OAKLEIGH Chargers had to work for it, but got the job done against a gallant Murray Bushrangers in the Talent League Girls Preliminary Final, holding on despite a late flurry to get up by 11 points. The Chargers won 7.7 (49) to 5.8 (38), and looked comfortable when 24 points up midway through the final term, but the Bushrangers booted two quick ones and had a shot to cut the deficit to six points at one stage, but ultimately fell short.

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

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS:

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

Stats: 24 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 15 hitouts, 5 clearances, 10 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 1 behind

It was a commanding performance from Barbakas through the ruck who dominated in a variety of ways at the stoppages. She thumped the ball to space, palmed it down to active teammates, or simply took it out of the ruck and broke clear, to really make the most of her height-athleticism advantage. Had a long-range shot on goal that was only just touched on the goalline, while at the same end of the ground saved a certain Henley major by getting a hard to it on the last line. Aside from her ruck craft, Barbakas acted a “fourth midfielder” and looms as an ultra-exciting top-end talent for next year.

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

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 5 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s

Buzzing around the ground all day, Godfrey worked hard to get back and mop up in defence on a number of occasions, while applying ground level pressure with great tackles. .She got into trouble at times and was forced to rush on other occasions, but her dancing feet and ability to create her own space was important. Still a little sketchy at times by foot especially when under pressure, but her metres gained, positioning and fierce two-way running make her a valuable winger.

#6 Leni Lockyer
Defender | 164cm | 26/03/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 1 mark, 2 tackles, 1 clearance, 4 rebound 50s

The eligible Collingwood father-daughter prospect was busy alongside Green in the back half, providing resistance and drive out of defence. She was tasked with a number of kickouts and looked to work the angles at different times, and while sometimes prone to some turnovers, for the most part was effective. She had a rush of blood at one stage when receiving a 50-metre penalty charging forward in the first term, and while the bounce slipped away from her, the quick hands off to a teammate lead to Martin’s first goal of the day.

#13 Zoe Curry
Midfielder | 172cm | 09/10/2008

Stats: 28 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 8 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 3 rebound 50s

A commanding performance around the ball, particularly early to set the tone. Curry produced an 18-disposal first half, and was constantly feeding the ball out of congestion, using her strong frame to stand up in tackles and dish off handballs cleanly. She was often under immense pressure, but welcomed the opposition tacklers, freeing up others, or working her way out of the situation to thump the ball inside 50. Set up a couple of scoring opportunities, and won multiple centre bounce clearances.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 1 inside 50, 5 goals, 3 behinds

It was very evident from early on that Martin was just that class above and the tactics of both sides in that third of the ground centred around her. The Chargers looked to get her one-out as much as possible and she went to work, booting three first-quarter goals and finishing with five for the game. Once the move was made for Bell to go onto Martin, they switched the pick one contender with Scarlett Bown, looking to take advantage of the opposition’s individual weaknesses with Bell a far better one-on-one defender, but Martin having the speed to win it up the ground and also take Bell away from the Bown matchup. Overall, Martin slotted five goals and could have had a couple more, proving a real handful for the Murray defence and the key player for Oakleigh’s premiership push.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 4 rebound 50s

After not seeing much of it in the first term with just one disposal to her name, Green worked into the game more as Murray got greater forward ascendancy. She competed in the air, cracked in at ground level, and had a highlight with an outstanding mark in the third term where she intercepted at half-back, switched play then won another disposal, leading to a turnover play and Bown goal. Made a mistake when trying to dance around defenders in the back 50 which resulted in a Nikkita Nixon major from the spill, but other than that rare error, was overall really solid and cleared the ball consistently from danger.

#46 Ruby Kaye
Midfielder | 170cm | 09/10/2009

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

Impressed across the course of the game and had a massive last term with Isabella Mazzei off hurt. Kaye spent plenty of minutes around the ball and was clean and effective for the most part, not afraid to keep her head on a swivel and take her time with ball in hand. Didn’t do too much wrong, won her share of contested ball, and was busy at the coalface. One to watch for the future.

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS:

#9 Carmela Perri
Midfielder | 168cm | 15/10/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 1 behind

It was a typical Perri performance with the Murray Bushrangers ball-winner a fierce contributor around the coalface, and using her hard-running to get to the outside and keep the pill moving in transition. She found the ball all over the ground, and was strong on the inside, clean by hand and locked in when the opposition had it. While she can give away the odd free for overzealous pressure, or turn the ball over by foot, she cracked in, gained valuable meterage and time and showed her natural competitive edge.

#10 Charlie Gibson
Midfielder/Forward | 171cm | 14/05/2009

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 1 clearance, 5 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50

The bottom-ager was busy across the midfield and in attack, providing a marking target and showing she is strong above her head. Her defensive pressure once the ball hit the deck was fantastic, and she always looked to be an attacking option after spending plenty of time behind the ball in the last match. Gibson was quick by hand to set up Ruby Newton two minutes into the second term on the edge of hte gaolsquare, and when she did roll into the back half, showed a nice sidestep to deliver down the ground.

#17 Crystal Holdsworth
Defender | 169cm | 18/06/2009

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 1 inside 50, 5 rebound 50s

Was important in providing rebound out of the back 50 and peeling of her opponent to drive the ball downfield. She worked in tandem with Bell in terms of her intercepting, and is a smooth-mover with some traits to keep an eye on for the future. Seemed to pick the right options and have her head on a swivel which was important, not afraid to clear the ball to the open side when required.

#24 Rose Bell
Defender/Forward | 170cm | 18/03/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 2 marks, 4 tackles, 1 clearance, 7 rebound 50s

Had her hands full all day trying to be that third-up against Martin and then in the end spent time directly on the pick one contender. What Bell does so well is play to her strengths, looks to engage in one-on-ones and uses her smarts, positioning and reading of the play to not allow opponents to get easy run and jumps at it. Kept Martin from having easy looks after moving onto her following goal number five, and then was thrown forward in the last five minutes. She almost cut the deficit back to six points with a few minutes remaining, as her set shot after a free kick was on track but just fell short. Is a pure footballer with a powerful kick.

#30 Evie Henley
Utility | 173cm | 13/07/2009

Stats: 27 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles, 10 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s, 1 goal, 3 behinds

Clearly one of Murray’s best on the day, Henley seemed to be everywhere and impacted in each third of the ground, setting herself up for a massive top-age campaign next season. Starting on-ball each quarter, she dropped back into the hole to intercept at times, and also went forward to clunk some great marks. While she only kicked the one goal for the game – snatching it cleverly out of the ruck to slam it home when inside 50 late in the opening quarter – Henley had a series of other chances that went agonisingly close. Brought the heat and finished with a game-high 10 clearances for her troubles. A brilliant all-round performance from the Giants Academy member.

>> PLAYER FOCUS: Evie Henley (Murray Bushrangers)