ONE OF the most in-form players across the Coates Talent League Girls competition, Ellie Hall is producing some stat-stuffing performances for Murray Bushrangers. The over-age talent who was unlucky not to land on an AFLW list last year has been busy at work dominating through the middle for the Bushrangers.

Of course, Hall is not just purely a midfielder. The 174cm utility has spent a lot time down back and can even drift forward to hit the scoreboard on occasions such is her versatility. A member of the GWS Giants Academy and last year represented the Allies, Hall is in her second year back since tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) following a dominant Under 16s Development Championships.

INTRODUCTION

Hall is a player with plenty to like and has is what you describe as a “natural footballer”. The hard-running utility has an elite tank and a massive production rate, and that has only grown as the season has progressed in 2025. Hall simply wears down opponents with her incredible running capacity, and thanks to her size, is able to dictate both in the air and at ground level. We take a look at her overall profile and some of the strengths and improvements.

STRENGTHS

Production

Hall’s obvious major strength first and foremost is simply finding the ball. Some players have ebbs and flows when it comes to getting into the right spots, where Hall simply does not have this issue. The Bushrangers talent is averaging 28.1 disposals, 5.1 marks, 7.8 tackles, 4.5 inside 50s and 2.5 rebound 50s per game this season, getting even more midfield time than in past years when she would split it half and half between on-ball and defence.

Aerial ability

At her size, Hall can compete with most players in terms of reach, and thanks to her ability to get to the right spots, she will often have more time to get into position and clunk a mark. When the opposition team has the ball, you will often see Hall dart back into defence to be an extra number and then pick off a forward foray when it comes into her area. Though not a dominant contested mark, she has safe hands above her head when in space and can take it at the highest point.

Kicking

Known for her lovely long kicking style, Hall does her best work when able to have the time and space to lace-out a kick forward. Like many players, once under pressure that efficiency does drop, but her ability to bomb it long also aids her team as it gains valuable metres and is able to clear it from danger. Hall does well as that distributor into attack when having the ball just outside 50 looking for a target on a lead.

Defensive pressure

For a player who wins so much of the ball, it is incredible to think how many times she still gets to it second – or in other words, lays tackles – which only further highlights her two-way ability. There are no question marks over whether or not Hall will get her hands dirty as she is averaging almost eight tackles per game and even when she had 39 touches on the weekend, laid seven tackles as well.

Endurance

Hall is one of the most prolific gut-runners in the country and she showed it at the Giants Preseason Testing coming back from her ACL last season. She dominated on that day and has showed ever since that she will out last players across four quarters with her determination to dig in and not relent. Quite often she has such a high production rate due to her ability to run all day.

IMPROVEMENTS

Speed

The major knock on Hall’s came is a tried and true one when it comes to players, and that is speed. She does not have the explosiveness of other players and at times it does run her into trouble. She will often gather the ball and unless she is already in space, has to quickly dispose of it before being caught. Hall has adapted to getting her hands free in a tackle or being able to extract it to a teammate efficiently, though her most common free against is holding the ball. Naturally other athletic traits such as agility are additional areas to work on.

Stoppage work

Given Hall’s incredible numbers and contested game, it might seem a tough strange that stoppage work could be an improvement, but the weekend’s game showed that she has the capacity to improve it even further. Not a huge clearance player considering how much she does win the ball, Hall had eight clearances on the weekend in her best performance around the ball yet. Prior to the weekend, Hall was ranked first in disposals, but 14th in total clearances, so an area that can further grow.

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Hall is a hard-running utility who is racking up massive numbers in the Coates Talent League Girls competition. The over-ager boasts an outstanding tank and brilliant defensive skills which hold her in good stead. There is little doubt that her consistency this season will give recruiters some pause for a second chance at this year’s AFLW Draft.

When considering Hall, it is a case of if you can overlook that lack of explosiveness, then she has a lot of fantastic traits that standout on the field. Able to be deployed anywhere, she is thriving at the Bushrangers and making the most of her over-ager season.