ROUND 8 of the Coates Talent League Girls competition finally came to a close last night, with plenty of impressive individual performances across the seven matches. We took note of some of hose who caught the eye for our weekly scouting notes. All notes are the opinion of the individual author.

Dandenong Stingrays 7.6 (48) defeated Sydney Swans Academy 5.4 (34)

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:

#3 Jemma Reynolds
Midfielder/Forward | 163cm | 29/04/2006

Stats: 31 disposals, 1 mark, 1 tackle, 8 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Reynolds starred in the win for the Stingrays, earning our best afield honours and Player of the Week for Round 8. She racked up the 31 touches, but her ability to gather it both inside and outside stands out, and she often has that extra time with ball-in-hand to make good decisions be it out of the stoppage or going inside 50.

#4 Tahlia Sanger
Wing/Forward | 167cm | 18/08/2006

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

In the third game back from her long-term knee injury, Sanger took another step forward in her development and showed some promising signs as a wing or high half-forward. She rolled up and down the ground and had a slick sidestep to go with her ability to get into the right spots. Her final execution was not quite there yet, but she showed natural smarts to find the ball and get it forward.

#11 Kayla Dalgleish
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 15/07/2006

Stats: 25 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

Really finding that nice balance between midfield and attack, Dalgleish is tough player who has a nice set of hands and presents well when inside 50. At stoppages she can be a first or second possession winner with some nice athletic traits that help her get out of trouble. While Reynolds has that composure, Dalgleish has the speed that helps her evade would-be tacklers and showed great vision in the match to hit-up targets forward of centre.

#43 Lillian Snow
Midfielder | 169cm | 10/07/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

On debut, the bottom-ager was a player who really caught the eye. She spent plenty of time inside and seemed to know how to win clearances and get into the right spots liek she had been in the team all year. Not only did she get involved in the grunt work, but Snow found space and took a number of good marks, often disposing of it quickly to keep the ball moving in transition.

SWANS ACADEMY:

#10 Ella Parker
Defender | 170cm | 04/10/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 10 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

Parker has played her role ultra consistently all year for the Swans Academy, and this one was perhaps her best game yet. She still brought the heat and competed in the air, but her efficiency was up and she made good decisions with ball-in-hand. Parker certainly saved a number of Stingrays thrusts and looked to move it on quickly going the other way.

#24 Imogen Brown
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 03/03/2005

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

When you think of raw athletic potential, Brown is just that. An over-ager, Brown is still ironing out some fundamentals – such as her bouncing and technique, but she offers ultra excitement and hard running, kicking a remarkable goal on the run in the first term and always looking to use her burst speed to advantage. With further development, Brown has the potential to rapidly improve, as she can find the ball and back her pace.

#26 Taya White
Defender | 171cm | 25/05/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 7 rebound 50s

White has been a reliable defender for the Swans, often mopping up on the last line and looking to send it going back the other way. She is not just a defender who wins touches through kickouts or cheap defensive switches, but puts her body on the line, intercepts and influences in a number of ways turning defence into offence with her run and long kick.

Murray Bushrangers 4.5 (29) lost to Calder Cannons 5.9 (39)

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

#9 Holly Egan
Defender | 176cm | 01/07/2006

Stats: 29 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles, 2 hitouts, 2 inside 50s, 8 rebound 50s

Definitely her most prolific game to-date, Egan spent essentially full-time behind the ball and mopped up consistently. One of those players that has a lot going for her, it is just about improving that efficiency by foot, with everything else at an impressive level. She can take good marks, make second efforts, has improved her defensive work and creates run and carry with great athleticism, and it showed during the match.

#10 Sophia Green
Defender/Midfielder | 171cm | 22/11/2008

Stats: 27 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 8 rebound 50s, 1 goal

A highly talented double bottom-ager, Green continues to impress at Coates Talent League level off the back of a strong campaign for Vic Country Under 16s. She is a good size at 171cm, can play anywhere on the field, and is super strong overhead. She wins it at ground level too and kicked her goal from a great forward 50 tackle. Green is not afraid to fend-off opponents or sidestep them in order to create space for herself.

