By Jonty Ralphsmith
Dandenong Stingrays dominate the girls Vic Country squad announced last week ahead of the team’s first match against Queensland on Sunday.
The Stingrays had nine girls named, three clear of the next best squads, GWV and Geelong.
Powerful forward Sophie Butterworth, star midfielders Meg Robertson and Mikayla Williamson, runner Ruby Murdoch and key-position player Bianca Lyne headline the squad.
Bottom-agers Elli Symonds, Jemma Reynolds and Zoe Besanko have also been named, alongside captain Jemma Ramsdale.
Gippsland, meanwhile, have three players in the squad: Ash Centra, well regarded in the region for several years, fellow bottom-ager Jasmine Sowden and 2023 draft-eligible Amber Schutte.
After taking on Queensland, Vic Country face Vic Metro on 12 August and WA on 19 August.
Here is an overview of each player:
Sophie Butterworth: A powerful forward who crashes packs, takes marks and kicks a long ball. Knows how to find the big sticks with 32 goals across her 18 Talent League games, including nine in the last two weeks.
Jemma Reynolds: One of the cleanest players in the girls Talent League competition, which buys her extra time when she wins the ball in congestion. The midfielder has a nice step and is a creative user, setting teammates up regularly and has nine goals from her 10 games.
Elli Symonds: Has come on quickly since making her Talent League debut earlier this season. Routinely wins the hit-out numbers, impressive in itself for a bottom-ager, but it’s her other weapons which catch the eye. She takes contested marks as comfortably as she can pluck a ball out of a ruck contest, then take off and run.
Zoe Besanko: A steep riser in 2023, Besanko is another bottom-aged key-position prospect out of the Rays. An athletic player with a long kick, she averages 1.5 goals and 10 hitouts per game in 2023.
Bianca Lyne: Got the opportunity to play in the Under 23 All Stars v AFLW Academy game a few weeks ago and was solid in defence. Her height makes her a difficult match up and she has plenty of upside.
Ruby Murdoch: Has been a lively figure for the Stingrays on the wing, using her high aerobic capacity to run her direct opponents into the ground. At her best, is an important link player for the Rays when going forward with her spark and creativity.
Meg Robertson: Played something of a breakout game against Geelong in round two, before a nasty concussion saw her sidelined until round eight. Since then, has averaged 23 disposals, with her clearance and contest work impressing in a consistent patch of form.
Mikayla Williamson: A powerful midfielder with athleticism, Williamson sits in first-round calculations. Knows how to find the footy and is becoming more polished, averaging 20 disposals in 2023, after averaging just 10 touches in her preceding 16 games.
Jemma Ramsdale: The Dandenong skipper shuts down her opponent each week and part of her Monday recovery must be regaining her voice, so noticeably vocal is she on-field during games. Is also comfortable using her footy brain to give directives at breaks.
Ash Centra: For many years, she’s been the talk of the Gippsland region, which hasn’t necessarily had the week-to-week wins in the girls competition recently. Oozes talent, flair and confidence, with a highlights package as entertaining as anyone in the league. Can burst away and kick goals, and has shown recently her defensive craft, contested marking and rebounding, used in the backline.
Amber Schutte: An intercepting halfback who can accumulate the footy at Talent League level and provide drive out of the back half. Averaging 17 disposals and four rebound 50s, she is the clear standout top-aged prospect for the Power.
Jasmine Sowden: A balanced two-way midfielder, Sowden is averaging 17 disposals and 7.9 tackles per game. The bottom-ager attacks the hardball and has speed and explosiveness which would lend itself well at the next level.
