- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Bendigo Pioneers<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Northern Knights<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nBENDIGO PIONEERS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#6<\/strong> Sage Dennis<\/a>
Forward\/Midfielder | 161cm | 22\/08\/2009<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>16 disposals, 2 marks, 6 tackles, 1 inside 50, 2 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The talented bottom-ager spent more time around the ball as the Pioneers swung the magnets around and showed some nice promise in close. Though not winning a clearance herself, what you get with Dennis is absolute fierce competitiveness, and usually clean skills once she wins the ball. Quick to dispose of it in traffic, she competes well in the air for her size, and while she is still building the strength to match it with bigger opponents, her smarts – such as her mid-air change of direction handball when she was about to be tackled in the first term – was fantastic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#9<\/strong> Beth Morris<\/a>
Midfielder\/Defender | 167cm | 04\/09\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats:<\/strong> 26 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 3 clearances, 5 rebound 60s, 1 behind<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morris does not have too much left to prove on the inside, so has been able to work more to the outside and provide a marking option. Though she still spent the bulk of her time at the coalface, Morris looked to be a target at half-back to then get the ball transitioning down the field. Clean at ground level with her defensive pressure always at an incredibly high level, Morris kept cracking in hard. She had a chance on goal in the final term when forward but missed ot the right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#12<\/strong> Issy Boulton<\/a>
Midfielder\/Forward | 160cm | 21\/11\/2007<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>13 disposals, 2 marks, 13 tackles, 3 clearances, 2 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 2 behinds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though the over-ager has had bigger games, Boulton never relented with her defensive pressure and she continues to just be an all-round neat player. She can play across all three lines and generally impact both offensively and defensively. Did not get a lot of chances given the dominance of the Knights, but always provides the tackling pressure required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#14<\/strong> Lacey Nihill<\/a>
Defender | 172cm | 01\/05\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats: <\/strong>27 disposals, 2 marks, 9 tackles, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 6 rebound 50s<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nihill has played positional lottery this year, starting on-ball, moving to a wing and now settling into defence. She racked up a lot of ball thanks to the Knights’ inaccuracy – taking the kickouts – as well as mopping up behind the ball and clearing it well. In preseason, Nihill identified that final execution as her main improvement focus – which it is – but her action and technique itself is quite smooth. She continues to get into the right spots, and her defensive pressure, combined with her attacking flair and want to win multiple possessions in a chain, ensures she finds plenty of the pill wherever she goes. Once again was the standout for the Pioneers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NORTHERN KNIGHTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1<\/strong> Somer McCormack<\/a>
Forward\/Midfielder | 162cm | 22\/01\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats:<\/strong> 29 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 2 rebound 50s, 2 goals, 1 behind<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCormack has been the pick of the top-agers outside those in the Vic Metro hub for the Knights this season, and she continued to be a key link between midfield and attack. She was lively inside 50 early, missing a chance before nailing a set shot following a mark in the 14th minute. She kicked a second in the first minute of the third term after gathering at half-forward and slotting it on the run. McCormack’s aerial presence was a strength and her courageous mark in the third quarter a highlight of how she puts her body on the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#2<\/strong> Maddison Meagher<\/a>
Wing | 164cm | 02\/08\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats:<\/strong> 25 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 9 inside 50s, 1 rebound 50, 1 goal, 1 behind<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The explosive Meagher has always been that player who, when she wins 15 touches looks about 25, so it is no surprise that when she wins 25, it feels about 35. Her run and carry all over the ground was superb, and she continued to breakdown the opposition defence with her line-breaking traits. She feasted on the Knights dominating around the ball, pushing in from the wing, taking off and putting it into dangerous positions forward of centre. The top-ager’s best moment came in the third term. where she sliced a low pass into McCormack, ran past for the handball receive and then launched home a goal. That came just moments after setting up her aforementioned teammate with one of her own. Best on ground without a doubt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#12<\/strong> Deena Gerges<\/a>
Midfielder\/Forward | 175cm | 21\/06\/2010<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats:<\/strong> 20 disposals, 1 mark, 3 tackles, 4 clearances, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal, 2 behinds<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The talented Vic Metro Under 16s star has slotted in seamlessly as part of a midfield\/forward rotation at the Knights. She had a couple of ‘almost chances in the first half, before clunking a good grab 15m out in the 11th minute of the second term. Gerges’ kicking has great penetration, she has a variety of skills and her strength overhead – given her size – is a big positive as well. She only took the one mark – the conditions weren’t ideal – but she uses her body effectively and even attempted a couple of fend-offs in the game, one successful, one less so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#14 <\/strong>Emily Webb<\/a>
Forward | 167cm | 04\/05\/2008<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nStats:<\/strong> 28 disposals, 3 marks, 1 tackle, 1 clearance, 2 inside 50s, 1 goal, 1 behind<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Webb’s performance was deserving of a mention after playing her best game thus far up forward. She benefited from the wave of inside 50 entries off the knights, and got into good spots to receive the ball. She was a touch fumbly at ground level, but once she had ball in hand, was able to set up scoring chances for her teammates. Just kept popping up and played an important team role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n