WHILE the NAB League Girls competition is on break, we take a quick recap of each team, how the first three rounds have panned out for them and who has already stood up in the short time. In this edition we look at one of the sides to have only played the two games to-date, splitting their results with a big loss and a big win, Eastern Ranges.

2020 RESULTS:

R1: lost to Dandenong Stingrays by 50 points
R2: Bye
R3: defeated Tasmania Devils by 57 points

They have not had the same amount of games as the first three team reviews, with Eastern Ranges suffering a 50-point loss at the hands of Dandenong Stingrays, before winning against Tasmania Devils by 57 to maintain a positive percentage before the season was postponed. There were plenty of positives to take out of the 2020 season so far and a number of impressive players.

FIVE STRONG STARTERS:

Olivia Meagher (21.5 disposals, 2.0 marks, 3.0 tackles, 2.0 inside 50s, 2.0 rebounds)

In Eastern’s top couple of players in both games, the relentless attitude of the captain stands out above all else. Meagher keeps cracking in regardless of the score and always puts in a four quarter effort. She is a team player who provides bumps and shepherds that will not always be recorded on a stats sheet, but help the team out immensely. A natural-born leader who sets the example for her teammates to follow.

Tarni Brown (24.0 disposals, 2.5 marks, 4.5 tackles, 2.5 inside 50s, 1.0 rebound, 1 goal)

The classy midfielder watched her brother Tyler make his debut in the AFL last weekend, and her most recent performance against Tasmania was one that was equally as exciting. She has increased her ball-winning ability in 2020 and her numbers have gone up – albeit from just the two games of data – but what sets her aside is her ability to think her way through traffic, evade opponents and pick the right option out of a stoppage. Often used as a distributor going inside 50.

Jorja Livingstone (16.5 disposals, 1.0 tackles, 4.0 inside 50s)

A real exciting player who has some nice burst speed out of a stoppage and while clearances are not a stat officially recorded, you can guarantee she would be high up in that regard. She covers the ground well and can play out of the middle or around the forward 50, having a number of chances but just not being able to make one stick early against the Devils. A middle-age player who will still be eligible to run around in the competition next year.

Bridget Deed (16.0 disposals, 2.5 marks, 2.5 tackles, 3.5 rebounds)

Another middle-age prospect who has been a reliable source in defence, but also pushing up the ground through the midfield, Deed is able to find the ball and move it on quickly in transition. She was seen finding plenty of it early against Tasmania, then went back to the last line where she aided her team in weathering the storm against the Devils. A really versatile player who will be another to watch next season.

Isabelle Khoury (10.5 disposals, 1.5 marks, 2.0 tackles, 2.5 inside 50s, 3 goals)

Without many chances in the opening game, the forward made the most of her chances against Tasmania. Khoury booted three majors against the Devils, and was providing a target up the field for her teammates. She often also pumped the ball inside 50 to provide others with a chance to score and could play deep or as a high half-forward. Another middle-age prospect, Khoury will get another chance in 2021.

Others who have stood out: Georgia Campbell, Mietta Kendall, Jess Grace, Matilda Hardy

The Ranges had plenty of talls this year, and Campbell led the ruck division with 18 hitouts from 12 touches and 3.5 tackles per game. Assisting her as one of a couple of other players in the hitouts was Grace, who showed strength at full-forward as well as through the middle, while Kendall in defence, and Hardy as a forward target in the game against Tasmania were also impressive.