BRISBANE Lions Academy completed its 2026 Talent League Girls campaign undefeated with a hard-fought win over reigning premiers Eastern Ranges. The defeat marked back-to-back losses for the Ranges after they fell to the Swans the week before, though they did start promisingly enough at Brighton Homes Arena, booting three goals to one in the first term. It was all the Lions after that, kicking nine goals to two after quarter time to win, 10.9 (69) to 5.7 (37).

We took note of some of the top performers across both sides.

LIONS ACADEMY:

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 6 clearances, 1 inside 50

The in-form Ferguson was a consistent presence in the midfield. She set the tone early by winning the first centre clearance and delivering a pinpoint pass forward. Her ability to read the play off hands and execute quick, clean handballs in congestion was a standout feature of her game. Ferguson also showed good spatial awareness, highlighted by a well-placed kick between two opponents on the wing. When she had a rare fumble, her follow-up work and quick release by hand ensured she remained a key distributor for the Lions. She also showed versatility, spending time across half-back in the final term before returning to the midfield.

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

Stats: 24 disposals, 7 marks, 10 tackles, 3 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Murray showcased her experience and class throughout the match, operating primarily as a midfielder. She was a prolific ball-winner early, and while her efficiency slightly dipped from her usual lofty standards, her impact was undeniable. Murray demonstrated excellent intercepting ability, taking a fantastic mark in the middle and another in defence. Her kicking was a weapon, featuring low, penetrating passes to the wing and neat outside-of-the-boot deliveries. She also showed great composure, directing traffic before kicking and executing nice switches of play. A highlight was her burst of speed down the middle in the final quarter, taking a bounce and driving the ball to half-forward.

#5 Kya Wills-Rawlings
Wing | 164cm | 04/01/2010

Stats: 29 disposals, 13 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 3 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Wills-Rawlings provided plenty of run and carry for the Lions. She was a constant threat with her speed and explosiveness, often shrugging off tacklers and bursting through opponents. Her work rate was exceptional, frequently pushing back to help in defence before charging down the ground to offer an option. Wills-Rawlings also displayed great vision and execution, highlighted by a brilliant lace-out kick inside 50 in the third quarter. While she occasionally got outsized in one-on-one defensive contests, her follow-up pressure and ability to win the ball back were commendable.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Kya Wills-Rawlings (Lions Academy)

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

Stats: 11 disposals, 8 tackles, 3 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind

Petrides was a lively and dangerous presence in the forward half. She consistently applied tackling pressure inside 50 and was rewarded with a goal in the second quarter after gathering at half-forward and running in to slot it. Her connection with Pritchard was a major highlight, with the pair assisting each other throughout the day. Petrides demonstrated exceptional reading of the play at centre bounces, gathering and kicking inside 50 to set up scoring opportunities. She also showed great awareness to snap a goal from a Pritchard assist late in the game.

#10 Stella Scott
Forward/Midfielder | 165cm | 19/12/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Scott was a reliable contributor, splitting her time between the midfield and attack. She showed good intercepting skills, taking marks at half-forward and half-back. Her clearance work was solid, winning a centre clearance and tumbling the ball forward, as well as executing a great quick clearance to a teammate. Scott also demonstrated neat foot skills, hitting targets with short passes out of defence and effectively switching the play.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 10 tackles, 1 clearance, 7 inside 50s

Starting on the wing before moving on-ball, Ross was a strong presence around the ground. She applied great tackling pressure and took strong marks, including one at half-back. Ross was active in generating forward momentum, gathering on the wing and kicking well inside 50. She also showed persistence, following up her own smothered kick to win the ball back and send it to a dangerous spot close to goal.

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

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 1 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

Geere was a versatile and impactful player, starting on-ball before moving to defence. She showed great vision and execution, highlighted by an immediate and effective short pass after winning a free kick inside 50. Her hands in traffic were excellent, and she displayed resilience by playing through an apparent ankle tweak. In defence, Geere was brilliant, taking high intercept marks and executing lovely kicks across her body to switch the play or hit angled passes into the corridor on the 45.

