STRENGTHS:

+ Consistency
+ Aerial ability
+ Clearances
+ Strength
+ Scoreboard impact
+ Versatility

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Composure
- Speed

PROFILE:

Grace Belloni ticked a lot of boxes in 2024, developing her midfield craft substantially at a high level to be capable of a 50/50 split between on-ball and forward, or even playing full-time in one role or another. She spent the majority of her football in the middle for the Ranges - still resting forward - while for Vic Metro it was the other way around, showing a great deal of knowledge around the stoppages, but also when inside 50 losing none of her forward craft.

What stood out about Belloni's year is it just continued to get better. Her form even early on was hard to fault, and then just when it looked like peaking to be that inside ball-winning midfielder, the Eastern Ranges star was thrown forward again for Vic Metro, and she booted four goals from 23 touches and eight marks against the Allies in a best on ground effort.

Perhaps the most impressive element of that game was she shared the forward 50 with close friend and Ranges teammate Georgie Brisbane, as well as top key forward Emma McDonald and the three all combined well to kick 13 goals between them. Her scoreboard impact and consistency is something that has always been a key to Belloni's game, even as a bottom-ager.

In the air, Belloni provides a consistent marking threat, be it on leads or in pack situations. Her hands are reliable and strong, able to cop body contact and still follow-through with the mark. At ground level she competes well, can find the ball and feed it out to teammates, but perhaps the underrated aspect of her game is her contest-to-contest work.

Not only will she dig deep and win the hardball, Belloni works down the ground to win handball receives and drive the ball forward. For a naturally inside player and contested ball-winner, the Ranges top-ager would often swing around the back of teammates, receive the ball and try and keep it moving quickly in transition.

Though not overly quick, Belloni is powerful, and capable of breaking tackles thanks to her strength. She is strong both in the air and when in the contest, and can hold her arms up to get them free and fire off handballs consistently. Her work at the coalface emphasised her abilities to accumulate the ball both via first and second possessions.

In terms of her skill execution, Belloni is clean and effective by hand, while by foot, her composure could improve as well as her polish that comes with it. However if given time and space or following a mark, she can hit targets consistently and is a reliable kick going forward. That is why when inside 50 she can not only impact the scoreboard directly, but indirectly as well through teammates.

Going forward, Belloni has the potential to thrive in both roles, and it is a credit to her hard work that she has gone from a potential draft chance to a lock and likely top 30 player based off her form and consistency this season. It is hard to deny the impact she has had both through the Ranges and Vic Metro programs.