ON the final day of the Under-18 Championships we headed down to Bond University. It was a perfect day for footy with the sun shining and not a cloud in sight allowing the action on the field to do all the talking. Vic Metro continued their dominance finishing undefeated while Vic Country and Central Allies both prevailed in their respective tight contests. Taylah Melki was on hand to provide her opinion-based notes on players from each of the six sides.

EASTERN ALLIES v. VIC METRO

Eastern Allies

#9 Jayde Hamilton

Made her presence felt across the ground with her strength and desperation to win the ball at every contest. Stood up in the tackles and used her composure to think her way through defence. Slick hands out of the stoppages to release teammates and used her long clearing kick to try and get the ball out of danger.

#10 Abby Favell

Constantly involved in the contest and working hard to win the ball at the coalface. She showcased her clean hands in close to flick the ball out of the congestion and to a player in space. Applied strong tackling pressure and put her body on the line with her clever shepherds. Favell displayed her strong set of hands taking a heap of contested marks and intercept marks. Impressive passage of play at the start of the fourth quarter with a long booming kick from just outside defensive 50 towards the attacking 50 for Allies. Was arguably one of the best on field for the Allies who struggled to combat the pressure of Vic Metro.

#11 Mia King

Good read of the tap out of the ruck and good intent to win the ball and push it forward. Constantly involved in the play credit to her football smarts and commitment to the footy, putting her body on the line time and time again. Had the ball on a string for majority of the game showcasing her slick hands in close and working her way through traffic to dish the ball out to passing teammates. Came off early in the last term with a suspected knee injury but overall had a solid performance for the Allies who struggled to penetrate through the defence of Vic Metro.

#19 Sophie Phillips

Phillips displayed her intercept marking abilities taking a wealth of marks coming inside 50. She was under constant pressure and showed great composure to think her way through traffic and move the ball down the field.

#20 Brenna Tarrant

Worked tirelessly throughout the match to nullify the influence of the Vic Metro forwards, picking off errant kicks and showcasing her strong set of hands to take mark after mark. Imposed herself on the contest and used her football nous to bang the ball forward and create some type of forward momentum.

#24 Georgia Garnett

Good clearing kick to move the ball out of congestion and down the ground. She had a relatively up and down game emulating the consistency of her team but when she featured she made her presence with her clean hands and intent to move the ball forward.

#25 Tarni Evans

Evans applied good attacking pressure and showcased her goal sense to bomb the ball from outside 50 with the footy dribbling through only for it to be touched on the line registering their first score of the game. She worked hard throughout the game to win possession for her side and went in hard at every contest showcasing her intent.

Vic Metro

#3 Gemma Lagioia

She won plenty of the footy early on using her long clearing kick to pass the mess and move the ball forward to better options. Utilised her evasive skills to zip through players and create space across the field. She found really good space in the third term and highlighted her accuracy by foot, nailing a pass lace out to a teammate inside 50. She had a flying shot at goal picking the ball up off the deck and going for a run but the ball hit the post.

#4 Nicola Xenos

Xenos showcased her footy smarts to cleanly pick the ball up off the ground and go streaming forward, sidestepping her opponents and kicking the first goal of the game. Popped in and out of the game but when she had ball in hand she made the most of it, delivering slick passes and creating forward thrusts for her side.

#14 Laura McClelland

Good intercept mark and showcased good courage to go back with the flight and stand up in a pack. Went in hard at the footy both attacking in the air and at ground level and won her fair share of the footy throughout the match credit to her tenacity. Constantly hitting the packs with good intent and displayed her footy smarts to know when to leave her player and when to stick with them. Switched forward in the second half and made her presence felt, taking a strong pack mark early in third term and turning and slotting her first goal of the game. Huge tackle in the last quarter to claim a holding the ball credit to her strength and attack on the footy while also highlighting her decision making with a clever ball into the middle channel to open up the ground. Took a huge mark with two minutes left in the last quarter at full stretch on a slight angle and banged it through for her second of the match.