#25 Aiyana Pritchard
Tall Forward | 175cm | 21/12/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 1 tackle, 5 inside 50s, 3 goals, 2 behinds

Pritchard was a dynamic and opportunistic forward, finishing the game with three goals from five scoring shots. She showed great work rate to push up to the wing, gather, and boot the ball inside 50. Her first goal was a highlight, running onto a kick, taking a bounce, and launching a great shot from inside 50. Pritchard also displayed incredible smarts, soccer-ing the ball to a teammate in space to set up a goal, and later soccer-ing home a goal of her own on the goal line. Her ability to compete in the air and follow up at ground level made her a constant headache for the opposition defence.

EASTERN RANGES:

#3 Scout Semple
Midfielder/Forward | 162cm | 03/10/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 behind

Semple was a key figure in the midfield, starting on-ball and consistently driving the ball forward. She demonstrated quick, clean hands and effective short passing off both sides of her body. Her clearance work was a highlight, executing a lovely centre clearance off her left to hit a target at half-forward, and another straight down the ground to give her forwards a chance. Semple also showed good tracking of the ball at stoppages and the ability to gather and create opportunities inside 50.

#7 Bridie Neale
Wing | 167cm | 03/03/2008

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

Stationed in her traditional wing role, Neale provided valuable run and carry for the Ranges. She showed a willingness to burst away from contests and deliver the ball well to the hotspot inside 50. Neale was lively in the second term, gathering and driving the ball forward, and following up with quick handballs. She also demonstrated good vision, executing nice inboard kicks and effective passes from half-back into the middle.

#8 Adelaide Caldicott
Forward/Midfielder | 172cm | 18/04/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 9 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Caldicott has been in some nice form up forawrd for the Ranges of late, and got her chance to work up the ground and through the middle where she really shone. Arguably Eastern’s best, she was constantly involved in the action, applying tackles and going in hard at contests. Caldicott showed great spatial awareness, executing quick hands under pressure to set up a goal assist. She was strong in the air, taking confident lead-up marks and competing well in contests. Her ability to spread, keep running, and use the ball effectively to half-forward was a key feature of her game. She also showed great resilience, shrugging off tackles and spinning out of trouble to deliver the ball.

#12 Emily Rankin
Midfielder | 166cm | 11/05/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 6 tackles, 5 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

Rankin was a reliable and composed presence in the midfield as the skipper so often is. She applied strong pressure at stoppages and read the ball well off hands. Her ability to execute clean and strong hands under immense pressure was a standout trait, often winning the ball with ease and distributing it via quick handballs. Rankin also showed good decision-making, taking strong marks and executing neat, safe passes. She was active in driving the ball inside 50, delivering deep kicks to dangerous areas.

#17 Lara Williams
Utility | 168cm | 29/08/2008

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

Williams was a versatile contributor, playing across all three lines in the game from starting forward to rolling into the middle and also helping out behind the ball. Up forward, she was lively, gathering inside 50 and taking snaps at goal, as well as delivering deep kicks to dangerous spots. In defence, she showed good intercepting ability, taking marks at half-back and covering the ground well. Williams also demonstrated a willingness to go in hard, winning a free kick in the middle, and executed long, clearing kicks from the defensive half.

#35 Brylee Anderson
Midfielder | 173cm | 25/03/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Finishing the game with a team-high 26 disposals, Anderson was a strong presence around the ground. She applied great tackling pressure and was quick to release the ball by hand, often in tight spaces. Anderson showed good positioning, taking marks in space at half-back and executing well-placed kicks. She was also active in driving the ball forward, thumping kicks inside 50 and competing well in contests. While Anderson did not have as much success with her actual clearance work, her impact around the ground and ability to gain crucial meterage with her thumping kick made up for it.