By Hayley Wildes
After nine rounds of TAC Cup Girls action, the Dandenong Stingrays and Gippsland Power wrapped up their respective seasons over the weekend.
The two teams had polar opposite seasons.
Gippsland got off to a flying start by dropping just one game in the opening five rounds, but they faltered late in the season by losing their final four games.
Dandenong on the other hand, lost their first five games, but came storming home, winning their final four games of the season.
GIPPSLAND POWER
Finished: 8th (3-5-1)
Despite the disappointing end to the season, there were plenty of positives for the Power in 2018. For a team that didn’t win a game last season, the improvement across the board was evident.
Cora Lynn product Tyla Hanks was the stand-out performer all season long and her consistently dominant performances would have AFLW scouts earmarking her as a standout prospect for October’s AFLW National Draft.
All eight games that she played in, Hanks had a profound impact on the contest and was Gippsland’s best in at least six of those games. Her ability to weave out of traffic and make the correct decision is second to none.
With Hanks leading the way, Nikia Webber – Gippsland’s leading goal-kicker and fifth in the competition with 12 majors – was a dangerous threat up forward, whilst the development of Jasmine Ferguson and Emily Haeusler was impressive.
Haeusler simply didn’t play a bad game all season and the thought of Webber having another year in the TAC Cup system in 2019 is a scary prospect for opposition teams.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
Finished: 6th (4-5)
The Stingrays’ late season turnaround was a product of belief and trusting in the processes that were in place.
Matthew Crozier, the Stingrays’ female operations talent coordinator, talked about the team’s ability to turnaround their season.
“Early on in the season, the chemistry probably wasn’t there but we always knew we were coming close,” he said.
“We came close [in Round 3] against Geelong who are undefeated and in the last three to four weeks, the group really gelled together and we wish the season could go for a lot longer.”
Jordyn Allen and Courtney Jones were terrific for the Rays – standing tall when things weren’t going the teams way and then when things turned around, they were just as imposing.
Both will be on the radars of AFLW teams – especially Allen, who is highly regarded not just for her skills, but leadership on and off the field.
Tyanna Smith was another consistent performer for the Rays and put together a fine season as a mid/half forward.
Isabella Shannon was a spark up forward and was the Rays leading goal-kicker with 11 majors, Jones was second with nine.
Jones’ speed and uncanny goal sense saw her really shine towards the end of the season and was best afield in the final two games of the season.