#23 Madison Ibrahim
Defender/Midfielder | 169cm | 12/12/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

An underrated game from Ibrahim who I thought was arguably best on ground. She worked from the first bounce to the final siren and always looked to do the team thing, both from a defensive standpoint with her pressure and tackling, as well as an offensive one looking to run and carry. Her disposal can further improve, particularly under pressure, but she makes good decisions and puts the ball to space more often than not for a teammate to run onto.

#24 Rose Bell
Defender | 170cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 8 rebound 50s

Another double bottom-ager with enormous potential, Bell can also play on all three lines, but predominantly played out of defence against the Cannons. She took some kickouts and was utilised as an option with a booming kick, and though she made errors that she normally wouldn’t by foot, still played a really solid game.

CALDER CANNONS:

#1 Maddison Albrecht
Forward/Wing | 160cm | 07/09/2006

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Albrecht had to step up in the absence of some quality teammates and had a nice overall game. Her efficiency by foot can still improve, but her tackling pressure and willingness to put her body on the line can never be doubted. Even when no able to run someone down, she sticks to the task of the chase with implied pressure. With ball-in-hand, she can sidestep opponents and win it both on the inside and outside.

#4 Ava Gerada
Forward | 171cm | 12/02/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 3 goals

The Cannons utility had her biggest game yet playing forward, booting three goals from 12 touches and looking dangerous when it went near here. She kicked them in a variety of ways – both set shots and in-play – and applied defensive pressure to lock the ball inside 50 which was important for the Cannons.

#30 Kyla Forbes
Utility | 168cm | 07/09/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

It was not Forbes’ biggest game from a production standpoint, but the left-footer had some great moments, showing clean ball use at ground level, and strength in the contest. She applied solid pressure to force turnovers, and while she was often rushed into dump kicking it, creates space for herself by spinning out of congestion.

Northern Knights 6.6 (42) def. by Tasmania Devils 7.7 (49)

By: Michael Alvaro

NORTHERN KNIGHTS:

#3 Marlo Graham
Midfielder | 163cm | 15/11/2007

Stats: 29 disposals, 5 tackles, 8 inside 50s

Graham started as she meant to go on in Round 8, prising the first centre clearance and showcasing her natural ball winning ability all day. The busy midfielder accumulated possessions through a combination of stoppage craft and work rate, proving deceptively strong at the coalface and absorbing contact with composure. She also had her moments when rotating forward and registered the final score of the day with a set shot after the siren.

#4 Holly Ridewood
Defender | 174cm | 27/12/2006

Stats: 23 disposals, 7 marks, 6 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

Ridewood swapped out her usual wing duties for a run in defence and lifted when the game was up for grabs. The Northern skipper worked in to good positions behind the ball, displaying great competitiveness to win the ball back in strength-based scraps. She began to break the lines after half time with surge footy which was full of intent and running. Ridewood’s massive final term also saw her spend time further afield, where she could hurt the opposition and help lock the ball in Northern’s half.

#5 Zoe Hargreaves
Midfielder | 172cm | 03/06/2006

Stats: 25 disposals, 8 marks, 2 goals

Hargreaves did all she could to get her side back in the game on Saturday, booting back-to-back goals at the start of term three. Having started the season in a midfield rotation to defence, she swapped forward this time out and had little trouble finding the footy in either role. Hargreaves’ class was evident – as highlighted by her finishing ability – and she was exactly the player Northern needed to feed the ball going forward. She used her burst speed and long kicking to good effect when attacking through the corridor or unleashed as the second possession winner.

#7 Scarlett Johnson
Wing | 174cm | 26/11/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 9 marks, 7 inside 50s

If there was a player whose main attribute was as prominent as all others’ on Saturday, it was Johnson and her overhead marking. The bottom-ager was near-unbeatable in the air, plucking the ball at the top of her reach and judging its flight path better than anyone. She thrived with a shift to the wing; offering an outlet when Northern looked to change angles, or building a wall across the half-forward line to give Northern repeat inside 50 entries. With plenty of time left to develop, Johnson already gets a big tick for versatility and upside.

