Eastern Ranges Female Talent Coordinator Jessie Mulholland gives her thoughts on the club's upcoming U18 girls season.
2018 FINISH: 4th (6-3 record)
2018 BEST AND FAIREST: Lauren Szigeti
2018 TEAM OF THE YEAR SELECTIONS: Mikala Cann, Sarah Kendall, Georgia Macpherson, Laura McClelland, Emerson Woods
2018 AFL WOMEN'S DRAFTEES: Mikala Cann (Collingwood), Charlotte Wilson (Carlton), Emerson Woods (Carlton)
2019 AFLW ACADEMY:
- Level 1 (17yo): Olivia Meagher
2019 HEAD COACH: Tom Humphrey (third season)
2019 SEASON START: vs Dandenong Stingrays @ SkyBus Stadium, Sunday March 3
TOP 2019 AFLW DRAFT PROSPECT
Laura McClelland (local club – Monbulk): "Laura was our leading goalkicker last year and she's a pretty exciting player. She's an incredible overhead mark and reads the play really well; we're just working on her kicking at the moment and she's knows it's an area to improve on. We've played her in the forward line previously but may look to run her through the midfield this year."
POTENTIAL DRAFT SURPRISE PACKETS
Tahlia Merrett (Monbulk): "Tahlia has gone under the radar because we had some talented top-agers on our list last year. She's probably one that hasn't been looked at or thought of as a draft prospect before this year, but it's now her time to shine and take on bigger roles. She can play in the ruck, but she's a tall forward and can play back as well."
Serena Gibbs (Mount Evelyn): "Serena is a Victorian Netball League player who has never played competitive football. She could be our Mikala Cann of last year, who came in and joined us and looked so natural straight away. Serena has exceeded our expectations so far and we're really excited to watch her play. She'll probably be a tall forward or one of our ruck options."
17YO PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tarni Brown (Donvale): "Tarni played two games with us last year and then got injured, and when she came back in a game for the Vic Metro under-16s it was like she hadn't missed any football at all. Her ability to read the play, have clean hands and get out of trouble makes her really dangerous as an inside midfielder."
Olivia Meagher (Upper Ferntree Gully): "Olivia is an inside midfielder who will always be the one applying pressure and tackling the opposition. She also has the ability to read the play down the field before anything happens. She's probably one to watch leadership-wise as well; she has some incredible character traits."
LEADERSHIP MATERIAL
"There are definitely standouts from a leadership point of view. Madeline Edwards (18yo in 2019, Whitehorse Colts) was in our leadership group last year and will lead by example with her elite mindset. Laura McClelland (see above) was also in the group last year and she leads by example on the field – people aspire to play football like her. Some younger girls will be able to stand up too this year, with the way they lead on and off the field."
FAMOUS FOOTBALL RELATIONS
Tarni Brown (see above): Daughter of former AFL player Gavin Brown – 254 games for Collingwood – and sister of current AFL players Callum Brown – 13 games for Collingwood – and Tyler Brown – yet to debut for Collingwood.
TEAM STRENGTHS
"I think our fitness and run-and-carry ability will be strengths. We're pretty exciting because we're bottom-age-heavy; we lost 17 top-agers last year, so it'll be exciting to watch the younger players come through the ranks. We're aspiring to do what the Northern Knights did in 2018 and take on a Grand Final (with a very young playing group)."
