COMING off a huge win over reigning premiers Eastern Ranges, the Sydney Swans Academy were tipped to make light work of a struggling Geelong Falcons, but to the visitors’ credit, they were in the contest until midway through the third term before the Swans kicked the last nine goals of the match to win the Talent League Girls Round 7 match, 17.6 (108) to 6.3 (39).

We took note of some of the players from both sides who caught the eye in the contest.

SWANS ACADEMY:

#3 Frances Walsh
Wing | 173cm | 30/01/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The Swans Academy skipper’s impact far outweighed her numbers, with the game feeling like one of her most damaging performances despite lower production value. She rarely wasted a touch, using both sides of her body and weighting her disposals well, also happy to buy time with short, sharp lateral passes or hit-ups forward before running on to be an option downfield. She holds her width and covers ground as well as just about any wing in the draft crop, and her offensive work is undoubted when she gets ball in hand and has grass ahead of her. Was rarely under too much pressure compared to past games, which always spells bad news for the opposition.

#6/2 Evie Bowie
Midfielder | 170cm | 31/12/2008

Stats: 31 disposals, 3 marks, 7 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

The subject of our Player Head-to-Head from the Swans Academy, Bowie was a brilliant two-way player who brought the heat in close and attacked hard. Her centre bounce work was terrific, and aside from a couple of chances on goal that just missed, she did not do a lot wrong in a superb performance for the red and whites. Check out the Head-to-Head for a more detailed wrap on her performance.

>> HEAD-TO-HEAD: Evie Bowie vs. Ava Bilyk

#8/10 Aurelia Russell
Midfielder | 160cm | 03/12/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 goals

If we’re talking about rarely wasting a touch, then Russell is the epitomy of it. Her work – usually as either the second possession winner or the player to win it in space and burst forward – was outstanding, and her scoreboard impact not just for herself, but her team was elite. After thinking she had produced a peak performance the week before, Russell went better again, with the talented small oozing class and skill. Her only blemish might be bouncing, getting pinged twice for running too far, but if you’re going to give away free kicks, then that is arguably the one to get caught with, because her run and dare genuinely influenced the contest. Clubs should seriously be considering her in the first round.

#10/12 Genevieve Hynes
Midfielder | 166m | 31/12/2009

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

Like Walsh, it felt like one of Hynes’ better games despite lower numbers than in some previous outings. She just kept bobbing up and feeding the ball out well to her teammates. Covering the ground exceptionally well, she plays a key role around the ball, and will be the one to take the reins of that midfield in 2027. Only a day off being a double bottom-ager, she continues to grow in her role.

#32/8 Grace Parsons
Ruck/Forward | 180cm | 10/12/2007

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 2 tackles, 16 hitouts, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals

The over-age tall has not missed a beat, slotting into that number one ruck role easily, and backing up from last week, kicked a couple of majors in the big win. Her work rate around the ground has been enormous, and she gets involved in attacking transitions frequently. As a player who can be an effective field kick, teammates do not mind using her when trying to move the ball downfield.

#34/15 Emma Haley
Midfielder/Forward | 160cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

While a lot of her teammates catch the eye with serious class, Haley brings the grunt, while also being a solid all-round contributor. Her tackling pressure is elite, and her is a natural extractor at the coalface. With ball in hand, Haley can hit targets by hand or foot, and though others are often found out in space, Haley is usually the one getting it to them, or being the link in the chain to make them better. Kicked a nice goal in the fourth term to get some reward for effort.

#37/18 Ashleigh Barlow
Tall Defender | 174cm | 06/06/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

A really consistent defender who has emerged as a player who knows that balance between defensive and offensive attributes when playing in a key role. At her in-between height of 174cm, Barlow can match up on the talls, while also being athletic enough to take on the smalls as well. Her aerial ability and natural competitiveness allows Barlow to either win or at least neutralise, the contest. On several occasions she would peel off her opponent and drive the ball forward, with her vision and ability to hit those low kicks – rather than just purely blast away – a positive in her game.

#35/16 Lolita Savala
Key Forward | 182cm | 21/04/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 1 hitout, 8 goals

Had an old school full-forward’s performance. After not touching the ball in the first term, Savala booted eight goals from 11 disposals, including six from her last six touches – and five in the second half. It comes as no surprise that her height, reach, overhead marking ability and set shot goalkicking are her strengths, though she’s had a lot more challenging shots for goal in recent weeks, making most of her attempts within 20m and duly delivering.

#53/26 Jordan Davis
Tall Forward/Ruck | 178cm | 10/12/2008

The Swans and Pies father-daughter made the most of her limited touches, with two goals from nine disposals and five marks. Her aerial ability and contested work is fantastic, and for a player of her size, moves well and can penetrate from long-range. She acted as the second ruck again and competed well, though her spot at the top level is clearly inside 50 where she is very good once on the lead or one-on-one in the air.

GEELONG FALCONS:

#5 Ava Bilyk
Midfielder/Forward | 169cm | 07/07/2008

Stats: 34 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Bilyk was the other player involved in our Head-to-Head from the clash, and with good reason, producing a remarkable performance that had everything from centre bounce clearances to an incredible goal from a forward stoppage. She is such a well-balanced and versatile player, and deservedly found stacks of the ball all over the ground. Check out the Head-to-Head for a full rundown on her performance.

>> HEAD-TO-HEAD: Evie Bowie vs. Ava Bilyk

#9 Jemma Andrews
Midfielder/Forward | 181cm | 28/09/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s

Any midfielder who stands at 181cm is going to be a problem for clubs, and the bottom-age tall – who has the size and physique to match it with key position players – also has the speed which catches the eye, running down Russell at one point to win a holding the ball free kick. She is not necessarily a massive production player, but she continues to impact in forward transitions and at stoppages, winning her fair share of clearances and setting up scoring opportunities for her side.

#16 Ksenia Dear
Midfielder/Forward | 167cm | 05/08/2009

Stats: 19 disposals, 1 mark, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

A tough-as-nails prospect who will know the Northern Academy system well having previously played for the Suns Academy, Dear has these bursts within games where you can see she has draftable qualities. Her strength and defensive pressure, combined with her willingness to keep the ball in motion going forward were highlights, while she also kicked a nice goal under pressure from close range in the first term when rotated forward.

#17 Greea McKeegan
Forward/Midfielder | 178cm | 15/12/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

The versatile tall started forward and got her hands on it early, while spending time around the contest at different points in the match. A booming kick who has natural raw potential, McKeegan is a player who has built on an already impressive defensive game, and she was still able to hit the scoreboard, such as a critical goal early in the third term to keep the Falcons within reach. Did not get as many chances to show off her aerial prowess, but was among the Falcons’ better players once again.

#18 Marlie Collett
Wing/Midfielder | 169cm | 05/10/2009

Stats: 27 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

The bottom-ager was the surprise packet of the game, holding her own against some quality opponents and racking up the ball with ease. She covered the ground exceptionally well, and ran both ways on the outside and for a player who started wing, ended up having a whopping 19 contested possessions in the game and 15 loose ball gets. It showed Collett was willing to get her hands dirty around the contest, and she fed the ball out to teammates or was desperate at ground level to keep the ball moving.