DANDENONG Stingrays and Murray Bushrangers advanced through to the Coates Talent League Girls Preliminary Finals after winning their respective qualifying finals last weekend. As always we took note of some of the players who caught the eye across the four teams in the second half of our Scouting Notes.

>> SCOUTING NOTES: Metro Quarter Finals

Dandenong Stingrays:

#1 Evelyn Connolly
Forward | 169cm | 26/05/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 hitout, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 1 goal, 5 behinds

It was another ‘almost day’ for Connolly who not for the first time peppered the goals. She finished with five behinds from her six shots, converting a close-range snap under pressure midway through the third term. But aside from her inaccuracy, Connolly still presented on the lead, used her strength and applied great defensive pressure at ground level which were all hallmarks of a well-rounded game.

#3 Nikita Harris
Midfielder | 162cm | 01/01/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 11 tackles, 5 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 3 behinds

The consistent inside midfielder brought the heat around the ball and did a lot of the grunt work in close while also bursting away. Her run and carry was important in the Stingrays getting on top, and her hands at the coalface were terrific. Harris produced a highlight run-down tackle on Addison Baars in the middle at one point, one of 11 tackles in the match, and is just one of those players with a consistent approach.

#5 Mizuki Brothwell
Defender | 175cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

The National Academy member had some eye-catching moments including a bursting run down the wing to kick inside 50, and linking up by hand on transitional plays from defence to attack. She mopped up behind the ball, took a strong intercept mark in the defensive goalsquare late, and pushed aggressively up the ground at times to have an impact.

#7 Lillian Snow
Utility | 169cm | 10/07/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Continuing her strong form of late, Snow started on-ball then actually spent time off half-back in the second term, before going forward for the last half. Really showing off her potential versatility, Snow’s strengths lay in her power, penetrating left boot and aerial ability which enables her to compete in any role. She finished with two goals from set shots, and is a hard matchup when one-on-one.

#8 Ruby Geurts
Forward | 171cm | 17/09/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 3 goals

Really building well into the end of her bottom-age campaign, Geurts was lively inside 50 booting three goals and being the dominant target. She has a slick sidestep, good reach and smart in finding leading lanes. One a couple of occasions she ran into trouble and was forced to rush, but as a whole, she was accurate from the set shot and clean via hand.

#9 Nalu Brothwell
Forward/Defender | 174cm | 22/10/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

Kicked a couple of goals in a handy performance through the middle two quarters, then incredibly spent time in defence next to her sister during the last quarter. Her defensive pressure around the ground was a great point of difference for the tall, and her classy finish on goal midway through the third term got her side up and about as they ran away with the game.

#10 Matilda Argus
Midfielder/Defender | 166cm | 08/01/2007

Stats: 27 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Arguably best on ground in the win off the back of a consistent four-quarter performance, Argus’ run and carry was vital in transitioning the ball from defence to offence. She found space well, took some relieving marks and was clean by hand. Her link-up play coming out of defence aided her side’s offence, while for a ball-winner and carrier, Argus’ defensive pressure is also great, laying seven tackles and not giving her opponents an inch. Ran at 67 per cent disposal efficiency.

#12 Alice Cunnington
Wing | 174cm | 30/06/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 2 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Working up and down the ground throughout the contest, Cunnington held a strong line and intercepted at half-forward time and time again early in the game. Her vision going forward and ability to execute was a delight, and she similarly worked hard defensively to gather behind the ball as well. Her footballing traits combined with her athletic prowess make her such a damaging player.

Geelong Falcons:

#8 Chloe Bryant
Defender/Midfielder | 165cm | 12/09/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

The over-age talent provides an important point of difference between defence and midfield with her composure and evasive ability to sidestep multiple opponents and find a free teammate to release to. At times she can miss the kick given the pressure she invites, but when able to dish off by hand or clear the stoppage, it puts her side on the front foot when turning defence into offence.

#9 Georgia Tyrrell
Midfielder | 168cm | 04/08/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 8 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

A fierce defensive game from the skipper who finished off the year with a big final game for the Falcons. The Vic Country MVP always brings 100 per cent effort, and she put her body on the line, won some important centre clearances and kept looking to pump the ball forward. Her efficiency in the game was down on her usual output, but the pressure was enormous, as was Dandenong’s ability to setup behind the ball.

