A BIG day of quarter finals action is planned for tomorrow at Shepley Oval as the four country sides meet in what promises to be a fascinating double-header. Dandenong Stingrays are favourites to challenge the metropolitan teams and come in as top seeds going up against Geelong Falcons, while Gippsland Power and Murray Bushrangers battle it out in the other contest.

NEED TO KNOW

Venue: Shepley Oval
Date: Sunday, August 31
Time: 11:00am

FORM

Dandenong Stingrays enter the clash off a commanding 70-point victory over second Country seeds Gippsland Power, and having won four of their past five, with only a 28-point defeat to Oakleigh Chargers in that stretch. Geelong Falcons have been patchy throughout 2025, having lost to Oakleigh and Murray Bushrangers in the past two weeks after going on a four-game winning streak that included wins over understrength Dandenong and Oakleigh in that period.

TEAMS

Dandenong Stingrays:

1    Evelyn Connolly
2    Molly Reimers
3    Nikita Harris
5    Mizuki Brothwell
6    Makhaela Bluhm
7    Lillian Snow
8    Ruby Geurts
9    Nalu Brothwell
10    Matilda Argus
11    Scarlett Marsh
12    Alice Cunnington
15    Charlotte Gilmore
17    Sophie White
18    Bridget Koczek
25    Charlotte Hewitson (c)
27    Marlee Black
28    Gabrielle Mehrmann
29    Gleeson Litchfield
30    Kiara Triep
32    Jayde Pudney
33    Frankie Shepard
36    Jasmine Whitten
40    Zoe Zach
23    Georgia Goss (emg)
41    Rhianna Pool (emg)
48    Molly Gilligan (emg)

Geelong Falcons:

2    Danielle Rhodes
3    Kate O’Brien
4    Cavalle Boxer
5    Addison Baars
6    Charlee Morrow
7    Lua Payne
8    Chloe Bryant
9    Georgia Tyrrell
10    Jayde Morrissy
11    Juliet Muscroft
12    Meg Lappin
13    Stella Smith
14    Lokki Gillett
16    Charlotte Van Loon
18    Luella Aldridge
21    Ally Lappin
24    Alana Mulvahil
25    Tara Trethowan
26    Ava Bilyk
27    Olivia Bradshaw
33    Neave Dickson
36    Ella Condon
38    Stella Huxtable
22    Juliet Evans (emg)
30    Emie Dowling Button (emg)
37    Esme Conlan (emg)

KEY PLAYERS

Dandenong Stingrays

The Stingrays have a well-balanced list with National Academy member Mizuki Brothwell having played on all three lines this season after booting a goal last week. Up the other end is sister Nalu who is part of a potent forwardline including Evelyn Connolly and Ruby Geurts. Alice Cunnington can also hit the scoreboard and leads a strong bottom-age group with Scarlett Marsh and ruck Sophie White among them. In the middle, Matilda Argus and Lillian Snow will look to get first hands on it, with Charlotte Gilmore providing hard running on the outside.

Geelong Falcons

Sporting the strong inside combination of Stella Huxtable and Georgia Tyrrell, winning the clearances will be imperative to victory. Father-daughter eligible twin sisters Meg and Ally Lappin will provide run down the ground with Vic Country defender Charlotte Van Loon locking down on an opponent. Addison Baars has paired well with Chloe Bryant coming out of the back half, while 2024 Vic Country Under 16s MVP Ava Bilyk returns from injury.

PREDICTION

Dandenong has a bit too much depth and have been the best Country team all year. Expect the Stingrays to come away with the win and advance through to another preliminary final. Dandenong by 25 points.

NEED TO KNOW

Venue: Shepley Oval
Date: Sunday, August 31
Time: 1:10pm

FORM

Gippsland Power has had an up-and-down year with a couple of big losses at the start before a massive winning streak. In the run home they suffered a 79-point loss to Tasmania before climbing past Sandringham and then losing to the Stingrays by 70. Their best form is good enough, it is just finding it. Murray is not too dissimilar, with some impressive performances when able to get everyone on the park, coming in on a two-game winning streak with victories over the Northern Knights and Geelong Falcons.

TEAMS

Gippsland Power:

1    Sophie Hamilton
5    Evelyn Gudgin
7    Brooke Kelly
8    Mia Smith-Clark
9    Lily Milner
10    Grace Dillow
12    Bonnie Williams
13    Summer Harbour
14    Tia Jenkins
15    Melissa Diggerman
16    Jessica Grimsted
17    Ashleigh Perkins
18    Siena Lane
19    Ella Stoddart
20    Keira Gibbs
22    Acacia Sutton
23    Jayda Tannahill
29    Rebecca Fitzpatrick
31    Shanelle Kingston
32    Abby Hobson
33    Maya Crestani
35    Zahri Burn
36    Chelsea Sutton
6    Shae Langley (emg)
11    Stella Kittelty (emg)
21    Olivia Holmes (emg)

Murray Bushrangers:

3    Rain Dodd
6    Lana Carroll
7    Carmela Perri
8    Leila Creevey
9    Eliza Roche
10    Sophia Green
11    Majella Day
12    Isabella Klein
13    Jerrah Caruso
14    Ellie Hall
15    Nikhita Spiteri
20    Hayley Whitsed
21    Jazmine Holdsworth
24    Rose Bell
26    Lauren Jewitt
31    Latoya Holdsworth
37    Nakiyah Fraser
39    Skylah McPherson
41    Abbey Ibrahim
46    Ebony Chapman
47    Crystal Holdsworth
48    Charlie Gibson
49    Evie Henley
5    Molly McLaren (emg)
28    Dayna Kelly (emg)
38    Rose Milthorpe (emg)

KEY PLAYERS

Gippsland Power

Gippsland has a nice balance across the next few seasons with top-age draft prospects Ella Stoddart and Abby Hobson providing strong aerial presences up respective ends, while also playing through the middle of the ground. Bottom-age duo Grace Dillow and Lily Milner create a damaging one-two punch in the middle, while ruck Maya Crestani and contested ball-winning midfielder Chelsea Sutton got their chances with Vic Country after consistent years. Watch for double bottom-age left footer Brooke Kelly to get plenty of chances on goal.

Murray Bushrangers

On paper, Murray’s core top and bottom-age crew have the ability to cause an upset, having beaten Gippsland at the start of the year thanks to Rose Bell in front of goal. Bell has been playing in defence of late with Majella Day returning to be the threat inside 50. Nikhita Spiteri will bring the tackling pressure alongside Sophia Green and Vic Country skipper Rain Dodd, while over-ager Ellie Hall is having an ultra-consistent season. Eliza Roche and Skylah McPherson can do some damage as well.

PREDICTION

The toughest match of the weekend to predict. Gippsland has had bigger moments throughout the season, but also tougher losses. If they win it out of the middle they have a real variety of potential goalkickers, but Murray has the Day factor inside 50. Tip is with Gippsland by five points, though it genuinely is a 50/50 contest if both sides come to play.