DESPITE conceding the first goal and trailing at quarter time, the Eastern Ranges’ class shone through at Queen Elizabeth Oval, booting 12 goals to nil after the first break to defeat Bendigo Pioneers by 66 points in Round 17 of the Talent League Girls competition.

We took note of some of the players who caught the eye in the match.

BENDIGO PIONEERS:

#1 Jordan O’Bree
Utility | 160cm | 26/11/2009

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 4 clearances, 1 inside 50, 1 rebound 50

The tenacious small had some nice eye-catching moments, competing strongly in the air for her size and also pressuring opponents at ground level. She was only rewarded with two tackles on the stats sheet, but O’Bree cracked in and was constantly worrying Ranges around the ground and covering it well. She found the ball in each third and it was one of her more complete games for the year. Did a lot of good work in close and spread to the outside as well.

#6 Sage Dennis
Defender/Midfielder | 161cm | 22/08/2009

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

Started out in defence and then eventually rolled on-ball to start the second term, Dennis provided some important run out of the back half. She always brings immense heat with her aggressive tackling style, then with ball in hand is quick to move it on and get speed in transition. She buzzed across the ground and was able to always been involved in chains, and while nine of her 21 touches came in the first term – and 14 in the first half – she still had her moments after that.

#9 Beth Morris
Midfielder/Defender | 167cm | 04/09/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s

Started on-ball then drifted back to help out the defence during the onslaught in the second half, Morris showed a clean pair of hands and was able to use her strength when confronted. Always courageous with her football, Morris set the tone early by dropping back into the hole and creating a contest inside the Ranges’ attacking 50. She racks up the ball around the coalface and is ultra-clean at ground level which combined with her aforementioned strength makes her valuable at the contest.

#11 Mia Clark
Defender/Forward | 167cm | 05/04/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles, 1 clearance, 3 rebound 50s

The versatile Clark spent time at both ends, making her presence felt with a great tackle and subsequent holding the ball free at half-back early in the game. She went on to produce a couple of decisive spoils – on the wing and then the goalline, while working hard for repeat contests. Her desperation ensured the Ranges went goalless in the first half, and while she also copped a big hit midway through the second term, finished the game out and played forward where she had a couple of chances on goal that did not quite pan out the way she would like.

#12 Issy Boulton
Forward/Midfielder | 160cm | 21/05/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 1 mark, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 3 behinds

A busy bee in the front half who provided some important midfield rotations, Boulton surprisingly didn’t get rewarded with a tackle in the game, but the pocket rocket certainly made an impact early on. She had a number of chances that just kept missing or going across the face, however set up the Pioneers’ sole goal to Nihill with a nice short pass. Boulton continued to run hard all game and possessed clean hands in a tough game.

#14 Lacey Nihill
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 01/05/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Bendigo’s best once again, Nihill was enormously impactful in the first half, hitting multiple teammates lace-out going inside 50 enabling several shots on goal. While they unfortunately couldn’t put one through the big sticks, Nihill ended up just going it herself, finding space and marking before converting from close range. That ended up being the only Pioneers major for the game, but she continued to work hard, mopping up behind the ball and linking up through the corridor to try and get the ball forward for her team. A 10-disposal fourth quarter revealed she never stopped working despite the mounting deficit.

EASTERN RANGES:

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

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 1 tackle, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind

Semple started on-ball and then had her opportunities inside 50, looking like her creative and damaging self. Constantly driving the ball forward and putting pressure on the Pioneers’ defence, Semple set up numerous scores, and after missing a set shot herself late in the first half, completed a nice finish eight minutes into the third term. Her penetrating kick and power across the ground really stood out in the game.

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Playing an important role in the front half of the ground, Caldicott was busy throughout the game, particularly during the middle two quarters where she racked up 14 of her 20 touches. She kicked her goal five minutes into the second term after reading a set shot the dropped short, finally booting Eastern’s first major of the game. Caldicott showed quick hands throughout the match and remained involved to the final siren – and even a moment after it – with her set shot falling short.

#10 Perri Goulding
Defender/Midfielder | 161cm | 05/07/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 marks, 8 tackles, 2 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Goulding found herself finding her fair share of the ball in the back half of the ground, while also pushing up to have a say around the ball. For a smaller player she competed well overhead and continually applied pressure with her tackling a standout feature in the contest. Goulding was the recipient of a double 50-metre penalty during the third term taking her from the defensive 50 to the attacking one, and instead of shooting long on goal looked for a piercing short pass. Showed nice vision and was at her best with short, sharp, low passes.

#12 Emily Rankin
Midfielder | 168cm | 11/05/2008

Stats: 31 disposals, 3 marks, 8 tackles, 8 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Stat-stuffed her way to another big game with the Eastern skipper never giving in and standing out both when her side was challenged early, and when the Ranges were comfortably on top. She got better as the game went on, and the bulk of her disposals came around the contest or under immense pressure, though that hardly fazes the Vic Metro representative. She linked up from half-back going forward and also used the ball efficiently by hand or foot. Her spin out of trouble in the middle that lead to a goal during the fourth term was an eye-catching trick.

#14 Isabella Lord
Forward | 178cm | 17/07/2008

Stats: 9 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals, 2 behinds

While the top-age Lord is the only non-Metro representative of the 2008-born talents in this list, it was worth highlighting her performance up forward. She clunked numerous marks and converted two goals – should have been more – and always looked like a dangerous presence. Her leading patterns and reading of the ball in flight stood out, and in a talented side, Lord commanded the forward 50. Always threatened to kick a bag, and one of her set shots that did fall short was marked and converted by Caldicott anyway.

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 6 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s, 1 behind

Running all game, the smart and skilful Williams was busy in transitioning the ball from the defensive 50 to the attacking one, and played an aggressive and proactive style. She was clean with ball in hand and even had a shot on goal during the third term when she streamed forward, but it unluckily bounced the wrong side of the post. Ran at 78 per cent efficiency by foot which is her bread and butter, and not only won the outside ball but competed well to find it in congested situations.

#25 Tillie Baldwin
Ruck/Forward | 179cm | 20/08/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 23 hitouts, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s

Giving her midfielders first choice around the stoppages, Baldwin used her extra height and strength to position herself well and win some decisive taps throughout the match. While the bottom-ager has had higher production games, it was largely a ground level game and when she needed to stand up, Baldwin took a number of key marks. When forward, the Ranges tall was able to bring the ball to ground in a marking contest leading to Semple’s goal in the third term.

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 8 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 goals

After a solid first half, Anderson broke the game open in the premiership quarter with two goals from eight disposals. She cleverly snapped both majors and then finished with a third in the fourth quarter running into goal from close range. In the end, her finishing on goal was the highlight, and when rotated into the middle, was fierce and extracted the ball out to teammates in space. A nice all-round game from the National Academy member back in Eastern colours.