#12 Meg Lappin
Key Utility | 180cm | 21/09/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 6 hitouts, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

The potential Brisbane father-daughter rotated between defence and the wing with her sister, as well as having a stint through the ruck. She competed well in the air and providing run and carry down the ground, with Lappin’s aerial strength was on display wherever she went. The 180cm prospect adds that point of difference compared to a lot of talls with her willingness to run by for the handball receive and kick long down the ground.

#16 Charlotte Van Loon
Tall Defender | 178cm | 09/07/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

Van Loon had a mixed bag of a day with her defensive work outstanding – taking several intercept marks and laying some big tackles or bodying her opponent to force it to ground – but several of her kicks were either smothered or turned over trying to exit the defensive 50. She is so comfortable in one-on-one situation and boasts strong hands, with her negating jobs and knowing when to stay close and when to peel off, a strength.

#36 Ella Condon
Ruck | 182cm | 23/04/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 22 hitouts, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The double bottom-ager showed promising signs to finish off the year through the ruck, providing a target where she would either clunk a mark at half-back or bring the ball to ground. Despite turning 16 this year, Condon already uses her strong frame one-on-one against older opponents and has a booming kick that can clear the area. Looms as a big year for the Vic Country Under 16s MVP.

#38 Stella Huxtable
Midfielder | 172cm | 22/12/2007

Stats: 32 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 10 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Geelong’s standout in the match, Huxtable was huge on the inside, usually extracting the ball and getting it to the outside. At one point she drew two tacklers and timed the release off perfectly to a teammate, showing great composure under pressure. After a tough start to the game for her side, Huxtable kicked the Falcons’ first major out of the forward stoppage, throwing the ball on the boot to provide some energy to the team.

Gippsland Power:

#9 Lily Milner
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 25/01/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 8 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

After a quieter first term, Milner came alive with a huge second term where she got her hands to everything on the inside. Her clearance work was strong, and she kept putting pressure on the Bushrangers’ defence with her kicks going forward. Late in the game she went inside 50 to be a potential goalscoring threat, but unfortunately missed the one set shot she had. Her midfield work through the first three and a bit quarters was the standout element and she has primed herself for a big top-age season in 2026.

#10 Grace Dillow
Midfielder | 167cm | 03/06/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Dillow was one who had been alright through the early stages, but went to another level in the fourth, doing her best to stand up and fight against the Bushrangers’ momentum. She won a couple of important centre clearances and got into ball-winning positions to find plenty of the pill and record more disposals than any other Power player. Earlier in the game, her clean ground level work and great vision enabled her to have an impact in transition.

#19 Ella Stoddart
Defender | 174cm | 30/01/2007

Stats: 12 disposals 1 mark, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s, 1 goal

While it was not one of her bigger games, Stoddart’s 50th milestone was marked with a massive bomb during the third term that really got her side up and about. While the Power did go down, it looked like her launch from outside 50 that cleared the goalsquare one-on-one and bounced home would be the ignition. That moment sparked Gippsland to go a couple of goals clear, but unfortunately a fourth quarter fadeout against the breeze stopped it being a fairytale finish. Still provided some important run and carry at times.

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

Stats: 13 disposals, 10 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 goals, 1 behind

It became the Hobson show every time the ball went inside 50 in the forward half with the contested marking talent pulling in anything that came her way. On the odd occasion she did not hold the mark, she applied pressure at ground level, and deservedly finished with three majors. Her two during the third term after the Stoddart and Sutton majors, looked enough to help Gippsland to the win, and while the Power lost, Hobson’s season was one to remember with 20 goals in 13 games.

#33 Maya Crestani
Ruck | 184cm | 02/08/2007

Stats: 6 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 32 hitouts, 1 clearance

The athletic ruck really took control thanks to her height advantage and vertical leap, winning 32 hitouts as she and Zahri Burn helped the Power to a 51-9 hitout advantage. She is not a massive accumulator, but her ability to get first hands to it was important, with her one mark being an intercept grab at centre half-forward which lead to the Stoddart bomb.