#23 Phoebe Hargreaves
Midfielder | 160cm | 15/07/2007

Stats: 31 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

Hargreaves was like a bee in a bottle at Preston City Oval, buzzing to all parts of the ground en route to a game-high 31 touches. While was most effective with the right amount of time and space, the diminutive midfielder manufactured both through work rate and smart running. She found her groove after half time, racking up plenty of possessions between the lines as Northern looked to move the ball from end-to-end. Along with her big sister Zoe, Hargreaves junior was the type of player to trust going inside 50.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#1 Mischa Barwin
Forward | 164cm | 04/12/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals

Arguably the player with most potential to hurt the opposition on Saturday, Barwin wreaked havoc with her speed and work rate as a high half-forward. As usual, she found acres of space beyond the forward 50 arc and surged the ball towards goal, breaking out the back several times. While her decision making and execution could have been a little more refined going inside 50, there was nothing wrong with Barwin’s finishing as she snared consecutive opportunistic goals in the second quarter.

#4 Ava Read
Forward | 176cm | 21/06/2006

Stats: 7 disposals, 1 mark, 3 goals

Read was certainly efficient on Saturday, bagging a game-high three goals from just six kicks. The rangy forward opened the scoring with a goal which perfectly resembled her flukey ability – having a snap on one foot smothered before recovering the ball to snap it through on the other. She proved she only needed an inch to take a mile as Tasmania made better use of less inside 50s (31-45), with Read looking dangerous each time the ball entered her area. She’s a difficult matchup for her many dynamic ways of manufacturing scoring chances.

#15 Priya Bowering
Midfielder | 167cm | 02/01/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 tackles, 5 inside 50s

Bowering was Tasmania’s top ball winner on Saturday and unsurprisingly so given how prominent she can be at the contest. The bottom-ager was clean and strong in the way of stoppage craft, but also competed hard to force forward half turnovers and launch the ball back inside the Devils’ attacking 50. For a player below 170cm, she offers good physicality and uses it to lift her intensity in important moments – as she did during the third quarter.

#26 Harriet Bingley
Forward | 172cm | 23/03/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals

Bingley looked like being on the precipice of a dominant game as she presented with intent and imposed her strength on the contest. Not afraid to bring opponents with her on the lead, the bottom-ager was a viable target down the line and held her own aerially, proving difficult to beat from front position. Her reward for effort came in the form of back-to-back set shot goals late in the second quarter to set up an unassailable half time lead.

#29 Mackenzie Williams
Midfielder/Defender | 171cm | 26/06/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 6 tackles, 6 rebound 50s

Williams has enjoyed plenty of midfield exposure this season but took it to new levels on Saturday by essentially spending three quarters on-ball. The usual defender displayed good persistence with repeat efforts and hard tackling, but found it more difficult to use her power-based weapons in leg speed and long kicking. Nonetheless, Williams’ contested work held up and she hardly missed a beat when shifted down back in term four.

GWV Rebels 5.4 (34) lost to Geelong Falcons 11.10 (76)

GWV REBELS:

#1 Isabella Davies
Defender/Midfielder | 160cm | 29/10/2006

Stats: 24 disposals, 7 marks, 9 tackles, 2 rebound 50s

The industrious midfielder has not played a bad game all year and that continued in the loss to the Falcons. She was clean at ground level and always went in hard to the stoppages. While at times she was forced to bomb it on the boot or rush her disposal, with any time or space, Davies makes good decisions, has nice vision and is able to execute with that extra few split seconds.

#4 Elise Cook
Midfielder | 170cm | 28/01/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 8 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Similar to Davies, Cook continues to just play her role and work hard through midfield. She has some nice traits such as her clean hands, vision and execution by hand or foot, and though athletically she could improve, a lot of her footballing traits standout. Cook’s defensive pressure in the match was a feature of her game, and she won a fair bit around the ball.

