BRISBANE Lions Academy picked up where they left off in Round 1, producing a comprehensive 40-point victory over the GWS Giants Academy in the opening game of a Blacktown International Sportspark double-header on Saturday.

The Lions lead from the opening term and were rarely troubled, with the Giants showing some fight in a three-goal third quarter before the visitors pulled away. We took note of some of the players who caught the eye across both sides.

GIANTS ACADEMY:

#22 Darcie Prosser-Shaw
Midfielder | 171cm | 02/06/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The Giants’ busiest ball-winner, Prosser-Shaw constantly sought the contest and moved the ball with intent from half-back through the midfield. Her clearance work was a highlight — winning first use at the centre bounce on multiple occasions and charging into attacking territory — while her clean release handball under pressure was a consistent feature. She had a crack at goal midway through the second term before being dragged down, showing a forward dimension to her game. Her lightning hands in traffic stood out, though she was occasionally susceptible in one-on-one marking contests overhead.

#23 Sophia Gaukrodger
Forward/Midfielder | 173cm | 16/01/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 rebound 50s

The over-ager worked across multiple roles, laying six tackles to complement her disposal count and proving difficult to dispossess once she had the ball. A neat turn and hitup on the wing in the third term was her best moment with the ball, while her composure under pressure — throwing it on the boot to clear danger from defence on more than one occasion — underlined her work rate. Functional rather than electric, but a reliable presence.

#30 Morgan Stevens
Wing/Defender | 177cm | 13/08/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

Stevens did her best work quietly in the defensive half, providing clean options out of the back 50 throughout the day. Her kicking was a genuine asset — long, accurate, and well-weighted even under pressure — with a couple of particularly deft touches in the final term showing real footballing composure. Once again showed her value as a wing when not behind the ball as she covers the ground well and reads the play exceptionally.

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s

Six clearances from 10 disposals tells you everything you need to know about Curry’s day — she was dominant at the coalface, winning the hard ball and releasing by hand with sharp instincts. Her second quarter was her best, with a strong contested mark at half-forward before playing on to thump it deep, then winning another clearance while being tackled to get boot to ball. Her release handball was a feature all day. The outside game can continue to develop, but Curry’s contested output is elite for the draft crop.

#32 Alana Fraser
Tall Defender | 175cm | 27/09/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 4 hitouts, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

Fraser provided steady defensive work, with a fantastic contested intercept mark inside defensive 50 the highlight — she read the ball well, positioned cleanly, and moved it efficiently. Her overlap runs and neat hands when venturing forward were a bonus. Her disposal by foot in particular really stood out as she pinpointed passes coming out of the back half at an elite efficiency.

#34 Billie Hamilton
Forward/Midfielder | 168cm | 14/11/2009

Stats: 13 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

The bottom-ager was the Giants’ most impactful forward, kicking two goals – a booming long kick in the first half and a composed left-foot set shot from a tight angle in the final term. Her physicality was notable for a younger player, with strong body work at half-forward and a willingness to contest at ground level. The combination of power and forward instinct suggests plenty of upside as she matures.

LIONS ACADEMY:

#1 Lily Quigley
Wing | 160cm | 26/11/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 8 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Eight marks from a wing is a standout return, with Quigley’s reliability in the air for a small very good, and often thanks to her incredible work rate and speed-endurance mix. The over-ager’s goal in the first term was a moment of opportunism, pouncing on a loose ball near goal and dribbling home with composure. She was effective at both ends, with her two-way running and clean decision making the hallmarks of a polished performance.

#2 Molly Ferguson
Midfielder | 161cm | 20/04/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

Ferguson produced two moments of genuine brilliance alongside a sound all-round display. Her first goal — a shake and shrug of a tackle 30 metres out before turning and slotting it with real conviction – was a highlight-reel finish, while her second from a strong mark in the pocket showed composure on a tight-angle set shot. She stood up consistently in contested situations and her intercept mark in defence and bullet kick off half-back in the third term showed her influence extended well beyond the forward half. A class act.

#3 Ameleia Murray
Defender/Midfielder | 163cm | 13/09/2009

Stats: 26 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The bottom-ager put in arguably the best performance on the ground, backing up a strong Round 1 with a 26-disposal effort that touched every phase of play. Murray’s ground-covering ability is her standout trait — she was in defensive positions mopping up, winning clearances through the middle, and pushing inside 50 in consecutive passages throughout. A smart piece of play in the third term, working in front of her opponent to bring a contested ball to ground and release to Petrides, summed up her football IQ. Seven inside 50s from a defender/midfielder is a remarkable return. One of the competition’s most exciting young prospects.

#6 Zoe Petrides
Forward/Midfielder | 165cm | 28/09/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Petrides was smart and dangerous whenever the ball came her way inside 50, with her ability to read the play ahead of opponents a defining quality. Her goal came from pure positional awareness — being in the right spot to soccer home after McIlwain kept the ball alive at the line. A strong lead and chest mark to open the third term, followed immediately by a pinpoint short pass into a scoring position, was her best passage of play. Busy and influential without dominating the stats sheet.

#9 Edie Fraser
Tall Forward | 174cm | 28/08/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

The bottom-ager was lively in the front half, presenting well on the lead and reading the play to put herself in dangerous positions consistently. Her goal came from a strong contested mark, and she was unlucky not to have more — twice denied by what appeared to be a touch on the line. A powerful kick to the goalsquare from 40 metres showed her physicality, and her willingness to accept the ball under pressure was evident throughout. Promising signs for one of the most naturally gifted bottom-age forwards.

#18 Freya Ross
Wing | 169cm | 04/11/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

Ross had a great day out and really impacted on the scoreboard with a pair of majors. Both came from impeccable timing — reading the ball off hands and finishing with composure, first from 30 metres off a step, and then from a set shot at the same range in the second term. Ross was active across the wing and half-back in between, with her marking clean throughout. She finds the right position at the right moment with impressive regularity.

#19 Mia Geere
Midfielder | 171cm | 08/04/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 2 clearance, 7 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Geere was composed and consistently excellent, doing much of her best work in the quieter moments of the game. Her ball use was the standout — every kick well-weighted and well-directed, whether finding a leading target inside 50 or switching the ball to Ross on the arc for a marking opportunity. She won the first centre clearance of the second term as well and though not a massive clearance player on the day, did her best work in transition.

#22 Harlee McIlwain
Tall Forward | 174cm | 07/04/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles

Nine tackles from a tall forward is normally jaw-dropping but it speaks volumes to McIlwain’s ability outside the aerial contest that it is not that surprising. The effored reflected her relentless pressure and determination to stay in the contest even when the ball didn’t come her way cleanly. Her best technical moment came in the second term, keeping the ball alive at the goal line with a tap to Petrides who converted. She marked twice in the pocket and was denied a goal each time through distance and out of bounds, but her constant aerial presence and work rate made her a genuine handful. Was helped off after a knock in the third term.

#35 Indiana Scheffler
Tall Forward | 181cm | 28/10/2009

Stats: 14 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 goals, 2 behinds

Scheffler marked consistently on the lead throughout the day but had to wait until the third term before the accuracy followed, snapping one home from close range before finishing with two further goals in the final quarter to complete a three-goal haul. A composed set shot from 35 metres and a mark on the final siren highlighted her staying power. The smart short pass to Fraser when everyone expected her to shoot from 40 metres out in the third term showed real footy awareness. The bottom-ager finishes games strongly — a quality worth noting.