SOUTH Australia’s hopes of a fourth straight Under 16s title at the AFLW National Development Championships moved ever so closer after holding off a gallant Western Australia by five points at Thomas Farms Oval yesterday. The Croweaters looked in control after half-time when booting the only two goals for the first 34 minutes, before back-to-back majors for the Sandgropers cut the deficit to just five.

Unfortunately for Western Australia, the clock beat any hope of a remarkable turnaround, and South Australia saluted 5.7 (37) to 5.2 (32) to notch up yet another victory at the level. Izabella Nisbet had a day out with 36 disposals, 13 tackles, six clearances, nine inside 50s and four rebound 50s, working in tandem with Mia Wood (22 disposals, 10 tackles and seven clearances) on the inside.

Scarlett Blethyn was moved onto West Australian star Arabella Nelson in the second half to reduce the amount of easy intercept marks, and kept her to eight disposals and two marks in a half after Nelson had 15 and seven respectively in the first half. Blethyn herself had seven disposals and two marks in a genuine one-on-one contest. Alongside Nelson, Caitlin Boss (22 disposals, four marks, six tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s) impressed among an even group.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.1 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 5.7 (37)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 1.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 5.2 (32)

GOALS:
South Australia: I. Gray 2, C. Nettle, R. Rose, J. Shortridge
Western Australia: S. Homer 2, L. Scott, B. Godecke, L. Fuller

RMC BEST:
South Australia: I. Nisbet, S. Blethyn, M. Wood, D. McCracken. A. Tran
Western Australia: A. Nelson, C. Boss, T. Smoker, V. Matera, L. Scott

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#2 Annika Tran (Woodville-West Torrens)
Midfielder/Wing | 149cm | 19/11/2010

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

While only small in stature, Tran caught the eye with her movement in traffic, winning the first centre clearance out of the middle. She was involved early showing clean hands and some nice skills, while also not being afraid to apply tackling pressure on bigger opponents. Spent time on a wing at different points, and while the bulk of her disposals were handballs (11), that was because she was able to flick out a pass to teammates to allow them to run forward.

#8 Izabella Nisbet (Central District)
Midfielder | 166cm | 25/08/2010

Stats: 36 disposals, 1 mark, 13 tackles, 6 clearances, 9 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Nisbet had a day out, racking up the ball at will for South Australia. A contested beast at Under 16s level, Nisbet finished with a whopping 26 contested possessions amongst her tally, as well as 11 hardball gets, five more than anyone else on the field. She also had an equal game-high 10 handball receives to show she works well into space, and while at times her disposal was rushed going forward, given the amount of pressure she was under, it made sense. An all-round defensive and offensive display in a dominant four-quarter performance.

#15 Mia Wood (Norwood)
Midfielder | 168cm | 29/09/2010

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 10 tackles, 7 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Supported Nisbet well through the middle, racking up the most clearances on-field as well as double-digit tackles. Wood has been impressive through the AAMI Talent League, and back against her own age group, she was even more so. Her strong tackling ability and smarts to get ball to boot or quickly by hand when under pressure was noticeable. She spent most of her time in and around the coalface, and like Nisbet, found most of her touches in contested situations.

#18 Jaidee-Lee Shortridge (South Adelaide)
Forward | 164cm | 11/02/2010

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal, 3 behinds

Was arguably a few straight kicks away from a big day out, with the lively South Adelaide forward always looking dangerous inside 50. She booted 1.3 for the day, but that included one really unlucky miss and another that was touched on the line. She has the forward craft to lead into the right areas to accept low darts inside 50, and just knows where the big sticks are. Applied some nice defensive pressure too.

#28 Della McCracken (Norwood)
Midfielder/Forward | 167cm | 05/05/2011

Stats: 18 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

One of a number of bottom-agers at the carnival who held her own and can be noted for the future, McCracken worked hard up and down the ground, getting forward, while also doubling back to assist the defence. She too found most of her touches in and around the coalface, and while spreading well to win it on the wing too, McCracken was able to crucially extract the ball on a number of occasions. Had a few clangers here and there, but took risks and showed great vision going inside 50.

