ROUND two of the Victorian Football League (VFL) Women’s produced many highlights, with some teams experiencing victory for the first time while others had to deal with the odd feeling of a draw. But no matter what the result was, the entertainment was still top notch across all games. We were at three games on the weekend and took down notes on some of the top performers.

Richmond vs. Darebin 

By: James Halley

Richmond:

#76 Ella Ross

She was a constant contributor all day for Richmond, finishing with 18 touches. She was the link from midfield to forward many times, and went inside 50 four times.

#64 Emma Gunn

She applied really good forward pressure. She was rewarded for her good work with a shot on goal from a free kick from the square but it hit the post.

#71 Louise Stephenson

Very good tackler and won herself a free for holding the ball in a chase-down tackle early in the first term. The Giant played mostly in attack, and set up many attempts on goal. Although none prevailed, she still had a serviceable game with 10 disposals.

#59 Alana Woodward

Her pressure was huge and exemplified by her tackling. She finished with 11 tackles, the most on the ground.

#61 Jenna Colwell

She was the Tigers best and most influential in the midfield, with 25 disposals for the match. Although she did not score any goals this week, she can hold her head up high.

Darebin:

#40 Hannah Mouncey

She presented well at the ball and she was able to mark the ball on the lead from 50 metres out. She kicked a goal off one step from the long range to start the game. She repeated this a minute later with another contested grab and goal from 50 metres. She kicked her third for the quarter when she was left out the back and waltzed into an open goal square. Mouncey took another mark on the lead but could not convert, with her shot off a few steps hitting the post. She set up her teammate in the last for a goal with a really clever piece of play hitting her on the chest 50 metres away.

#27 Shevaun Hogan

She played at full-back and played more of a quarter-back role as she always stayed at least a kick behind the play and time after time the Tigers midfielders kicked it straight to her.

#14 Meghan McDonald

McDonald was the best midfielder on the day for the Falcons finishing with 23 disposals. Her teammates always tried to get the ball in her hands as she is a very good kick. She kicked the ball 14 times on the day. 

#17 Stephanie Simpson

Kicked a good snap from the boundary early in the first after a kick-in mistake from the Tigers. She had a shot from general play, which didn’t go through as it hit the post. She intercepted a Tiger seconds later and it was the same result, a behind.

#63 Lauren Pearce

Dominated the ruck and even brought out a don’t argue! She also managed to get a lot of the ball around the ground as she finished with 17 disposals.

Carlton vs. Western Bulldogs

By: Julia Montesano

Carlton:

#41 Kimberley Cunico

Took a lovely one-on-one mark and earned a 50 metre penalty. She made no mistake from close range and slotted through the Blues’ third goal of the match. Took a great mark in the goal-square, and almost had to wrestle it from Celine Moody! Kicked her second goal of the game in this instance.

#35 Sophie Li

Ran hard all day and got some nice kicks away. Uses the ball with precision and kicks deftly, never having to rush. Read the bounce of the ball perfectly and sent it back into the Blues’ forward 50 when it looked like the Bulldogs were going to slingshot it towards their goal. Did everything she could to trap the ball inside the boundary line and just generally tried hard all game. 

#11 Jess Hosking

She got plenty of the footy and chased it down wherever it went. She didn’t give up all day. Kicked a great goal to begin the last quarter and celebrated in style. Looked like she was really enjoying herself out there. Hosking was at the bottom of every pack, showing her determination to get the footy. Had a brilliant day out, kicking the last goal of the game for the Blues after marking it straight in front to give herself a nice set-shot.

#16 Breann Moody

Has excellent run and carry for her height and is another Carlton player that’s a fighter. Produced a nice passage of run and carry and when the bounce didn’t go her way, she kept moving it forward instead of giving up on it, soccering it forward.

#31 Kate Shierlaw

Took a sensational mark on the lead in the third quarter. She kicked truly from a set shot and kept Carlton’s momentum going. Her goal gave them their biggest lead of the match at the time, which was 31 points. Had great awareness to see that the kick was dropping short from a set-shot and marked out on the lead from close range. Had a really good day in the forward line, finishing off her work with a play-on mark from the goalsquare. This resulted in her second goal of the day.