#17 Georgia Patrikios

Continued her hot form to break away from the packs and stream forward with a long booming kick just drifting through for a behind. Showcased her slick hands in close and her evasive skills to manoeuvre her way around opponents and find space in the forward 50 time and time again. Patrikios impressed in the third term with a pinpoint pass to Felicity Theodore resulting in a goal credit to her slick hands and intent to take the game on, going for a run and bounce through the forward 50 and opening up space. Patrikios was in everything and impressed, racking up plenty of touches and treasuring possession when she had ball in hand.

#22 Sarah Hartwig

Really strong mark in the second quarter to take it at full flight over the top of a couple of players. She showcased good elevation and football smarts to read the flight of the footy and drop back into the spot. Goal saving mark a couple of steps out from the goal line to top off a solid performance.

#23 Nell Morris-Dalton

Kicked the first goal of the second quarter with four minutes left on the clock credit to her footy smarts to shrug off the would be tackler and step to the side, bending the ball back and nailing an impressive goal. Constantly posed a threat inside the forward 50 with her commanding presence and goal sense.

#26 Gabby Newton

Good read of the ruck tap straight out of the middle to burst through the middle and take it cleanly to bomb the ball forward into their attacking 50. Newton showcased her accuracy in front of goal winning a free kick and making no mistake to score her first major of the game in the opening term. Ran into good space throughout the game and displayed her impressive vision to kick long into the forward 50 to a one on one. Good use of the angles to slice through the ground and open it up to create space and free running for Metro. Brought out the party tricks in the fourth quarter with an over the shoulder handball to a teammate in space while also doing the one percenters well such as tackling and tracking the ball at ground level.

#29 Cleo Saxon-Jones

Imposed herself in the forward 50 taking a strong mark in the opening term and highlighting her impressive kick to nail it between the big sticks. Good tackling pressure to win a holding the ball call in the third quarter. Impressive passage of play in the third quarter with a piercing kick straight through the middle to hit Patrikios on the lead.

#34 Jessica Fitzgerald

Applied plenty of physical pressure early, contesting hard to win the footy at the coalface and using her body to out muscle other players. Showed great intent to push the ball forward and create potential scoring opportunities. Moved into the forward in the last term and made no mistake taking a strong contested mark inside the goal square and slotting her first goal of the match.

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WESTERN AUSTRALIA v. VIC COUNTRY

Western Australia

#7 Taylor Pescud

Worked hard at ground level to pick the ball up off the deck and keep the ball moving in the forward 50. She won her fair share of the footy and worked tirelessly throughout the match to win the ball and extract it out of the stoppages.

#8 Rebecca Viney

Worked hard in transition throughout the match to provide options across the ground. She consistently tried to win the footy at stoppages and was cautious with ball in hand to try and hit targets on the lead.

#13 Kia Buckley

Good contested mark in the forward 50 leading up at the footy resulting in a goal. Took a huge mark in the dying minutes of the fourth quarter but was unable to capitalise with the ball tracking to the right.

#17 Mikayla Bowen

Showcased her speed and good vision to go for a run down the wing and propel the ball long inside forward 50 to create scoring opportunities for WA. Showed good intent to try and win the footy time and time again while also highlighting her clean hands off the deck to pick the ball up off the ground with ease. Bowen was constantly involved in the contest, applying strong physical pressure and covering the ground well to have an impact at the contest.

#22 Nyra Anderson

Laid a huge tackle in the second quarter to claim a holding the ball call credit to her impressive athleticism and speed to trap Sophie Molan and bring her to ground. Showed good decision making to think her way through traffic and know when to burst away from packs.

#23 Mikayla Morrison

Good run and carry to break away from the pack and stream forward to slot her first for the game. She showed good spatial awareness to dodge players and keep her composure to lower her eyes and drill the ball through the big sticks.

#29 Roxanne Roux

The bandage on her head did not slow her down, working hard to win the footy both at ground level and in the air. She showcased her long booming kick once again, bombing the ball long down into the forward line. Bodied up well at the contest and got good separation from the tackler to break free and bomb the ball long down the line into the forward 50. Huge fly in the last quarter to get up high and then work hard to bring the ball to ground.