#36 Chelsea Sutton
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 16/11/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 4 tackles, 3 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Cracked in for four quarters and applied the usual amount of defensive pressure and contested work that she has been accustomed to providing for her side. While Sutton has had higher production games, she was strong at ground level, looked dangerous in attack and gained reward for effort with a clever snap goal after a clean gather midway through the third quarter. Effective by foot and got the ball inside 50 repeatedly.

Murray Bushrangers:

#3 Rain Dodd
Defender/Midfielder | 165cm | 13/01/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 rebound 50s

Dodd has a consistent approach to her football and did well out of defence before being moved on-ball where she was fierce at the coal-face. A see-ball, get-ball player, Dodd also knows when to hold back and apply blocks for her teammates, then when in defence, also has a team-first mindset. While she can find the ball and provide some run out of the back 50, her defensive elements are her point of difference, saving a number of potential goals including a goal-saving smother and then follow-up tackle in the opening minute of the fourth quarter.

#7 Carmela Perri
Midfielder/Forward | 168cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

The bottom-ager is a strong inside midfielder who then went forward in the last term where she kicked a couple of goals playing deep. Perri has a lot of ball-winners around her when in the middle, so while she did not register a clearance, she applied defensive pressure and worked forward in waves. When at full-forward, she got into space and converted a major from a set shot, then slotted the last major of the game on the run.

#10 Sophia Green
Midfielder/Defender | 169cm | 22/11/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 13 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Green started on-ball and had an early shot on goal which with a somewhat cautious approach, missed to the right. Throughout the game she laid copious amounts of defensive pressure and made her opponents accountable, while working hard to cover the ground. She popped up in all thirds and though her final execution by foot could be tidied up a touch, she follows up well and had seven disposals when Gippsland was on top, desperately fighting the momentum.

#11 Majella Day
Tall Forward | 176cm | 11/03/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 3 goals

Day just finds a way to impact the scoreboard even when it has not necessarily gone her way for the most part. She kicked an early major eight minutes into the contest following a confident mark and set shot, but had to wait until midway through the last to strike again. She had her moments pushing up the ground or dishing off to teammates, but made up for lost time with a great intercept 15m out to slam home the goal. She iced the game with a brilliant snap at the 15-minute mark of the fourth term.

#14 Ellie Hall
Midfielder | 174cm | 07/07/2006

Stats: 30 disposals, 4 marks, 9 tackles, 7 clearances, 11 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

The high production midfielder was a constant through the middle, covering the ground with ease thanks to her huge endurance base. She applied defensive pressure, got first hands to it, and transitioned well from the inside to outside. Hall’s knack for getting into the right spots is superb, and she just tends to rack it up through old fashioned hard running. Set up a number of scoring opportunities going forward, while her holding the ball free kick in the opening minute of the last quarter was massive.

#15 Nikhita Spiteri
Forward/Midfielder | 171cm | 20/07/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 2 behinds

While her accuracy on goal still had its yips a little, Spiteri’s non-preferred left-foot goal was one to remember during the second term. It was noticeable during the match she was happy to lean into using that side of her body rather than just her right, and it made her that little more unpredictable when exiting stoppages. Her role as a pressure forward suits, and she has the ability to role into the midfield as she did later in the match to provide a different look inside.

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

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 9 rebound 50s

Had to save the day on a number of occasions, aggressively running out of the back 50 and pumping the ball long down the ground or looking to take the game on and gain vital meterage. Bell has a lovely long kick, though sometimes can try and bite off more than she can chew which resulted in a few turnovers. still, her bodywork and defensive attributes stood out, and there is always the lever to pull where she can be thrown forward.

#39 Skylah McPherson
Forward | 169cm | 22/01/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind

Had a huge first half picking up 11 disposals and looking lively in the front half where she ran hard as a high half-forward. The left-footed McPherson got the party started with a long-range launch that bounced home in the opening moments of the match, then used her run and carry to transition the ball inside 50. Had a couple of other chances to impact the scoreboard, though her sole other score was a behind off a snap. While she was quieter in the second half, still loomed as a valuable contributor.