A WET Windsor Park made for tricky conditions between the Tasmania Devils and Gold Coast Suns Academy as the latter continued to bring in a host of Under 16s stars for the clash after a dominant national carnival. They proved to be amongst the best on the ground as the Suns saluted, 8.7 (55) to 1.5 (11) following a close first term.

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#2 Evie Ward
Utility | 172cm | 29/10/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 6 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Ward was Tasmania’s most consistent contributor in a difficult afternoon, doing her best work through the clearances and in behind the ball. Though predominantly in the midfield, the National Academy member spent time up forward, and also drifted into defence to help out. She read the ball well to take an intercept mark at half-back in the second term and converted cleanly, and her composure in gathering and thumping the ball to safety from the defensive half was a feature of her play. Made a really solid all-round return to the Devils team.

#6 Matilda Lange
Midfielder | 170cm | 30/01/2009

Stats: 28 disposals, 5 tackles, 11 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Thrived in the conditions against a quality Suns outfit, racking up a game-high 11 clearances. She was at the centre bounce all day, finding the ball through elite spin reads off the ruck tap and consistently getting it away cleanly under pressure. Her best individual moment came in the fourth minute of the final term – somehow bursting out of a half-back stoppage, sidestepping between two opponents and getting a quick handball away despite being caught. The conditions and the scoreline made it a difficult afternoon for the Devils, but Lange’s output was extraordinary regardless.

#7 Evie Bingham
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 16/06/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 8 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The other National Academy member with Ward made her return and showed some fierce attack on the contest be it up forward or when around the ball. Bingham’s lightning hands under pressure in the middle were a feature – getting the ball away cleanly in congested situations on multiple occasions – and her clean hands off the bounce in the final term showed her reliability at ground level.

#8 Olivia Lyons
Defender | 174cm | 29/10/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 7 rebound 50s

Lyons’ positioning in the defensive half was consistently strong, holding her line to bring the ball to ground and clearing effectively, and a critical intercept mark in the goalsquare in the final term that saved a goal was her most important individual act. At times her desperation to clear the ball resulted in turnovers – mostly due to the way the Suns Academy were well set up at half-forward – but she put her body on the line, applied fierce defensive pressure and was tasked with the unenviable job of kickouts to try and being scoring chains from the back half.

#15 Taryn Lowe
Defender | 171cm | 23/01/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-ager had a feisty and competitive day, going in hard to win the ball and shovelling it away under immediate pressure on multiple occasions. She was stationed in the back half of the ground but won five clearances, able to get in-and-under effectively to feed it out and clear teh danger. Her disposal was a little rushed at times given the circumstances, but she kept throwing herself at everything, trying to break through tackles and get the ball moving.

GOLD COAST SUNS ACADEMY:

#4 Sienna Burnham
Midfielder | 161cm | 12/07/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 1 mark, 24 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 behind

No that is not a typo, the over-ager laid 24 tackles. A pretty comfortable individual record for the year in the Talent League Girls, Burnham showed why she is a chance to earn a chance at hte top level with a good year, balancing her defensive intent with her offensive ball-winning. She constantly hunted the ball, getting free kicks from her tackling work, driving inside 50 and applying pressure at every contest. Her neat gather at half-forward that set up the Suns’ first goal was the moment that announced her day, and she never let up from there. In conditions where handling the ball cleanly was a genuine challenge, Burnham’s ability to keep winning it and laying tackles was the defining feature of the Suns’ defensive work rate.

#9 Lily Moana
Midfielder | 168cm | 23/03/2010

Stats: 25 disposals, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal

Coming off a dominant Under 16s carnival where she won the overall MVP and was named in the All-Australian team, Moana was the Suns’ most damaging ball-winner and capped off her day with a brilliant goal in the dying moments in conditions that tested everyone. She was a touch fumbly in the wet, but kept competing and her power to stand up in tackles and handball clear was a feature throughout. Her strength to hold a firm line at the top of 50 in the final term and intercept before launching into the forward pocket was the setup for her goal – reading the play off the back of the half-forward stoppage, rolling forward just inside 50 and slamming it home. Has all the elite traits of being a very top-tier player.

#10 Maddie Campbell
Defender/Midfielder | 167cm | 16/01/2008

Stats: 29 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 5 clearances, 6 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Campbell was outstanding, picking up 29 disposals, six rebound 50s, five clearances and a goal that was the play of the game. Her defensive work throughout was excellent, headlined by a brilliant run-down tackle at half-back in the first term that stopped a Devils inside 50 entry, and she roamed out of defence consistently to provide run and carry. Her goal in the final term was simply brilliant – reading a handball off the deck in attack from the Devils, bursting through with elite timing, taking it at full speed and strolling in from a few metres out. Covered the ground really well and was effective with her left foot in transition.

#23 Asia Single
Forward | 171cm | 11/10/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 2 goals

The bottom-ager was clinical when the ball came her way, snapping two goals in the third term. Her defensive work at half-back in the first term, including a shepherd that allowed a teammate to run off, showed her two-way awareness and ability to work up the ground. Two goals from 12 disposals in tough conditions was a real positive given there was no easy ball to be won.

#24 Annabelle Foat
Defender | 165cm | 23/04/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

The over-ager was a reliable and competitive presence in the Suns’ defensive structure, working hard in wet conditions with quick hands and consistent tackling pressure. She marked at half-back and switched play effectively on multiple occasions, and her fierce tackling in the third and fourth terms to lock the ball up were important defensive acts. Does the team things quietly and consistently, and is suited to the half-back role as she brings the non-negotiables and the role plays to her strengths.

#25 Tigerlily Nixon
Defender | 169cm | 21/12/2010

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 rebound 50

The double bottom-ager was impressive throughout with her lunging tackle in the back 50 in the third term to stop a shot on goal was the defensive act of the game, and she showed great desperation with a tackle at half-back to force a turnover in the second term. She found the ball consistently and moved it cleanly when the conditions allowed. Just kept popping up and providing drive out of the back half. Is one of a number of promising Under 16s talents and will be an eye-catcher from the defensive 50 for years to come.

#27 Sienna Clinch
Ruck | 182cm | 15/06/2008

Stats: 8 disposals, 5 tackles, 49 hitouts, 2 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Given her size and strength advantage, Clinch had a day that all rucks dream of, essentially dictating the stoppages to win 49 hitouts to Tasmania’s total 15. While Imogen Verdouw is a talented raw prospect, Clinch utilised her nice jump, extra reach and then strength when around the ground to get first hands to it more often than not. While the Devils did usually shark her taps – adapting to her play, Clinch’s palm down to Moama to open the final term was a work of art. Her ruck craft in general was a big tick, and she applied some great defensive pressure following up after the initial tap.

#29 Grace Cooper
Tall Forward | 177cm | 04/10/2009

Stats: 9 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 hitouts, 2 goals, 1 behind

The bottom-age forward made the most of her limited opportunities, with back-to-back goals in the second term the highlight of the game and she stretched the difference between the teams from level to 12 points in two minutes. Her set shot from 35 metres in the final term was touched on the line – unfortunate given it was on target. Cooper also laid four tackles, showing her willingness to apply pressure at ground level too.