DANDENONG Stingrays ended the premiership dream for Oakleigh Chargers, with the country-based region taking down the two-time reigning premier in a thrilling match at Shepley Oval. In one of the highest quality games of the year – especially considering the conditions – both sides had a stack of talent across the board and we took note of some of those players who caught the eye.

Dandenong Stingrays:

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

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 4 goals

Connolly’s dead eye accuracy that she has shown over the course of her career was back on the big stage, kicking four straight goals after having grappled with inaccuracy throughout 2025. After 1.5 in the quarter final, her 4.0 from 13 disposals was a game changer, including kicking one late in the first term and then her fourth after the final siren. She lead hard, competed strongly and showed great smarts one-on-one, at her absolute damaging best inside 50.

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The tall defender played a key role in the defensive 50 to assist Mehrmann and float across to intercept on a number of occasions. Racking up 12 disposals in a hot first term, Brothwell would finish as one of Dandenong’s most crucial players, and was the subject of our Player Focus. Check that out for a full rundown on her performance.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Mizuki Brothwell (Dandenong Stingrays)

#7 Lillian Snow
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 10/07/2007

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

Snow had an uncharacteristic quiet first term, but really got into the game after that to apply pressure around the contest and spread to get involved in transition. She has such clean hands and a penetrating left boot which helped with the strong breeze. she set up the vital third term goal to Connolly in the goalsquare and remained busy throughout the match.

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

Stats: 11 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 2 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

Made the most of her opportunities with three goals including her side’s first, and the match-winner. It was a case of right place, right time when Nikita Harris streamed into goal but shanked the kick. Geurts watched as it fortuitously landed in her arms, and as her opponent went to protect the goalline, she had the time and space to snap truly. She would convert a set shot midway through the third term, then convert off the trusty left with a split second look which sealed the match. Geurts should have had a fourth in the final few minutes but it was touched on the goalline by Curry.

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

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 4 behinds

It was an ‘almost’ day from Brothwell who looked ultra-damaging forward when the ball came inside 50. She peppered the goals throughout the match, but a combination of the pressure and the wind meant she finished the day with just four behinds to her name. Her defensive pressure was very good as always and she worked up the ground to apply it as well. Though she was rushed by foot going forward, she provided a target and was quick at ground level too.

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Starting on-ball and winning the first disposal of the match, Argus ran hard up and down the ground and looked to break lines whenever she could. Her defensive understanding to drop back and help out behind the ball was great, and there was one point in the first term where she won three disposals in a chain. Kicking across goal from the back pocket, she ran past for the handball receive, kicked to half-back and followed up to win it again and deliver down the ground. Really worked hard all game.

#11 Scarlett Marsh
Defender | 162cm | 03/04/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 3 clearances, 5 rebound 50s

Provided the composure that has been a key hallmark of her game, with Marsh consistently picking off potential forward forays and driving the ball back down the ground. She took some great intercept marks, and was also able to deliver cleanly by hand or foot including from the kickouts. Her one-on-one win against Teagan Murtic deep in defence then to have the composure to handball away was fantastic and she was able to have an impact on the game with her run. Only negative was giving away a push against Grace To in the fourth term for the opening goal, but otherwise her performance was top notch.

#15 Charlotte Gilmore
Wing | 172cm | 21/12/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Battled away on the wing with some high kilometres in the legs, covering the ground well across the course of the four quarters. She had a massive start to the game with eight touches in the opening term, and though her kicking efficiency was down, it spoke to the pressure around the ball carrier. Gilmore bobbed up from time to time to feature in transitional plays.

#17 Sophie White
Ruck | 181cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 33 hitouts, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The athletic ruck had her work cut out for her against Barbakas and Jessica Owen, but held her own and arguably took the chocolates purely from a ruck stoppage perspective. Her aerial presence was a really noticeable element in the game, winning free kicks from being held or having her arms chopped. While she is still developing some fundamentals particularly below her knees, she is very strong in the air and got involved around the ground too.