#7 Maggie Johnstone
Forward | 170cm | 06/06/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals

The bottom-age utility was stationed in attack and showed her class in the absence of Claire Mahony, converting two goals, both which never looked liked missing. One came midway through the second term with a classy finish from a snap, and the second was late in the third term with a precise set shot goal that sailed straight through the middle. As a Warrnambool local, she turned it on in front of her family and friends.

#15 Millie Lang
Defender | 177cm | 06/11/2006

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 7 rebound 50s

After rotating through the midfield to start the season, Lang essentially returned to her full-time defensive role where she excelled, playing interceptor and mopping up in defence. Her powerful left boot could have been more efficient at times, especially when under pressure, but she cleared it long to the wing and out of danger time and time again.

#36 Elsie Conroy
Defender | 172cm | 19/08/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 8 rebound 50s

Conroy teamed up well with Lang in defence and provided great rebound from the back 50 and kept to the task throughout the four quarters. Though she won a lot of ball from deep in the back 50, she took a few marks and was also able to win it at ground level too, gathering it well and being effective by foot.

GEELONG FALCONS:

#7 Sara Howley
Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 29/01/2006

Stats: 36 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Howley has never been short of prolific games, but this outing felt like one of her most prolific to-date. Each time she won it, she seemed to work effectively to impact the game, and was noticeable with the way she thought through her decisions and made good ones under pressure. After a week off she looked refreshed, kicked a nice goal and was clearly best on ground in a big win.

#8 Mekah Morrissy
Midfielder | 159cm | 16/01/2006

Stats: 24 disposals, 1 mark, 13 tackles, 8 inside 50s, 1 goal

The skipper’s experience playing inside did not end with Howley returning, as Morrissy backed up her 40-touch effort last week with another 24 disposals against the Rebels. She laid a ridiculous 13 tackles, put her body on the line and was clean at ground level, running hard up and down the ground. She took a great intercept mark at half-forward and via a 50m penalty for encroachment, nailed a set shot too.

#24 Georgia Tyrrell
Midfielder/Forward | 168cm | 04/08/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 10 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Tyrrell contributed through the midfield and rotating forward, often pushing up after centre stoppages to add an extra number closer to the stoppage. She was clean at ground level time and time again, and was able to dispose of it cleanly. She lowers the eyes going inside 50, and while her productions levels can be a little up and down, she was very impressive both offensively and defensively in the win.

#28 Hayley Peck
Ruck | 180cm | 31/01/2005

Stats: 20 disposals, 7 marks, 9 tackles, 34 hitouts, 5 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

It was another stat-stuffing performance from the over-age ruck who dominated and had the ball on a string. She was too good at the stoppages, getting first hands to it consistently, and also presented well around the ground to clunk a number of marks. She did turnover a few touches by foot, but used her strong frame to advantage at the coalface, and laid many tackles once the ball was at ground level.

#33 Ava Bilyk
Defender | 167cm | 07/07/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Making her Falcons debut, the Vic Country Under 16s MVP did not disappoint, being among the better players on the ground as a rebounding defender who pushed up to the wing. She competes hard one-on-one, gets into great positions reading the ball in light, and took a number of strong intercept marks in the back half of the ground. Her kicking was generally effective, and she showed great composure for a debutant.

#38 Stella Huxtable
Midfield/Forward | 170cm | 22/12/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

Huxtable’s versatility was on display with the midfielder able to kick a couple of goals in the win, while starting at centre bounces. She is a natural first possession winner at the coalface but has a lovely left foot that can set up teammates for goals such as Seisia White in the third term, while able to nail a couple of goals, including one on the run. A clean player off the deck.

Gippsland Power 12.9 (81) defeated Sandringham Dragons 2.5 (17)

GIPPSLAND POWER:

#9 Lily Milner
Forward | 170cm | 25/01/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Another Under 16s representative who had a strong outing, Milner looked lively at half-forward, and worked up to half-back at times find the ball there too. She laid an elite tackle to start quarter four which was symbolic of her overall performance, while constantly remaining active in the forward half.

#15 Jasmine Sowden
Midfielder/Forward | 164cm | 17/12/2006

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals, 2 behinds

Sowden started on-ball and spent time deep forward when resting, and converted two majors while doing so. Competently skilled on both sides of her body, she was clean at round level and had great strength in close. Her tackle numbers were down on her ridiculous usual efforts, but she also had a bit more time and space than she is used to, and got to the ball first.