#35 Mim Strom

Kicked the opening goal of the game credit to her goal sense and ability to work her way through traffic and go for home. Showcased her impressive elevation in the ruck getting up high to tap the ball down to her teammates’ advantage, tracking well across the field.

Vic Country

#3 Paige Sheppard

Involved in everything early in the game getting hands to ball and showcasing her evasive skills to sidestep her opponent. She tracked the ball well at ground level to extract the footy and dish it off to a teammate in a better position.

#9 Darcy Moloney

Really built into the game and had an impact in the second half leading up at the footy and using her speed to get into dangerous positions across the ground. She had a shot at goal in the early stages of the third but just missed. Moloney showcased her skill to impact the play and cause havoc with her footy smarts.

#12 Tyanna Smith

Popped up in the third quarter and injected herself into the forward 50 with an impressive goal from about 35 out, slotting it straight through the middle. She showcased her strong hands to take a good grab and made the most of her leading patterns getting into space.

#14 Abbey Chapman

Showed a good ability to read the flight of the ball and cut off WA’s forward forays with multiple intercept marks across the backline. She worked tirelessly down back to win ball and propel it back down the field while also using her physicality to impact the play.

#21 Sophie Molan

Really built into the game and showed her good hands in close to feed the ball out of congestion and into space. Displayed good footy smarts and vision in the fourth quarter to dish off a loopy handball into space and create forward momentum for Country.

#23 Lucy McEvoy

Showcased her sheer strength and understanding to find the ball and use her body effectively to out muscle opponents. Injected herself into the game in the second quarter with a huge tackle to win a holding the ball call. Dropped forward late in the second quarter and offered a good lead up at the footy taking a strong grab and converting from about 20 metres directly in front for Country’s first goal of the game. Continued to show her dominance and ability to pick holes in defence to weave the ball through and hit targets throughout the match. Her marking was second to none, taking big grabs and getting up high to pick off stray kicks.

#24 Isabella Simmons

Good crumbing goal in the third term to pick the ball up off the deck and soccer it through for her first for the afternoon. Really good lead in the forward 50 and took a juggling mark on a tight angle from about 30 out but was unable to convert only registering a behind.

#25 Olivia Barber

Imposed herself early on in the game creating good leads and attacking the footy with strong intent. She displayed her strong hands to take a couple of consecutive marks but struggled to convert registering two behinds in the opening term. Showed good courage to go back with the flight of the ball and put her hands to the test taking some good strong marks across the ground acting as the outlet player for Country. She covered the ground well and ran hard to provide constant leads. She found plenty of opportunities in front of goal with another chance in the fourth but could not capitalise.

#29 Maggie Caris

Imposing figure in the last quarter taking two big grabs in the fourth quarter to stop the quick transition play from WA and allow Country to get re-entries into their forward 50. Was solid in the midfield defensive setup, cutting off WA’s clearing ball to the midfield and drilling it back forward.

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QUEENSLAND v. CENTRAL ALLIES

Queensland

#4 Lily Postlethwaite

Showcased her strength and footy smarts to win one on ones and deliver well weighted passes to teammates moving past. Her strong hands were also a key feature of her game taking good marks and competing both in the air and at ground level to win the footy. Good vision to lower her eyes and sight a free player and deliver a bullet-like kick straight to her. Displayed her football nous to work her way through traffic and then make the most of her opportunities with ball in hand using it effectively and cleverly.

#8 Isabel Dawes

Good evasive skills to dodge her way through traffic and shrug off opponents to hit an opponent lace out on the wing. She used her quick hands to work her way through traffic and create space for her teammates. Showed a good burst of speed and footy smarts in the last term to zig-zag through the pack, read the tap out of the ruck and then stream inside 50 to kick long to a contest just outside the goal square.

#16 Ellie Hampson

Good out of the middle bursting away from the pack and using her pace to bang the ball long. Stood up in the tackles using her strength to shrug opponents off and showcased her long booming kick to bang it deep inside 50. Constantly involved in the play and displayed her physical nature taking the game on and moving the ball out of dangerous positions. She showed a never say die attitude, always hunting both the ball and the player.