Western Bulldogs:

#24 Kimberley Rennie

Picked the ball up nicely and hit a target well. Got a good kick away while being tackled. Took a great mark on the lead in defence with a couple of players pushing and shoving her.

#14 Ellyse Gamble

Took a nice intercept mark that saved a forward 50 entry for the Blues. Followed up the ball well when it was on the ground and didn’t give up on it despite it rolling away. Got a high free kick while she pursued the ball, so she got reward for her efforts. Lead to the ball well in defence to ensure that the Carlton forwards didn’t. Read it best in that instance, and was generally good at reading the play throughout the afternoon. 

#17 Hayley Wildes

Wildes made history! She kicked the Bulldogs’ first ever VFLW goal from a tight angle on the boundary line. When it sailed through, the players sure got around her! Also produced great run and carry where she backed herself to take a couple of bounces. This created an inside 50 entry for the Dogs. She looks like she’s fitting in well at this level. Really proactive around the ground and with the ball in hand. Took a great one-on-one mark in the centre square. Executed a great side-step and big kick inside 50 off one step. 

#34 Emma Mackay

Executed brilliant run and carry. Backed herself to run away with it. She was proactive when she got the ball and always had the intent to use it cleanly. She was a solid presence around the ground for the Bulldogs.     

#9 Tayla Dinuccio

Did well to prevent a Darcy Vescio mark then followed up the spilled ball to get a kick away out of defensive 50. Did some nice things in defensive 50 and was able to accumulate the ball. 

Collingwood vs. Geelong 

By: Taylah Melki

Collingwood:

#4 Sarah D’Arcy

D’Arcy consistently went in hard to win the footy at ground level, getting down low to get first hands at it. She was never far from the contest and used her long clearing kick to help propel her team out of defence.  

#13 Jaimee Lambert

Lambert was at her usual best, showcasing her clean pick-ups at the coalface and opening up space to try and create a good spread across the ground. She impressed with her ability to breaks line and shrug off tackles while using her explosive speed through the middle of the ground to propel the Pies forward. Lambert was not afraid to scrap hard to win the footy and was a real play-maker for the Pies. She particularly instrumental in the middle of the ground.

#61 Amy Malander

Put out a complete performance for the Pies, helping to create forward thrusts for her teammates. She competed hard in and around the stoppages and showcased her clean hands which was important for Collingwood.

#63 Paige Nash

Nash was inspirational up forward for the Pies. She showcased her footy smarts and ability to read the play getting into damaging positions across the field.

#75 Erica Fowler

Fowler competed well in the ruck, showcasing her impressive lead and ability to read the flight of the footy. She won a few taps to advantage which allowed her midfielders to run onto the footy and break through the packs. Fowler’s follow-up work was really good as well.

Geelong:

#2 Danielle Orr

Orr was a playmaker for Geelong, showcasing her footy smarts and ability to hit targets even when under pressure. She impressed with her willingness to go hard at the footy and imposed herself at the contest, laying strong tackles.

#3 Hannah Burchell

Opened the Cats’ goal-scoring account, kicking the first major of the game in the second quarter. She worked hard all game and committed herself to winning the footy.

#7 Mia-Rae Clifford

She provided some good run and carry for the Cats and really opened up space in the middle. Having to compete with the wind, she impressed with her strong kick which helped to propel her team forward.

#30 Richelle Cranston

Cranston was a tackling beast in the first quarter of the game applying heaps of physical pressure on her opponents causing them to turn the footy over. She laid an impressive tackle in the first quarter leading to a holding the ball free kick, allowing the Cats to try and create some forward momentum. She made the most of her strong booming kick and played on quickly to help keep the game moving.

#34 Amy McDonald

McDonald was really clean out of defence and thought her way out of trouble. She used her speed to evade on coming players and highlighted her footy smarts and composure to hit targets even while under pressure.

#36 Evelyn Dhamarrandji

She was strong up forward took a strong contested mark in the opening quarter to help set the tone of the match. Dhamarrandji impressed with her follow-up work at ground level and fight to win the ball and dish it out to her teammates.