#16 Ash Centra
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 02/06/2006

Stats: 29 disposals, 8 marks, 5 tackles, 2 hitouts, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals, 3 behinds

Centra started at full-forward and essentially played wherever she felt like, roaming up and down the ground and winning the ball at will. She got back to help the defence at times, then when Gippsland was on top – most of the game – she pushed hard forward and kicked two goals either side of three quarter time. Looking a class above for another week, she was unstoppable, even winning some hitouts taking ruck stoppages and clunking contested marks for fun.

#32 Abby Hobson
Forward | 174cm | 11/09/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals

Hobson made the most of her chances from late in the first term after spraying a shot she would normally nail early, with the bottom-ager finishing with three goals from 13 touches. She kicked one from a set shot and her next two were from hard running back to goal putting them through from point blank range.

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS:

#15 Sophie McKay
Midfielder/Forward | 168cm | 27/04/2006

Stats: 22 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

It was a not as of prolific game for McKay who was not her normally dominant self, which was more or less indicative of the team. She still found plenty of the ball and had some nice moments at times, but like Sandringham as a whole, it just didn’t go her way. Still, she got back to help out in defence and covered ground well throughout the match.

#46 Scout Howden
Wing | 174cm | 17/02/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 5 tackles, 1 rebound 50

The Dragons leader tried hard for four quarters, and like most Dragons found it pretty tough. The Gippsland pressure was outstanding, and she had very little space. Still, she showed quick hands when she had it and looked to win the ball in each third o the ground, running up and down the wing.

Bendigo Pioneers 2.2 (14) lost to Eastern Ranges 15.12 (102)

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#5 Lucia Painter
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 23/02/2006

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s

Never one to not have some sort of impact, Painter was a clear standout in a tough loss for the Pioneers. She was up against it with the depth of the Eastern midfield, but laid some fantastic tackles, and with ball-in-hand was able to do damage down the field. She uncharacteristically made a few errors by foot that went over targets and out of bounds, but for the most part was highly impactful and did what she could.

#13 Jemmika Douglas
Defender | 166cm | 20/02/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Such a classy player who is equally skilled as she is tough, Douglas did well playing aggressively off half-back and looking to get the ball moving. She has a slick sidestep and can use a mix of speed and power to get around or through opponents, while laying some bone-crunching tackles when the shoe is on the other foot.

EASTERN RANGES:

#6 Tayla McMillan
Midfielder | 161cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 10 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

It was another classy game from the bottom-ager who impacted from both skill and defensive points of view. She was clean at ground level, quick to dispose of it, and mopped up behind the ball. She just seemed to pop up at the right times, finished off with a goal and was outstanding with her work in forcing opposition mistakes.

#7 Stasia Stevenson
Midfielder/Forward | 164cm | 02/10/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 9 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Starting forward, Stevenson kicked two first quarter goals and looked a real danger in front of the big sticks. She got her turn through the midfield and was able to then set up shots on goal for her teammates, while applying great defensive pressure. One of a number of Eastern midfielders who can run both ways, Stevenson contributed well throughout the four quarters.

#10 Jordyn Allen
Defender/Midfielder | 166cm | 12/11/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Her clean hands are a point of difference compared to a lot of other midfielders, and Allen is just so clean at ground level and able to dispose of it well. She dishes off quickly, knows how to position herself, and executes efficiently by hand or foot. The fact both Allen and McMillan are bottom-ager is amazing for Eastern next year. Like many of her teammates, Allen also got on the scoreboard.

#11 Grace Belloni
Midfielder | 174cm | 09/09/2006

Stats: 24 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 8 inside 50s

A really strong game from the inside midfielder who spent a fair bit of time on Painter at stoppages in order to quell the star’s strength on the inside. She gets to the ball first but can also be a second possession winner, cracking in and extracting the ball consistently. She matches up well against anyone aerially, and uses her frame effectively at ground level. Her goal on the run was superb and she continued to provided headaches for the home side with her work in the middle going forward.

