STRENGTHS:

+ Athleticism
+ Speed
+ Marking
+ Groundballs
+ Versatility
+ Leadership

IMPROVEMENTS:

- Kicking
- Strength

PROFILE:

A real point of difference for Besanko is her speed, particularly between the 5-10m mark where she seems to gain another gear once in motion. She is very good at getting the tap down to a midfielder than bursting away to receive the handball forward and bombing it long inside 50. Her range of kick in terms of depth is very good, and can travel long distances.

While her kicking is her main improvement, Besanko can do some jaw-dropping things at times. On more than a few occasions, Besanko has kicked fantastic snaps under pressure, or run to 50m and let the ball sail through for a goal. Playing on instinct seems to bring the best out in the Stingrays tall and she is more effective by foot when taking the game on and setting her sights for home.

Her kicking could improve when having to kick to a direct point and weight the kick, but if given the chance to open up at full flight and kick through the ball, Besanko can put it to space for others to run onto or get into a good position to retain possession.

Though not the strongest one-on-one, Besanko's weapon is both her jump and her speed. Against bigger-bodied rucks, she might not win the hitout, but the way she can recover far quicker and get involved in the play makes her that valuable "fourth midfielder". She will support her team, put on blocks or shepherds where required, and is certainly not afraid to lay a tackle.

In the air one-on-one she can be beaten against an equally tall opponent as her strength is one area that can further develop. Luckily for Besanko if she does not mark the ball, she just has to bring it to ground as most players her height will not be able to compete for her clean hands at ground level and speed once she has the ball.

Her groundballs are an underrated element of her game given she is such a reliable aerial player when able to get separation on her opponent. As a forward she will gain the meterage required to mark on the lead, or race into space to mark uncontested then take off and put the opposition defence under pressure. When the ball does go to ground, Besanko is a cleaner player than most her size and that aids her smaller teammates in extracting the ball.

Looking forward, the elements of strength, kicking and consistency can all be improved in an elite program, and Besanko's strengths that are centred around her athleticism, speed and leadership are far harder to teach. She ticks a lot of boxes for a long-term prospect, and it will be a case of what role clubs see Besanko playing in the future.