Sarah Grunden has much more experience in footy, having started at Keilor FC at 8 years old and being the first girl to play 100 games for them (five years ago).
She’s a medium forward who pushes up the ground (lots of disposals, lots of inside fifties, 3.2 her best score for this year) and if Peter Williams is accurate below then NICE.
Grunden has been arguably the most eye-catching player in the Talent League who would not have been on any draft boards before the season. Having been on the Western Jets list in 2021 without playing a game – but now in the Calder side, the Keilor prospect has made a barn-storming start to her top-age year. Playing in atrocious weather conditions in her first three matches, Grunden averaged 18 disposals, four inside 50s and booted four goals. But her impact on-field far outweighs her stats sheet impact, with ridiculously clean hands at ground level and impressive skill execution and impact-per-possession.
Side information noted while I was searching for data: Alex Quigley is leading the EDFL Premier goalkicking ladder, with 12 from 5 games. Manfre is stranded on 5 goals from her 1 game.
Western Jets got destroyed by the Suns Academy: 21.4.130 to 3.2.20, and Russell was one of those victims.
NT Thunder jumped Bendigo before getting cold and not goaling in the second half. In the end, the Pioneers won 46-23: Keck was a late withdrawal, and Lucia Painter topped disposals with 32. Jemmika Douglas had 25 and kicked two goals.
Laura Bashford, long-time VFLW Strength & Conditioning head and team board holder extraordinaire, is moving to a similar role at Footscray AFLW (did not get the recently advertised position for our AFLW team).
Has done some handy videos over the years, too – click through for her departing example.
Bittersweet to be saying goodbye to this amazing team
I’ve been so lucky to have worked with the most incredible people over my time at Essendon. To the amazing high performance team, coaches and support staff, thank you for all your hard work this (and every) season. It truly takes an army!
To everyone who has passed through the @essendonwvfl team, I am so proud of every single one of you. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this season will bring!! The thought of leaving you was the hardest part of this decision, which is a testament to the beautiful people you are! Thank you for the laughs, tears and 10 second dance parties, I’ve enjoyed every second working with you all!
To the amazing mentors and colleagues, past and present who continue to provide me with the most invaluable support and advice, thank you will never be quite enough to express how grateful I am for your support and encouragement.
Lila Keck at #16 (played half a game for us before injury intervened)
Bryde O’Rourke (also Bendigo, 176cm goal-kicking midfield jet) at #20
Honourable mention also made of Sarah Grunden, who has also played one game with us already.
To complete the initial Top 20 is another Vic Country representative in Bendigo Pioneers’ O’Rourke. Like Williamson, O’Rourke is a player who has all the pieces to be a very good player, and is starting to put them together in her top-age year. Standing at 176cm, O’Rourke has largely been among the best Pioneers in each of her side’s games, and until the weekend’s heavy loss to Dandenong, had hit the scoreboard in each one. Able to be a threat aerially, as well as play midfield or forward, O’Rourke has that explosive speed out of the blocks and a high upside for the future.
In 2023, O’Rourke has averaged 13.8 disposals, 3.2 marks, 3,8 inside 50s and booted 6.1, with a lot of her goals coming from long-range on the run. She does have a booming kick and a long stride able to create separation on her opponents, and is rated highly internally by the Pioneers for her work within the group. Her defensive game is still one that is developing though she laid a career-high five tackles on the weekend – and her endurance has a long way to go – but her bursts allow her to impact games.
Why O’Rourke?
Another pick for the future more so than for the now, O’Rourke is a very exciting player from an athletic profile sense, and to be 176cm and move like the wind is outstanding. She does have areas to work on, but it is hard to ignore of those areas alone, and the fact that playing as a half-forward, O’Rourke can still find her fair share of the ball, and clunk some great marks.
Krystal Russell (who I completely missed in my previous post, as I was scanning for our two affiliates) pretended she wasn’t old, snuck into Metro Green, and also goaled.
The natural ball-winning midfielder had the ball on a string in the first half, racing to 13 touches by half-time to lead all-comers on the field. Despite starting at half-back, Kavanagh got her chance moving into the midfield after that, and even took a strong one-on-one mark. After rotating out of midfield in the second half, Kavanagh had a quieter half with just the five additional touches. Still, she staked her case to earn a spot in the Metro midfield rotation, cracking in across the three quarters.
Fullerton ran hard all day and got some important midfield minutes off the wing and then rolling back to defence where she found plenty of the ball. She had an eye-catching burst along the wing in the second term, but her best quarter by far was her final one. Quite often coming out of defence and pushing up the ground, Fullerton finished with 10 disposals in the quarter, also clunking three marks and being the prime ball-winner for the period. She even kicked a classy goal on the run from a handball receive in a really impressive performance.
Though not the finished product just yet, O’Rourke continues to rise in draft calculations with a lot to like about her performances. On the weekend, she was able to glide down the ground be it out of a centre stoppage or from half-back, then would go forward. She finished with a couple of majors including a very impressive goal on the run, and though she could have had even more with 2.2 and being a little cleaner in the air and at ground level, she is flashy when she can get moving.
Starting forward then rotating into the middle in the second half, Keck worked her way back into the match in what was just her second game back from injury. A total of 10 of her 16 touches came after half time and she even had a couple of chances on goal in the final term that went a little astray. But she looked lively and was able to sidestep a couple of opponents at different points.
Holding her own throughout the match and finishing strongly, Demeo was able to spend valuable minutes in the midfield. Though her polish could be tidied up at times, she was good around the stoppages and able to pick up a team-high four clearances, and also lay four tackles. Quite often she was utilised in mopping up and clearing the danger.
Tick Amy Gaylor (Calder) off the list of potential debuts in the final two H&A weeks: done an ACL.
In the AFLW Academy vs U23 game on the weekend, Lila Keck was exactly what we don’t have: a creative goal-kicking small. Bring her (back) in.
FWIW, Bendigo have four weeks of games until their next bye. Cannons have the three weeks booked in.
Players need to get their one H&A game in to qualify for finals. We’re currently dangerously limited, with ~25 to choose our team of 21 from (injury status of some is vague).
Given I’d prefer to put a line through 3 of those 4 “spare” players… eek.
The below players are likely playing for Vic Metro during VFLW round 14 – so if not named this week, Kavanagh and Forbes will not be available during VFLW finals.
Grunden and Russell have already qualified, of course.
