IN the first half of Round 12, the GWV Rebels and Geelong Falcons both picked up wins over Murray Bushrangers and Eastern Ranges respectively at neutral venues. We wrap up who stood out across the games.

Murray Bushrangers 2.1 (13) lost to GWV Rebels 3.2 (20)

In challenging conditions, GWV Rebels managed to come away with a narrow seven-point win over Murray Bushrangers at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Saturday, keeping the Bushrangers’ winless in the 2024 Coates Talent League Girls season. The Rebels led 20-1 at one stage, before the Bushrangers kicked the last two goals to make it interesting, but ultimately not enough.

STANDOUT: Elise Cook (GWV Rebels)

In an even performance across both teams, Cook caught the eye with her balance of offensive and defensive traits, as the latter was particularly strong. She put her body on the line consistently and played some great wet weather football on her way to laying 11 tackles to go with her 17 touches in the win.

OTHERS:

Cook had plenty of contributors across the board, with bottom-ager Maggie Johnstone looking dangerous up forward, and the likes of returning over-ager Tyla Crabtree and Millie Lang also finding their fair share of the ball. Murray arguably had a number of top-end standouts with Holly Egan (21 disposals, nine tackles), Sophia Green (27 disposals, four marks and eight tackles) and Rain Dodd (25 disposals, seven tackles) as the only three with more than 12 touches.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Elise Cook (GWV Rebels)
4 – Holly Egan (Murray Bushrangers)
3 – Rain Dodd (Murray Bushrangers)
2 – Sophia Green (Murray Bushrangers)
1 – Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels)

Eastern Ranges 7.6 (46) lost to Geelong Falcons 12.11 (83)

The experience of a full-strength Geelong Falcons outfit proved too much against an Eastern Ranges side missing no less than seven of its top talents due to Vic Metro duties. While the Falcons jumped out of the blocks, the Ranges reeled them in to within 10 points at the main break, but Geelong kicked away in the second half with seven goals to three to run out 39-point victors at Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

STANDOUT: Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)

The bottom-age midfielder was enormous throughout the game, providing a strong body on the inside and cracking in with plenty of defensive pressure as well. She went forward in the second half at times and converted two goals to finish with those majors as well as 17 touches, three marks, five tackles and five inside 50s.

OTHERS:

Geelong’s depth across the park, but particularly in midfield was evident as Georgia Tyrrell had a game-high 25 disposals and 10 tackles, while Sara Howley (22 disposals, four marks and seven tackles) and Mekah Morrissy (14 disposals, two goals) were busy. Ava Bilyk and Sienna Mallon were strong out of the back half. For the Ranges, Brylee Anderson stepped up to play a critical role with 21 disposals, seven tackles and two goals, while fellow double bottom-agers Emily Rankin and Lara Williams. Over-ager Isla Baldwin also worked hard across the ground.

RMC MEDAL VOTES:

5 – Stella Huxtable (Geelong Falcons)
4 – Georgia Tyrrell (Geelong Falcons)
3 – Sienna Mallon (Geelong Falcons)
2 – Brylee Anderson (Eastern Ranges)
1 – Sara Howley (Geelong Falcons)