AN UNBEATEN season has earned Dandenong Stingrays their shot at a maiden Talent League Girls premiership, but it comes against a grand final-hardened side that has already won three flags. Oakleigh Chargers arrive at Whitten Oval as the top-ranked metropolitan team with six Draft Combine invitees, a pick one contender in attack and a fortnight of scar tissue from last September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The subplot writes itself. Dandenong has beaten Oakleigh twice already in 2026 and ended the Chargers’ quest for a three-peat in last year’s preliminary final, and while the Stingrays carry four Combine invitees to Oakleigh’s six, they produced a league-high five Talent League Girls Team of the Year selections to the Chargers’ three. The Stingrays also have a shot at the double, with their boys’ side meeting Gippsland Power at the same venue later in the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
DETAILS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oakleigh Chargers vs. Dandenong Stingrays<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Venue:<\/strong> Whitten Oval LAST TIME THEY MET<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dandenong handed Oakleigh a 42-point defeat in Round 10 at Warrawee Park, winning 7.14 (56) to 2.2 (14) against a Chargers outfit missing several key players to the AFLW Academy-All Stars match. The Stingrays overcame a tight start and their own inaccuracy to keep the unbeaten run alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scarlett Marsh<\/a> was a standout with 23 disposals, seven clearances and six inside 50s, adding a goal and an immediate follow-up tackle to force a turnover. Molly Reimers<\/a> worked both ways for 24 disposals and six marks, Evi Irving<\/a> led all comers with seven inside 50s from 21 touches, and Zoe Zach<\/a> was busy on-ball with 22 disposals. Ella Bologa<\/a> intercepted repeatedly off half-back for 17 disposals and six marks, while Marlee Black<\/a> produced a goal assist of real craft in the final term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oakleigh had its ball-winners without the scoreboard return. Molly Phillips<\/a> racked up 29 disposals and seven tackles on-ball, Isabelle Godfrey<\/a> was influential across the wing with 24 disposals, and Leni Lockyer<\/a> and Lily Parker<\/a> shared kick-out duties for 17 disposals apiece, Parker collecting a game-high seven rebound 50s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The earlier meeting was far closer. Dandenong won by four points at Kinetic Stadium in Round 4, holding Oakleigh goalless across the second and third terms after trailing by 14 at the first break, before a late Cleo Barbakas<\/a> major made for a nervous finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n TOP-AGERS TO WATCH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oakleigh’s six Combine invitees remain the most talented top-age group in the competition. Bailee Martin<\/a> is the headline act and a pick one contender, averaging 2.5 goals from just six games and kicking five in the preliminary final, including three in the opening term before Murray was forced into a defensive reshuffle to try and contain her. Her ability to win it up the ground as well as one-out inside 50 is what makes the match-up so difficult to solve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Isabella Mazzei<\/a> leads the Chargers for contested ball production, averaging 23.6 disposals and 6.7 tackles, while Zoe Curry<\/a> captains the side into the decider off a commanding 28-disposal, eight-clearance preliminary final built on an 18-touch first half. Sophia Green<\/a> is the defensive anchor at 19.4 disposals and 5.1 tackles, and produced the intercept-and-switch that led directly to a Scarlett Bown<\/a> goal against the Bushrangers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n State Combine pair Godfrey and Lockyer add class either side of the ground, Godfrey averaging 17.8 disposals with her two-way running on the wing, and Lockyer – an eligible Collingwood father-daughter prospect – providing resistance and kick-out responsibility in the back half at 13.6 disposals and 2.0 rebound 50s. Phillips is the standout non-Combine top-ager, leading the Oakleigh list with 23.2 disposals a game in her high half-forward role, with Ava Philpin<\/a> (12.4 disposals, 4.1 tackles) and Grace To<\/a> (15.5 disposals, 4.8 tackles) offering further midfield-forward balance. The Chargers will be without Ruby Douglas<\/a>, a quality young midfielder-defender who has averaged 14.5 disposals and 5.5 tackles