- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Dandenong Stingrays<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Eastern Ranges<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nDETAILS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dandenong Stingrays vs. Eastern Ranges<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Venue:<\/strong> Shepley Oval Date:<\/strong> Saturday, September 5 Time:<\/strong> 11:00am<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LAST TIME THEY MET<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dandenong survived a nail-biter to defeat Eastern by 10 points in Round 9, winning 5.8 (38) to 3.10 (28) at Kinetic Stadium in what was a true grand final rematch. The Stingrays dominated territory with 47 inside 50s to 28, and while both sides managed 13 scoring shots, Dandenong made the better use of its chances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scarlett Marsh<\/a> was arguably the difference in the closing stages, finishing with 21 disposals, five marks, seven tackles and five clearances after rotating into defence for the final term. Evi Irving<\/a> stepped up in the midfield to compensate for a missing teammate, racking up 17 disposals, six tackles, five clearances and eight inside 50s, while Ella Bologa<\/a> was prolific off half-back with a game-high 25 disposals and seven rebound 50s. Jasmine Whitten<\/a> provided the defensive X-factor with 19 disposals, six marks and 12 tackles, and Amelia Hamod<\/a> kicked an early goal to go with 15 disposals and six marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eastern was not far away despite the final margin. Emily Rankin<\/a> led from the front with 24 disposals, six marks and 12 tackles and nearly kicked the sealer only to be touched on the goalline, while Lara Williams<\/a> was equally influential across the first three quarters with 23 disposals and six rebound 50s. Scout Semple<\/a> produced a standout final term to finish with 19 disposals and six inside 50s, Brylee Anderson<\/a> laid 10 tackles and kicked a goal after moving on-ball, and Maeve Gill<\/a> was Eastern\u2019s most composed defender with 13 disposals and five rebound 50s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
TOP-AGERS TO WATCH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sophie White<\/a> is Dandenong\u2019s lone National Combine representative and gives the Stingrays a genuine point of difference in the ruck. The 184cm talent is averaging 20 hitouts this season and battled well against Geelong\u2019s Lexie Whatley<\/strong> in the quarter final, winning 28 hitouts to go with eight disposals, three tackles and four inside 50s. Her work into space at half-forward and on the wing gives Dandenong an avenue beyond the contest itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marsh remains one of Dandenong\u2019s most trusted performers and heads to the State Combine off a season averaging 19.9 disposals, 6.1 tackles and 2.8 marks. Her ability to shift between midfield and defence, and her composure under pressure, were on full display against Geelong when she opened the scoring from long range. Fellow State Combine invitees Hannah Griffiths<\/a> and Gabrielle Mehrmann<\/a> add versatility, with Griffiths averaging 5.2 tackles and adding scoreboard impact from 68 hitouts across the season in a forward and secondary ruck role, while Mehrmann\u2019s 180cm frame allows her to really impact in the air across the defensive half of the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elsewhere, Zoe Zach<\/a> and Irving give the Stingrays midfield grunt. Zach is averaging 20.4 disposals and 4.9 tackles, while Irving\u2019s 18.8 disposals and adaptability across half-back and the midfield have been a constant through 2026. Whitten rounds out the group as a two-way small forward, averaging 17.3 disposals and 5.9 tackles to go with elite overhead strength for her size.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eastern\u2019s depth of talent is best reflected by its six Combine invitees. Anderson is a standout, averaging 25.5 disposals, 6.9 tackles and 4.1 marks, and produced back-to-back 30-plus disposal games heading into the preliminary final, including 30 touches and eight tackles against Calder. Rankin is right there as well with 25.7 disposals and 6.7 tackles per game, and her leadership and clean hands make her one of the competition\u2019s most consistent top-agers. Semple offers genuine game-breaking ability through the midfield and forward line, averaging 18.1 disposals, and produced 21 disposals and five clearances against Calder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Adelaide Caldicott<\/a> has continued her rise up draft boards, averaging 16.5 disposals, 4.8 marks and 1.6 goals, and kicked two more majors in the quarter final while splitting time forward and through the middle. State Combine pair Gill and Bridie Neale<\/a> add important balance, with Gill\u2019s intercepting strength in defence a key reason Eastern has been able to curb opposition key forwards, while Neale\u2019s 15.5 disposals and run between the arcs give the Ranges drive out of half-back. Williams and Ellie Busch<\/a> round out an experienced defensive group outside the Combine picks. Williams averages 18.8 disposals and 3.7 marks while providing attacking spark from defence, while Busch is the more conventional lockdown option, averaging 14 disposals, 3.4 marks and 4.2 tackles as Eastern\u2019s primary medium defender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/230826-DS-Zoe-Zach-1024x683.jpg\")
Zoe Zach provides defensive pressure around the ball and can rotate back to intercept. Image credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n FUTURE PROSPECTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dandenong\u2019s 2009-born crop is where much of its scoring punch resides. Annie Clish<\/a> has been one of the competition\u2019s most dangerous forwards, averaging 1.6 goals a game, while Lily Brittain<\/a> offers midfield smarts and quick hands, averaging 15.9 disposals. Olive Henry<\/a> has built strong late-season form out of the back half, averaging 14.1 disposals and four tackles, and Bologa remains a damaging rebounder, averaging 17.5 disposals and more than five rebound 50s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shiloh Little<\/a> gives Dandenong a second genuine ruck option at 184cm, averaging over 21 hitouts a game, while Hamod has become an increasingly dangerous target inside 50, averaging 3.0 marks and 1.1 goals and booting a hat-trick against Geelong. Among the 2010-born group, Shae Anderson<\/a> continues to show clean hands and finishing craft off Dandenong\u2019s bench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eastern\u2019s future crop is arguably even deeper. Perri Goulding<\/a> has earned AFL National Futures selection and is averaging 16.5 disposals and 6.6 tackles, kicking two goals in the win over Calder. Alira Barnard-Rossely<\/a> continues to build as a high-pressure forward-midfielder, averaging 15.8 disposals, while Sophia Davey<\/a> and April Dye<\/a> are fellow National Futures selections who add first-possession ability and ruck-forward flexibility respectively, Dye averaging 13 hitouts a game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tillie Baldwin<\/a> offers Eastern a genuine ruck option to complement its tall forwards, averaging 12.2 disposals, 2.5 marks and 15.3 hitouts, with her marking and follow-up work at ground level giving the Ranges an avenue to compete with Dandenong\u2019s ruck division. Sadie Glew<\/a> and Camryn Rabie<\/a> add further depth off half-back. Rabie, a double-bottom-ager, is averaging 13.8 disposals and 3.4 marks in her first season at the level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PREDICTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dandenong\u2019s unbeaten record and home-ground advantage make it easy to back the Stingrays, but Eastern arrives with the sharper form line and the class to match it. The Ranges were far more comprehensive against Calder than Dandenong was against Geelong, a midfield trio of Anderson, Rankin and Semple gives Eastern the collective grunt to match the Stingrays around the contest, and Baldwin now offers a genuine ruck option to prevent White and Little from dominating that battle uncontested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dandenong\u2019s spread of scoring options and its ruck advantage cannot be discounted, particularly with Clish, Hamod and Bologa all capable of hurting Eastern in different ways, and the Round 9 meeting showed the Stingrays can win the inside 50 battle comfortably without it always translating on the scoreboard. That was enough for a 10-point win in the home-and-away season, but Eastern\u2019s finals pedigree, extra Combine class and Caldicott\u2019s continued rise should be the difference this time. Expect a tight arm-wrestle, with Eastern Ranges completing the job and advancing to a another grand final.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>