A HARD-FOUGHT contest between the National Academy and All Stars yesterday saw the former victorious by five goals at Whitten Oval. We noted down some of the players who caught the eye from both sides throughout the performance.

AFLW ACADEMY:

#3 Jordyn Allen (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Wing/Defender | 165cm | 12/11/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Provided some really impressive dash and dare as has been the case for the Eastern Ranges speedster, looking to break the lines at every opportunity. She had a lovely run down the wing and hit up Eloise Mackereth inside 50 at one stage in the second term, then stepped up in a huge way during the third. Allen had a couple of shots on goal that just pushed wide, before hitting up Mackereth deep again in the final term to cap off a really lively game. Her run-down tackle from the side in the middle was fantastic as well

#5 Mischa Barwin (Tasmania Devils/Allies)
Forward/Midfielder | 167cm | 04/12/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 goal

Predominantly played forward but got her chance in teh middle, Barwin looked to get the ball forward at all costs in the conditions. She kicked a classy goal around her body through traffic that bounced home in the second term, and applied great pressure to lock the ball in the front half. She was forced to rush on a number of occasions and did spray her set shot in the fourth term, but showed nice smarts with clever moments such a soccer forward to McMillan to run onto on the wing.

#9 Tayla McMillan (Eastern Ranges/Vic Metro)
Midfielder/Forward | 161cm | 25/05/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 2 behinds

Ever present around the middle, McMillan had others to win the bulk of the clearances, but the classy ball-winner continued to get into the right spots. Her offensive and defensive balance was on display once again, and she continually got the ball forward to put pressure on the opposition defence. Was clean at ground level in the conditions and though she missed a couple of shots on goal, covered the ground well and was a key contributor in teh win.

#14 Lily Baxter (South Adelaide/South Australia)
Wing | 173cm | 04/01/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 tackle, 3 inside 50s

Really clean and skilful in the conditions, Baxter had the bulk of her touches being handballs (11 out of 14), but she was able to use her smarts and vision to find teammates in space or down the ground and ran at a high efficiency. When she did kick it she was able to create plays down the ground, but it was her cleanliness at ground level and decision making the really exemplified her performance.

#15 Monique Bessen (Sturt/South Australia)
Defender/Midfielder | 174cm | 05/02/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 1 rebound 50

Seemed to find herself in a different role behind the ball, Bessen used her smarts and skills coming off half-back to show class, and then was quick and clean in congestion. While she did not get a lot of space to use her footskills too often, she showed her ability to shrug the would-be tackler and still get a handball away, as well as being neat with her disposals across the ground, but particularly behind the ball.

#16 Priya Bowering (Tasmania Devils/Allies)
Midfielder | 169cm | 02/01/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 2 marks, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

A deserving MVP on the day, few could doubt Bowering was amongst the best with Bown and Wolmarans as the three clear standouts. She did not do anything particularly outside her wheelhouse, but that is what makes her such a reliable player. Strong and clean on the inside, she uses her athleticism to motor through traffic and then dish off to a free teammate before pushing forward to have an impact. She hit up fellow Tasmanian Barwin inside 50 early in the game, and showed lovely hands when under pressure as she has done for the past few years. Won plenty of contested ball and thrived in the conditions.

#17 Chloe Bown (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
Midfielder | 173cm | 20/12/2007

Stats: 25 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 5 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Always stands up in big games and it was no different again for the Oakleigh Chargers midfielder. Accumulating more disposals than any other player (25), Bown was enormous across the course of the game. She cracked in and won her own ball, but also provided run and carry through handball receives and driving the ball forward. Bown set up numerous scoring chances with her disposal going inside 50 – teaming up with Wolmarans on a couple of occasions, and was so quick to get boot to ball. Makes good decisions with ball in hand, and played a superb four-quarter game.

#22 Isla Wiencke (Giants Academy/Allies)
Midfielder/Forward | 174cm | 30/03/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Does all the tough things you love to see in a teammate such as a goal-saving tackle early and putting her body on the line both at ground level and in the air. Had it not being for spraying a shot 15m out running into goal – which 99 times out of 100 she would put straight through the big sticks – it would have been a well-rounded game. Her contested work was great, and though she only had the 12 touches, made her presence felt at the stoppages.