#30 Emmerson Warren (South Adelaide)
Defender | 171cm | 08/07/2011

Stats: 12 disposals, 7 marks, 6 tackles, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

Was a standout down back for the Croweaters, constantly interrupting the West Australian offence and intercepting anything that came. her way. She stood tall when required and looks the part at that half-back line, clunking three contested marks amongst her seven grabs, and followed up well with relentless pressure at groundlevel too. Continually got into the right positions to drive the ball back up the field for her team.

#32 Scarlett Blethyn (West Adelaide)
Tall Forward | 178cm | 03/12/2010

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The versatile tall found herself working up the ground at different times but after a solid first half with a few involvements, came alive in the second half going head-to-head with Nelson. Following her everywhere and also peeling off to win her own footy, Blethyn did well to reduce the West Australian’s constant intercepting presence, while looking dangerous in attack herself. A good size, competes well in the air and is mobile, expect her to feature at League level this season for the Bloods.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#2 Caitlin Boss (Subiaco)
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 07/12/2010

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Having already made her League debut last week for the Lions, Boss looked the part for the Sandgropers in an impressive four-quarter display. She started on-ball and found plenty of it both around the stoppage and in the front half, quite often under immense pressure. Her hands were clean though, and she made good decisions with ball in hand, winning more hardballs than anyone else on her side. Though small in stature, Boss goes in hard and has that touch of class too when in space.

#3 Keira Fawcett (Swan Districts)
Forward/Wing | 159cm | 13/11/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Fawcett worked well up and down the ground finding the ball in each third of the field. She does well in marking contests to get to the front position, and even when not taking the ball in the air, brings it to ground and then can play to her strengths. She provided plenty of forward thrusts, and looked to keep the ball moving at all costs, showing clean hands on the outside and being an option between the arcs.

#10 Trista Smoker (West Perth)
Forward/Midfielder | 173cm | 12/11/2010

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

Had a really busy first half in particular and was clean at ground level and presented as a target from high half-forward. She did spend some time around the midfield too, but did her best work as that pressure forward who can also find her own ball. She bobbed up and put the pill into dangerous spots inside 50, and was unfazed by the pressure around her. Eligible to Melbourne as a father-daughter prospect (Craig, 17 games).

#11 Layla Scott (Peel Thunder)
Utility | 168cm | 17/09/2010

Stats: 14 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Scott showed a great versatility during the match to play inside, outside and up forward which really helped throw around the magnets for the West Australian side. While like a number of players, Scott contributed across the board, with a run-down tackle at half-back one of her big moments, as well as a crucial set shot goal late in the fourth term to give her side a sniff at a comeback victory. Really well-balanced player.

#15 Vienna Matera (West Perth)
Forward | 163cm | 10/06/2010

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50

The daughter of Gino – and niece of Peter, Phil and Wally – always catches the eye with her work in the front half, and it should come as no surprise given her bloodlines that she is a small forward with some serious X-factor. Not afraid to throw herself into the contest despite standing at just 163cm, Matera finds a way out of traffic and has great closing speed as well. Her pressure on the opposition without the ball is very good, and she can play a two-way role up forward.

#16 Sariyah Homer (Peel Thunder)
Forward | 164cm | 22/08/2011

Stats: 5 disposals, 3 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals

Given at times she was starved of opportunities, Homer converted her couple of chances to really get her side up and above early. Booting two of Western Australia’s three first half goals, she got into the right spots, read the ball off hands well and made no mistake with a split second to convert. Did not see a lot of it all the time, but is a bottom-ager with improvements to come.

#31 Bella Nelson (West Perth)
Defender | 174cm | 10/03/2010

Stats: 23 disposals, 9 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 10 rebound 50s

It was no surprise to see Nelson have a day out, particularly in the first half with the now top-ager playing in her third AFLW Under 16s Championships. By half-time, Nelson had done as she’d pleased with 15 disposals, seven marks and eight rebound 50s, before South Australia ensured she had company everywhere she went. While not a tag, it meant Nelson had a number of big one-on-one contests rather than just picking off high opposition forward entries, which meant she worked hard for her eight second half disposals.