NOW that the ANZ Premiership season has come to a close Draft Central takes a look back at some of the quiet achievers that effectively plied their trade throughout the year. The next in line at number five is Charlotte Elley, with the wing defence proving to be a key cog for the Mainland Tactix.

Often overshadowed by the two Silver Ferns defenders behind her in Jane Watson and Karin Burger, Elley proved to be one of those players that did her job week in, week out and was in actual fact an unsung hero. It would be fair to argue that their success might not have occurred if Elley was not able to effectively shut down her opponent and allow both Watson and Burger to go out hunting. The wing defence played a much more structured and on the body role to negate the influence of her opponent and work in overdrive to shut down that easy entrance into the circle. Her connection with Watson and Burger was unstoppable as the trio ran amuck down in defence to build pressure and cause turnovers credit to their cohesive movement and overall understanding.

Elley imposed herself time and time again using her long arms and quick footwork especially around circle edge to create deflections aplenty. She was incredibly strong in defence, able to set up walls and defensive zones to reduce the speed of the opposition attack. although she did not often go out for a flying intercept, when she did she made sure to execute it thanks to her impressive timing and strength. Her elevation was also impressive throughout the season as well as her three-foot marking to block her opponents vision and create doubt on the pass. It was the one percenters that really stood out with the wing defence willing to grind out every single possession in order to claim the ascendancy, shadowing her opponents every move and constantly niggling at them to impose herself on the contest.

Strong in defence, Elley also displayed her ability to help out in attack and provide transitional support through the centre. More often than not, Elley would sit up nice and high on the transverse line to offer an outlet pass and allow the attackers to reposition. Her attacking tendencies did not stop there with Elley also coming out hard at the centre pass to create a different dynamic in attack for the Tactix up forward and allow her team to drop into second phase. She linked up well with Kimiora Poi in attack and defence to balance out the circle while her workrate often allowed her to release some long bombs into the goalers.

Although the Tactix did not lift the premiership trophy, Elley was a key component in their finals berth with the wing defence using her craft to full advantage. Across the 17 matches she played she registered 58 centre pass receives, 29 deflections, 18 pickups and 12 intercepts. In a testament to her cleanliness she only racked up 17 turnovers while playing an impressive 917 minutes.