#31 Alannah Welsh (Southport/Suns Academy/Queensland)
Forward | 169cm | 23/11/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Produced a lively performance inside 50 and working up the ground a little to find the ball. Hit the scoreboard after being held at the stoppage during the second term then attempted a checkside under pressure from the boundary. Attacked the ball with aggression and once she has it, powers forward and thumps it long or tries to do the unbelievable. As a whole, Welsh had her highlights and ‘almost’ moments.

#38 Olivia Wolmarans (Subiaco/Western Australia)
Key Forward | 180cm | 02/09/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 2 hitouts, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

The best player outside the midfield, Wolmarans had a really eye-catching performance up forward. Considering the conditions did not suit a key forward, the Subiaco tall still looked dangerous even before hitting the scoreboard. She was crucial in driving the ball forward in the second term where the Academy booted four goals, and though her personal shots either fell short or went wide, you could tell she was building in confidence. Finished off with two last quarter goals and almost had a third as well. Another proven big-game performer.

ALL STARS:

#1 Tatyana Perry (Oakleigh Chargers/Northern Territory/Allies)
Defender | 170cm | 28/02/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

The only over-ager in the match, Perry showed her clean hands and composure from the back half to earn her side’s MVP. She provided plenty of rebound and shared the kickouts to assist with that, while getting back to be a switch option as well. Perry saved a certain goal with a good mark in the defensive goalsquare and then executed from there, running at 69.2 per cent efficiency. The NT native has played a lot of football this year but remains one of the top 2006-born draft prospects.

#7 Sunny Lappin (Southport/Suns Academy/Queensland)
Wing/Forward | 170cm | 28/11/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Was electric off a wing and started like a house on fire with a whopping nine touches in the opening term. Her run and carry really disrupted the AFLW Academy’s defensive setup, driving the ball inside 50 time and time again. Her in-game consistency ebbed and flowed as wingers often do, but she did spent some time forward of the ball as well, producing a fantastic run-down tackle in attack with her set shot just falling short.

#10 Jovie Skewes-Clinton (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)
Defender | 176cm | 15/11/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

Clean and effective out of the back half, the versatile Rebel just stuck to the main defensive role in the match, adding run and carry as well as ground level pressure when required. She laid a fair bump on McMillan at one stage in the fourth term, and seemed to pop up from time to time to get involved. Was smooth with her ball use out of the back half, and was actually one of the hardest at ground level which showed she can win it that way as well.

#11 Scarlett Johnson (Northern Knights/Vic Metro)
Wing/Forward | 175cm | 26/11/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Stretched the opposition with her work on the wing, and like Lappin spent some time resting forward of the ball. She was not afford the space she would love to run and use her kicking skills, having just the one effective kick, but she was clean by hand and got plenty of the ball adding an extra number to the stoppage when required. Her best work is done on the outside, but Johnson was not afraid to get her hands dirty.

#12 Chloe Thorn (Oakleigh Chargers/Vic Metro)
Defender/Midfielder | 167cm | 07/09/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Similar to Perry, Thorn was one who was able to provide rebound from the back half and generally use the ball effectively. When moved into the midfield, it was Thorn who popped up for a goal off a step out of nothing just before the three quarter time siren to provide a spark for her side. She continued her on-ball role through the final term too getting her hands on it around the coalface.

#14 Carys D’Addario (Swan Districts/Western Australia)
Midfielder | 168cm | 01/03/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Collected her 12 touches across the first three quarters and was impactful with her work at the coalface. She won 75 per cent of her possessions in a contested situation, and half were hardball gets. She is strong over the ball, clean by hand and has great vision around the stoppages, as she has shown playing for Swan Districts in the WAFLW. Won a great centre clearance during the second term sending it forward, and held her own against quality opposition.

#15 Maggie Johnstone (GWV Rebels/Vic Country)
Midfielder | 171cm | 06/06/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 10 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Got her chance on-ball against quality opposition and was clearly up to the task. Johnstone showed her strength and booming kick to clear the danger, then when required laid some bone-crunching tackles. Set up the first goal of the game to Grace Parsons and also had a game-high six clearances and 10 tackles. Very clearly one of the All Stars’ best and most consistent across the game, ever a force around the ball and responsible for shovelling it forward.

#17 Harriet Bingley (Tasmania Devils/Allies)
Forward/Midfielder | 174cm | 23/03/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

One of the players to return for a second All Stars game, Bingley played inside 50 and was a target for the All Stars with her strength overhead and powerful kick features of her game. She missed a couple chances on goal with one behind, and another falling short and rushed through. Otherwise when around the ball she used her frame to allow her teammates to win it or laid some strong tackles as well.