and convert two goals from eight disposals and three marks. She worked hard to find space, and her first came via a mark all alone at the top of 50, charged inside 50 and cleverly kicked a goal on the run. She then set up Grigg’s major early in the third term, and following back-to-back 50m penalties, kicked her second goal from point blank range later in the term.

#27 Brooke Boileau (South Adelaide)
28/01/2005 | 170cm | Midfielder

Continuing her remarkably consistent carnival, Boileau was everywhere in the first half, and racked up her 20th touch in the fourth minute of the third term. Though often having to dump kicks out of the stoppages or bomb long while under pressure, she put her body on the line and won a stack of contested ball. With time and space she was able to use good decision making and vision to hit targets, and even got involved in transition, running by for handball receives and putting the ball inside 50. Boileau had a shot on goal in the second term but missed.

#30 Lucy Boyd (West Adelaide)
12/10/2006 | 172cm | Forward

Similar to Walsh, Boyd only had the six touches, but converted the two goals so played her role as a tall forward. With plenty of attention on Young, it was Boyd who stepped up early, converting both her majors in the first half and looking dangerous. After missing her first chance from a set shot, Boyd snapped a goal after roving it well off hands, then nailed her next set shot chance in the second term.

#31 Lauren Young (West Adelaide)
16/09/2005 | 178cm | Key Forward

After eight goals in two games, Young was never going to fly under the radar, and to be fair, her opponent Kiara Bischa did about as well as an opponent can hope for. Young still managed to have an impact, booting a goal from 14 touches and took five marks, but it was her quietest performance of the three games. In saying that, she was still a target and a worry for the opposition, and instead set up her teammates, with her sole goal coming off an intercept mark inside 50.

#32 Jemma Charity (WWT Eagles)
06/06/2006 | 170cm | Medium Defender

Another player who has put together an ultra-consistent carnival playing in defence after being a forward/midfielder for the Eagles at SANFLW level, Charity used the ball well out of defence and took the kickouts going long down the ground where possible. She also pushed up the ground to win multiple possessions in a chain from defence to offence, with her aerial interception the main feature of her game.

QUEENSLAND:

#5 Sophie Peters (Maroochydore)
12/03/2005 | 164cm | Wing

The AFLW Academy member was not overly prolific with eight touches, but just had a couple of nice moments. Her set shot from 35m out in the second term proved an important goal for the visitors, before nailing an outstanding kick to Adamson inside 50 to provide a set shot opportunity.

#6 Jacinta Baldwick (Coorparoo)
14/11/2005 | 169cm | Midfielder

A hard-working effort from the midfielder who picked up a couple pf clearances and was dedicated in her attack on the ball. She was to win a number of touches in the first term, and while she was a touch quieter after that to finish with 11 disposals, she had a courageous moment in the fourth term where she stood under a high ball to mark on the wing.

#9 Alannah Welsh (Burleigh/Bond Uni)
23/11/2007 | 168cm | Defender/Midfielder

One of the standout Maroons, Welsh started in defence and was everywhere early, racking up 11 disposals in the first half. She looked to charge down the ground with every opportunity she got, and never shied away from putting her team in an offensive position. Adopting that high-risk, high-reward style of play, Welsh ran the gauntlet down the ground, and eventually got reward for effort on the scoreboard with her side’s last goal of the game from a forward stoppage.

#10 Ava Usher (Burleigh/Bond Uni)
11/08/2007 | 162cm | Midfielder/Forward

After a relatively quiet first half by her standards – picking up seven disposals – she exploded in the third term and carried that on to the final siren. She had an early chance on goal bursting forward that just missed, and it was a sign of what was to come later in the match, with a number of eye-catching bursts down the ground. Her tackling pressure across the field was outstanding, and though she tended to bomb the ball a little out of the stoppage, when on the move was able to lower the eyes and deliver cleanly. Finished with seven tackles and three clearances to go with 19 disposals.

#14 Tara Harrington (Broadbeach/Bond Uni)
24/03/2006 | 168cm | Midfielder/Defender

Starting in the middle, Harrington had a strong start to the game before moving back and finishing with 12 disposals. She laid a game-high 10 tackles, bringing the heat each and every time she went near the contest, and while she did not get as much space and run as she would like, Harrington cracked in and was able to win a lot of her touches under pressure. She had a forgettable turnover in the defensive 50 that led to a Young goal she would like to have back, but otherwise looked comfortable in her second national carnival.

#18 Charlotte Adamson
18/04/2004 | 167cm | Forward/Midfielder

The dual sportsperson showed why she has quickly garnered interest as an AFLW Draft prospect, with the over-age talent having a solid first-up appearance at the AFLW Under 18 Championships. Adamson had 11 disposals – 63.6 per cent efficiency – and had a mixed bag of absolute brilliance, and then areas of fundamental improvement. A perfect example in the first term was an attempted fend-off but could not get clear, then blind-turned an opponent next stoppage to kick forward. In the fourth quarter, she had a fresh airy attempt in the pocket, then moments later received the ball in a one-two situation, snapped and converted the goal.

#22 Laura Roy (University of Queensland)
16/08/2005 | 170cm | Defender/Midfielder

Rotating between defence and midfield, the Lions Academy captain had some nice moments in the game even if she only had the eight disposals. Eight of her nine possessions were won in a contest, yet she still found a way to get the ball clear, and held her own in there. She worked hard into space, and while her decision making could be improved, her contested work and defensive pressure was outstanding.

#23 Rania Crozier (Aspley)
18/11/2005 | 179cm | Key Forward

Providing a marking target inside 50, Crozier had the 10 disposals, clunked three marks and kicked a behind. Her set shot came off the side of the boot in the second term, but she delivered well inside 50 on a number of occasions, and with her combination of athleticism and work rate, she was still able to impact off limited possessions.

#24 Josie McCabe (Bond University)
18/04/2005 | 174cm | Midfielder/Forward

The Queensland skipper did what she has always done which is put her head down and get her hands dirty, starting on-ball and then rotating forward. She was the highest disposal winner of the top-age draft prospects , with 16 disposals, as well as a team-high four clearances, and laying six tackles. Boasting a thumping kick, McCabe had a snap on goal in the first term that was partially smothered, and though her efficiency was low by foot, won a whopping 14 of 17 possessions in a contested situation.

#28 Havana Harris (Burleigh/Bond Uni)
01/07/2006 | 181cm | Utility

The star of the show across the four quarters, Queensland flexed its proverbial muscle by lining Harris up on Goody at the first centre bounce. Rare that a 181cm player can be a midfielder while her 179cm teammate rucked, Harris showed exactly why she is a pick one contender next year. With explosive athleticism, ball-winning ability and a knack to play forward, midfield or in the ruck – where she rotated – Harris was hard to stop. She picked up a team-high 22 disposals, clunked three contested marks, and got involved in transition like few 181cm players could. Her contested mark in the goalsquare resulted in a major in the fourth term and almost had a second a minute later but just pushed it wide.

#30 Lilly Baker (Maroochydore)
14/08/2006 | 179cm | Ruck/Defender

Taking the number one ruck role to start the match, and then going into defence when Harris took over, Baker showed some exciting promise in her own right. While Harris will rightfully be a player who cops plenty of attention in the future, Baker has impressed at QAFLW level and she started her national carnival well. She picked up 10 touches and took five marks, but also got her hands dirty at ground level and showed she can be involved in a switch play or in transition.