Keeping Tabs: Standout players from Finals Week 1
JUST eight teams remained last week with finals commencing, but it did not stop a number of first-year players standing out on the big stage of AFL Finals. Jack Higgins The talented ball winner was at it again on Thursday night, gathering another 20 disposals (14 kicks, six handballs) at 70 per cent efficiency in […]
Webber rises to success against the odds
AS a youngster who loved to watch her brother play football, Nikia Webber asked her dad if she could do the same. He was against the idea because he perceived football as a masculine sport at the time. But after persistence from a young Webber, she got the opportunity to kick a footy around in a […]
Prespakis, Morrison look to future after sharing TAC Cup Girls Best and Fairest
WHEREVER one of Madison Prespakis and Nina Morrison goes, the other seems to follow, with the duo backing up their AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships Most Valuable Player (MVP) award by being crowned dual winners of the TAC Cup Girls Best and Fairest. Prespakis has long been touted as one of the best Under-18 female footballers while Morrison […]
Butler leads by example
USING her experience to lead by example has been a cornerstone of Greater Western Victoria (GWV) Rebels captain Lauren Butler’s game this season. While Butler said her skills and decision making are among her personal strengths on the field, she has been working hard to use her experience over years of football to guide her […]
Cann powers home with remarkable improvement
IF there is one player in the TAC Cup Girls competition who has come from the back of the pack to storm home in the final straight, it is Eastern Ranges’ Mikala Cann. Having starred as a sprinter, and enjoyed playing basketball, Cann decided to try her hand at football once her friends were taking […]
From being the only girl to one of thousands: Smith enjoys rapid rise of female football
WHEN Ella Smith began playing football, she was playing in a three-team competition. Prior to this, she was the only girl kicking the footy around with the boys in a small town in Western Australia (WA). It is safe to say that Smith did not predict being on the verge of an opportunity to play AFL Women’s […]
Consistent Connor continues to make the most of his TAC Cup journey
WHEN he missed out on getting the call-up to Vic Metro, Connor Thar was admittedly “pretty shattered”. But instead of worry about the things outside of his control, Thar buckled down in the TAC Cup and became the most prominent ball winner in the competition. The Western Jets midfielder has racked up 412 disposals at […]
From not trying out for state to being a key player: Sergeant flourishes in football
LAST year, Western Australia’s (WA) Matilda Sergeant did not try out for the state side, despite coming up the ranks in Auskick, Youth Girls and League football. Sergeant was instead asked to be a part of the side, and is so glad that she was approached to do so. “I did not actually try out […]
Straight into state; Madison Bennett’s incredible transition into football
JUST last year, Madison Bennett gave up a promising career in soccer and discovered her passion for Australian Rules football. She saw a link for the South Australia Under 18 trials and tried out, having never played competitive football before. Not only had she never played competitive football before, but Bennett was not even aware […]
Bate kicking goals at all levels
HOLLY Bate has never really listened to popular opinion. If she had, she might never have joined Prahran and kick-started a football career that would see her take out the TAC Cup Girls Leading Goalkicker Award in her top-age year. Looking back, Bate is glad she took the chance on running around with the boys. “Well […]