#27 Marlee Black
Forward | 164cm | 14/05/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Had her moments throughout the game, particularly between the arcs where she was able to provide an aerial presence and link up with the deeper forwards. She worked up the ground and got hands to it on a number of occasions, and her follow-up work was also impressive. She set up a goal to Jasmine Stephenson with clean hands which was a big moment. Got bumped off it a little too easy at one point in the third term, but made her presence felt with ball in hand.

#28 Gabrielle Mehrmann
Tall Defender | 179cm | 11/09/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

Impossible to ignore the job Mehrmann did on the best forward in the competition – and arguably the country – as she kept Bailee Martin to just one goal. While it was a team defence helping out, Mehrmann only really lost once in a one-on-one, defending well, wearing her like a glove and doing all the right things to limit her impact. She bravely defended and given she did not look out of place athletically, showed some promising signs for next year.

Oakleigh Chargers:

#2 Chloe Thorn
Utility | 167cm | 07/09/2007

Stats: 12 disposals, 11 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

The skipper cracked in and never backed off from a challenge, playing across all three lines in the game. She started on-ball then went into defence as Dandenong had the breeze, before staying down that end as a forward and eventually moving back on-ball. She is the ultimate role player, but has stacks of talent as well with great defensive pressure, neat skills and leads by example too.

#4 Zara Neuwirth
Key Defender | 183cm | 06/02/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 8 rebound 50s

Desperately defending against a tricky forwardline, Neuwirth was often tasked with the kick-ins and looked to clear the area best she could. Starting the game on Makhaela Bluhm, when Scarlett Bown moved into defence, Neuwirth rolled onto Geurts to try and limit her influence. She was one of Oakleigh’s best in the game, providing plenty of rebound and competing both in the air and at ground level.

#5 Isabelle Godfrey
Wing | 162cm | 11/08/2008

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

It was a tough day for Godfrey who was constantly running back and forth, mopping up in defence and doing her best to aid behind the ball. Though she can tidy up some elements of her game, Godfrey’s ability to break lines and have a slick sidestep to get around opponents always worries those on the other side. She set up the first goal of the fourth term to Grace To when taking two bounces and kicking to a one-on-one which saw Marsh infringe in the goalsquare.

#9 Chloe Bown
Midfielder/Forward | 173cm | 20/12/2007

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

After a quieter start by her standards, Bown really got cracking in the second term and seemingly was everywhere. She worked hard back into defence and intercepted on a number of occasions, even being the target from the kickout and holding firm in her positioning. She applied great defensive pressure and kept going until the final siren, spending time forward during the premiership quarter. Ended up as Oakleigh’s top ball-winner and though she has had bigger games, her performance was one that tried to lift her side at least.

#11 Isabella Mazzei
Midfielder | 170cm | 06/06/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50

The bottom-ager was another who had a real crack around the contest even if a lot did not go her way. After a shaky start where she got pinged holding the ball and then gave away a 50m penalty for encroachment, she bounced back to get her hands on the ball and apply great pressure throughout the four quarters. Mazzei has an eye-catching sidestep and attacks it hard, able to work both into defence, and then go forward with a team-first attitude.

#13 Zoe Curry
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 09/10/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Dandenong did really well to limit the influence of Oakleigh’s on-ball brigade, and Curry was one of those. Though she only had the one clearance, what was impressive was her ground coverage and ability to get on the task when outside the initial stoppage. Her clean hands under pressure – often with multiple opponents hanging off her or ready to tackle – were sublime, and she gave as good as she got with some bone-crunching tackles. Though the result was beyond doubt late in the last quarter, her awareness to stay switched on and touch a Geurts set shot on the goalline was a credit to her attitude.

#50 Cleo Barbakas
Ruck/Forward | 181cm | 07/01/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 tackles, 8 hitouts, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 behind

The athletic tall rotated with Jessica Owen through the ruck and provided a point of difference when going against White. While not really impacting at the initial stoppage, her ability to take the ball out of the ruck or follow-up and win the clearance was noticeable. She has terrific athleticism and enormous upside given her size and mobility. She tried setting up Martin on a couple of occasions in the second half, and provided a target at the very least when forward.