#19 Zimmorlei Farquharson

Impressed throughout the game with her strong intent and desire to win the footy at every occasion. Won a holding the ball call in the first quarter credit to her strong tackling pressure and kicked it deep inside forward 50 to create a scoring opportunity. Was involved in plenty of contests going in hard and using her speed to weave through traffic. Took a strong contested mark inside the forward 50 but was unable to convert, only managing a behind. Made amends for her earlier miss with a strong take and a relaxed and composed run up to slot her first goal of the game. Good read out of the ruck to rove the pack, having a flying shot at goal but the ball just drifted left. She looked electric every time the ball came near her given her goal sense and dynamic movement.

#20 Charlotte Hammans

Worked her way into the game and made her presence felt across the field with her attacking style of play. She worked tirelessly throughout the match to try and extract the ball in close and then burst away.

#21 Taylor Smith

Stood up in the last term taking a big grab directly in front and converting her first for the afternoon to draw back the margin under pressure. She showcased her strong hands to take the ball above her head and displayed great composure to think her way through the shot and nail it.

#24 Annise Bradfield

Took a strong mark in the goal square credit to her footy smarts and clever body positioning and nailed her first goal of the game at the start of the second quarter.

Central Allies

#5 Shantel Miskin-Ripia

Worked tirelessly down in defence to try and chop off any forward forays from Queensland. Consistently got hands to ball taking a couple of intercept marks and dropping into the holes to regain possession for the Allies. Showcased her long booming kick to move it out of defence and push the ball forward.

#9 Jaimi Tabb

Proved to be hard to stop when on song, making her presence felt in and around the stoppages and flicking the ball out to teammates. She was a real bull and won a couple of clearances to move the ball forward and creating scoring pressure.

#10 Madison Newman

Worked her way into the game, winning plenty of footy in the forward half and working it around to better positions. Showcased her strength around the contest to get the ball out of congestion and move it forward with pace.

#11 Teagan Usher

Good read of the flight of the ball to get into the right spots and take numerous marks throughout the game. she tackled hard and applied good physical pressure to worry her opponents out of the contest. She covered the ground well and worked hard to try and create a contest at every opportunity.

#15 Mattea Breed

Really good overhead to take a strong mark inside forward 50 after a clever lead up at the footy slotting her first goal in the opening term. Took a big contested mark in the goal square and slotted her second goal for the game credit to her accurate kicking style and composure with ball in hand.

#23 Stephanie Williams

Impressive run through the forward 50 into an open goal shrugging off the tackler and getting the Allies on the board midway through the first quarter. Used her body well to take a strong grab near the goal square and then play on taking on the tackler and slotting it through for her second. Showcased her electric speed and attacking flair, soccering the ball off the ground and gaining important metres. Her attack on the ball was second to none hunting the ball and player throughout the match.

#25 Teah Charlton

Won plenty of ball throughout the game, going in hard at the contest and using her quick hands to feed the ball out to teammates. Positioned herself well around the stoppages to read the tap and get hands to ball. Extracted the ball with ease from the contest and showed good composure and footy smarts to take a couple of steps, look inside 50 and then deliver a spearing kick into their attacking 50. Displayed her strong set of hands to take an important mark just inside the centre square and then kick long into the forward 50. She applied good tackling pressure contesting hard at every opportunity.

#26 Montana McKinnon

Displayed her strong hands and defensive mindset to slot into holes and pick off errant kicks that came her way. She was really clean below her knees to pick the ball up off the deck all in one motion and then dish it off to a teammate while getting tackled. Applied good physical pressure to lay a strong tackle and win the ball back for the Allies. Took an impressive mark in the last quarter getting up high and showcasing her aerial ability to bring the ball down in a pack. Really good elevation when in the ruck working hard to direct her taps to her teammates.

#27 Tayla Hart-Aluni

Injected herself into the game early with her quick hands and impressive vision to sight players on the lead and dish off clever passes. Hit a perfect kick late in the first quarter lace out to Breed who slotted a goal. Second efforts were second to none competing both in the air and on the ground working tirelessly to regain possession for Central. Clean hands off the deck to pick the ball up and dish it off to a teammate all in one swooping action.