EIGHT goals between Bailee Martin and Scarlett Bown helped Oakleigh Chargers post a comfortable 41-point victory, as the top ranked metropolitan side booted 10 of the first 12 goals at Morwell Recreation Reserve. The Chargers proved too good in the end, getting up 10.6 (66) to 3.7 (25) in a memorable performance.

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

GIPPSLAND POWER:

#9 Lily Milner
Midfielder/Forward | 172cm | 25/01/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 marks, 9 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

Milner was her usual industrious self in the match, winning the first centre clearance and then buzzing around the ground impacting both ways. Her defensive prowess and lead-by-example attitude is evident each time she runs out, and she always looked to create transitional running from the back half of the ground. At times Milner threw the ball on the boot, but with any time and space can inflict maximum damage, while competing hard in the air or at ground level. Not afraid to do the team thing, as well as be the one to take responsibility and go.

#10 Grace Dillow
Midfielder/Forward | 164cm | 03/06/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 2 behinds

Dillow had one of her more higher-volume games with more midfield minutes than her usual forward-dominant split. While she lacks that explosiveness that could buy her an extra couple of seconds and really burn off opponents or compose herself a touch more, Dillow’s footy IQ is sensational, particularly with regards to her forward craft. She finished the day with 2.2 and her finishing – which occurred at either end of the game – continued to ask questions of the Oakleigh defence.

#11 Molly Boulter
Defender | 168cm | 30/01/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 7 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

A player who caught the eye in the game with her positioning, Boulter held a firm line at half-back and was able to take a number of strong intercept marks. Strong overhead for her size, Boulter was a touch hit and miss with her kicking, but most of the time she was able to get it long and clear the danger. Also brought the defensive edge, laying seven tackles which was equal third most on the ground.

#14 Taylah Mizzi
Defender | 169cm | 12/06/2010

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Mizzi has shown her versatility since coming into the team from the Under 16s Championships and found herself providing run off half-back. She is clean overhead and at ground level and generally effective with ball in hand. While under pressure she could add a touch more composure to her game, she understands the play and is able to set up potential forward forays with angled kicks from defence.

#21 Olivia Holmes
Midfielder/Forward | 170cm | 08/08/2009

Stats: 24 disposals, 6 marks, 6 tackles, 6 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal

Building a very nice CV as a bottom-ager, Holmes continued that season form with another big game. She will be handed the keys to the midfield as the number one next season, and her strength at the coalface, and ability to use her speed to break away, is a nice combination to have. Her defensive pressure was terrific, she hit the scoreboard with a terrific finish out of a forward stoppage, and while she can definitely refine the consistency of her kicking under pressure, Holmes ticks a lot of boxes for a 2027 draft prospect.

#22 Acacia Sutton
Forward/Midfielder | 165cm | 20/06/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 5 tackles, 2 clearances, 7 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 behind

The tenacious forward/midfielder found plenty of the ball and attacked it with vigour as has been her style this season. While her efficiency by hand or foot was down on her usual output, she continued to crack in and get involved pumping the ball forward. Had some chances on goal, missing one from long-range in the third term. Overall battled hard and provided support to the other midfielders who rotated forward, and is not afraid to take on bigger opponents.

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

#1 Grace To
Midfielder | 161cm | 24/12/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Since moving into the midfield, To has found some consistent form, and the weekend’s match was arguably her best of the year – and Talent League Girls career. She racked it up across the four quarters, applied terrific pressure including a great run-down holding hte ball tackle and was clean around the coalface. She is not the finished product yet because her kicking consistency needs work, but the late year born prospect showed some more promising signs in the absence of Chargers’ skipper Zoe Curry.

#3 Cleo Barbakas
Ruck/Forward | 182cm | 07/01/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 7 tackles, 13 hitouts, 5 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds

Barbakas went in undersized against a pair of towering talls, but her best work is always done in the immediate aftermath of the ruck contest. Not afraid to pull it down and then throw it on the boot to clear, Barbakas did well to apply immediate pressure when she didn’t win the tap. Though she did not take a mark in the game, her groundlevel work was very good, and she came very close to hitting the scoreboard with a couple of unlucky misses.

#5 Isabelle Godfrey
Wing | 162cm | 11/08/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 3 clearances

Godfrey doesn’t need a lot of touches to catch the eye, and while the match statistically was a little down on what she can produce, her usual dancing feet and ability to ankle break opponents on the regular was on full display. Godfrey is one of those players is comfortable running laterally and her change of direction is in the blink of an eye. When she can open up with space in front of her, she can nail those passes inside 50, which is an area of improvement from the dual-sport basketball talent. Though still heavily right-foot dominant, that explosiveness and agility helps her buy time to get onto her preferred side, and she worked into the game well.

#11 Isabella Mazzei
Midfielder | 169cm | 06/06/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 2 marks, 7 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

Another player who just keeps on keeping on, Mazzei was minus her partner in crime around the coalface in Curry, and though she too has had bigger games, shared the load around the ball and the Chargers hardly ever looked in danger. She brings the elite defensive pressure, is strong in the air and her kicking has been improving throughout the year which was the main knock on her game. One of the more underrated players in the draft crop given her consistent output and natural athletic traits, and it was no surprise to see the Chargers’ ball-winner rewarded with a National Draft Combine invite.

#17 Scarlett Bown
Tall Forward | 179cm | 22/09/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 1 hitout, 2 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

Bown enjoys the freedom that comes with having Martin in the same forwardline as she has far less attention on her. While nothing ever comes easy, taking the second defender and finding the space to run and jump certainly brings the bottom-ager into the game. Her aerial presence is evident, and she impacts the scoreboard consistently. While at times her accuracy has had its ups and downs in 2026, she booted three and set up teammates such as Martin and Barbakas for shots on goal. Building towards a big finish in her bottom-aged season.

#18 Bailee Martin
Tall Forward | 176cm | 03/09/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 1 tackle, 1 inside 50, 5 goals

While the pick one favourite has not played as many games at Talent League level as she would have liked, she just looks that class above when in the side. One of those players where defenders can do everything right and she’ll still win the ball and hit the scoreboard, Martin kicked a casual five and even handed a couple off. Her smarts when running into goal midway through the first after already kicking two to hit up Cate Deayton with the outside of the boot to her advantage at the top of the goalsquare was simply delightful. A human highlight reel whenever inside 50.

#31 Sophia Green
Defender | 170cm | 22/11/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 2 tackles, 1 inside 50, 3 rebound 50s

Unassumingly found her fair share of the ball out of defence and was able to position herself effectively to intercept and then drive the ball back the other way. She competes in the air and is fierce at ground level, though a lot of her play involved mopping up and then transitioning the pill back from where it came. The Carlton father-daughter prospect thrives when being able to control the play and find grass, with her decision making very good. Against the Power, Green had plenty of space and was able to inflict damage.

#36 Molly Phillips
Forward | 165cm | 01/10/2008

Stats: 27 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 2 clearances, 4 inside 50s

Hard not to like what Phillips does week-in, week-out with the defensively-minded prospect boasting an elite tank that enables her to push up the ground and then work over her opponent when doubling back. Finds space to be able to mark and then deliver forward, while her defensive pressure is always a strength. Her polish is a natural area of improvement with some of her fundamentals, but she is one of those players who always brings a team-first approach to her football.