this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dandenong’s four invitees are led by Sophie White<\/a>, the Stingrays’ lone National Combine representative and a genuine point of difference at 184cm. She produced one of her best games of the season in the preliminary final with 32 hitouts, 10 disposals and six inside 50s, impacting well beyond the ruck contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marsh has been the most trusted performer of the lot, averaging 20 disposals, 4.6 clearances and 4.2 tackles, and delivered a best-afield preliminary final of 21 disposals, seven clearances and three goals – including a dribbled major from the boundary on the edge of half-time. State Combine pair Hannah Griffiths<\/a> and Gabrielle Mehrmann<\/a> bring versatility, Griffiths applying pressure and scoreboard impact in a forward and secondary ruck role, while Mehrmann’s 180cm frame looms as the likely first option on Martin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Outside the Combine group, Zach (19.8 disposals, 4.4 clearances) and Irving (18.6 disposals) supply midfield grunt, Black leads the side as skipper from the wing after playing out the preliminary final despite an awkward landing in the quarter final, and vice-captain Jasmine Whitten<\/a> has been among the competition’s most durable two-way smalls at 17.1 disposals and 5.9 tackles across 16 games. Marsh, White, Zach and Whitten all earned Team of the Year selection, with Reimers – an over-ager averaging 16.8 disposals and 5.7 tackles – adding further experience through the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n FUTURE PROSPECTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oakleigh’s bottom-age crop is one of the best in the league. Barbakas has turned into a genuine top-end 2027 prospect and a Team of the Year selection, averaging 15.5 disposals, 13.9 hitouts and 5.8 clearances, and acted as a fourth midfielder in the preliminary final with 24 disposals and 10 inside 50s. Bown is a strong marking target averaging 14.2 disposals, 3.9 marks and 1.3 goals, while Parker (15.4 disposals) is the classiest user out of defence. Grace Sharkie<\/a> has been remarkably durable across 15 games, and Ruby Kaye<\/a> impressed on limited exposure with 18 disposals and four clearances last start. Cate Deayton<\/a> (11 goals in eight games) and Abi D’Intini<\/a> (nine in nine) give the Chargers further small-forward scoring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dandenong’s 2009-born group is right there with Oakleigh and carries most of the Stingrays’ scoring punch, headlined by Team of the Year selection Annie Clish<\/a>, the competition’s most dangerous young forward with 23 goals from 15 games. Amelia Hamod<\/a> kicked two in the preliminary final and offers a 186cm target who can pinch-hit in the ruck, while Lily Brittain<\/a> is the distributor across half-forward with 15.7 disposals and 11 goals. Bologa remains a damaging rebounder at 17.2 disposals and more than five rebound 50s, Olive Henry<\/a> has built strong late-season form in the back half, and Shiloh Little<\/a> gives Dandenong a second 184cm ruck averaging 20.6 hitouts. Shae Anderson<\/a> rounds out some of the younger contingent with the 2010-born forward boasting clean hands and finishing craft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PREDICTION<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Oakleigh has the single most valuable player on the ground in Martin, the best ruck-forward hybrid in Barbakas, and more Combine class across the board. If Martin gets front position early the way she did against Murray, the Chargers can win this without dominating the ball, and Curry and Mazzei are capable of producing the individual performances that decide deciders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Dandenong has answered the question twice already this season and has not been beaten in 16 matches. The Stingrays own the ruck depth with White and Little to Oakleigh’s reliance on Barbakas and Emily McKinley<\/a>. They have six players who have kicked nine goals or more this year to spread the scoring load, and their five Team of the Year selections suggest the gap in class is is fairly close. Add the manner of the preliminary final – a 4.4 to 0.2 opening term against the reigning premiers – and Marsh’s current form, and it is hard to look past the unbeaten side. Expect Dandenong Stingrays to finish the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dandenong Stingrays by six points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Date:<\/strong> Saturday, September 19
Time:<\/strong> 10:45am<\/p>\n\n\n\n