#12 Georgia Knight
Forward | 164cm | 11/10/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 3 behinds

Knight is always going to feast when Eastern gets on top of the midfield battle, and though missing a few chances with rushed shots, she still kick a couple of goals – both in the second term – and looked dangerous close to goal. She reads the ball in flight well and has great forward craft which she put to work throughout the game.

#13 Georgie Brisbane
Forward | 175cm | 13/12/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 marks, 1 tackle, 3 hitouts, 2 goals, 2 behinds

Hands down her best performance of the year, and the Brisbane of last year was back showing some fantastic confidence inside 50. A week off seems to have rejuvenated the captain who still presented earlier in 2024, but did not quite have the same confidence and impact she showed as a bottom-ager. However after a solid first game back after a break, Brisbane took it to another level, clunking seven marks and looking unbeatable in the air.

#42 Brylee Anderson
Defender/Midfielder | 172cm | 25/03/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Just knows how to find the ball, and the Vic Metro Under 16s MVP continues to look more than comfortable at Under 18s level. She hits targets by foot, tracks it well and is quick to dispose of it, pushing up the ground when at half-back, and spending time on-ball to get her hands on the ball more often. One who will be exciting to watch over the next few seasons.

#43 Scout Semple
Forward | 162cm | 03/10/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 goals, 2 behinds

Another Vic Metro Under 16s representative who was on debut, Semple wasted no time joining the first kick, first goal club with a classy snap two minutes into the match. Her teammates flocked from all over the field to get around her, but she would kick two more including another snap late in the second term to make it 64-0 on the scoreboard. A natural midfielder, she will do her apprenticeship forward while likely gaining some midfield minutes through the season.

Western Jets 5.8 (38) defeated Northern Territory Academy 3.0 (18)

WESTERN JETS:

#9 Sierra Grieves
Midfielder | 163cm | 18/05/2006

Stats: 33 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

It was a typical Grieves performance who just can’t help but find the ball. It was not ideal conditions for anyone, and Grieves seemed to have a quiet first term, before working into it and accumulating with ease. When inside 50 she had a couple of quick shots that both missed, but she worked as hard as anyone to get her team that maiden win.

#30 Alex McBride-Loane
Defender/Ruck | 173cm | 03/04/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 9 tackles, 12 hitouts, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

It was a strong game from a tall where conditions did not suit, starting in defence and getting her fair share of time through the ruck. She played to those conditions often thumping the ball long, but put it to dangerous spots, and won it in all thirds of the ground. McBride-Loane also showed talent through the ruck and got her hands to it on a number of occasions and backed up with good second efforts.

#42 Kiara Boyd
Forward | 173cm | 02/06/2008

With the game on the line, the Under 16s debutant certainly made it a match to remember. In the pouring rain, she stepped up to the plate in the last quarter when scores were level and kicked three consecutive goals to be the match-winner. In the end, Boyd was the difference between the sides and helped guide the Jets to their first victory.

NORTHERN TERRITORY:

#3 Marika Carlton
Midfielder | 159cm | 03/08/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 8 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-ager might be small in stature but she packs a punch, laying some terrific tackles in close and showing clean hands. She could throw the ball on the boot at times, but considering the conditions it was arguably the most suitable thing to do, and she just kept scrapping it forward every chance she got.

#13 Tatyana Perry
Defender | 171cm | 28/02/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 rebound 50

The classy AFLW Academy member looked every bit that coming off half-back. Though the conditions made it tough for her at times and there was the odd mistake every from the skilful defender. However she was ultra-clean in torrential rain and was able to get it one-take off the deck which showed those traits in full. Perry also tried to move the ball in transition well from half-back to half-forward.

#19 Emma Stark
Wing/Forward | 164cm | 01/02/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

The Oakleigh Chargers wing got to get on the end of a couple of goals when inside 50, kicking two of her team’s three majors for the night. She applied great pressure in slippery conditions and made the most of her chances when they came. Taking three marks considering the slippery ball was also pretty impressive.