STAR top-ager Georgia McKee played her first official tri-colours game in two years and made up for lost time when she booted three goals for South Australia during the Croweaters’ win over the Allies at Thebarton last week.

The Central District forward overcame an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that put a line through her bottom-age season last year, to make an impact for the Bulldogs at SANFLW level. A member of the AFLW Academy, McKee has made a successful return this season, and was one of the most potent players inside 50.

She finished with three goals from 13 disposals and six marks and showed off all the traits that had her inside the Top 10 in our June Power Rankings. McKee’s performance was the subject of our latest AFLW Under 18 Championships Player Focus.

PLAYER FOCUS

2024 AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships:
South Australia 15.10 (100) defeated Allies 3.4 (22)

#5 Georgia McKee (South Australia)
Stats: 13 disposals (10 kicks, 3 handballs @ 76.9% efficiency), 6 marks, 2 tackles, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals, 1 behind

FIRST HALF

McKee started the match inside 50 and while still working her way back into the level having played as a deep forward for the Bulldogs this year, the Central District top-ager did hold a high line even when a forward pocket. She would constantly be the one moving up to the wing then pushing back inside 50 to avoid an anti-density call, or spreading to the flanks to be a distributing option inside 50.

The incredible nature of McKee’s high impact-per-possession meant that despite only having four touches to half-time, she had been one of the more influential players on the ground. She had a lot of ‘almost moments’ early when she sharked it out of the ruck inside 50 but was immediately tackled two minutes into the match.

In the 11th minute of the first term, McKee had her first disposal which was a lovely mark at half-forward about 60m from goal. She wheeled around to bomb it to the danger zone and put pressure on the opposition, where the repeat entries and pressure eventually led to an Eloise Mackereth goal.

McKee second touch in the first term came after another lead-out mark at half-forward in front of her opponent Tatyana Perry, and she again wheeled onto her right then sidestepped Perry to hitup Mackereth on the lead.

Her quarter involvement ended with a bone-crunching tackle on Amelia Martin in the middle, pushing up to lock the ball in the attacking half of the ground.

The second term also only yielded the two touches, but her first had maximum impact, marking on the chest after a nice lead midway through the quarter. Taking the set shot from 15m out, McKee made no mistake, slotting the goal for her first of the day.

A minute later McKee would gather again off Charlotte Riggs’ marking attempt, snapping quickly to the hotspot inside 50. Along with her four touches to half-time, McKee would also have three marks, two tackles, two inside 50s and a goal.

SECOND HALF

It was the premiership quarter where McKee’s ability came to the fore. With South Australia looking to keep the pressure on the Allies after the opposition kicked a couple of goals in the second term, McKee kicked two third quarter goals in an 11-minute purple patch.

All of McKee’s best work was done in the first half of the quarter for the small forward, as she gathered at half-forward in the opening 30 seconds and sent the ball to space in the forward pocket. She would just drop a mark in the third minute in a rare blemish, before being caught behind Perry in the next marking contest which was an otherwise flawless one-on-one effort.

In the fifth minute, McKee had a neat short lateral kick to centre half-forward from the flank, and then went from distributor to goalkicker in the space of a few minutes. In the eighth minute, McKee showed her forward craft by roving off hands at the top of the goalsquare and putting it on her non-preferred left to snap her second goal.

Her third major came shortly after that from a more conventional lead and mark, providing that bit too good in front. McKee went back and nailed the set shot without any worries, and by the final break had added a further five touches to bring her total up to nine disposals, as well as five marks, two tackles, three inside 50s and three goals.

The fourth term also saw McKee remain prominent around the forward 50 despite the Allies having more time in forward half. A clever evasive move in the opening minute almost resulted in a fourth goal, with McKee clean at ground level then stepping to her right then to her left before just pushing it to the left for a behind.

Working up to the wing against Perry, she marked on the wing but handballed to the running Esther Schirmer beside her as the South Adelaide defender looked to create some run and carry down the field. It was not the right move with Schirmer quickly wrapped up and taken over the line by the Allies.

In the 12th minute, McKee dished off a quick handball to Klaudia O’Neill inside 50 which led to another Mackereth goal, before a late chance with five minutes to play. McKee roved the ball off hands once again, snapped around her body to the one-on-one close to goal where Poppy Scholz could not quite mark. Her teammate almost kicked one after recovering, but was called off her leg rather than boot.

That disposal brought up number 13, with 10 of the 13 – 76.9 per cent – effective. Though 11 of her 13 possessions were uncontested, a lot of them still came with pressure, often marking in front on the lead, or gathering cleanly at ground level ahead of a trailing opponent

CLOSING THOUGHTS…

Georgia McKee is a naturally gifted player with an incredible all-round game. She can kick miraculous goals, push up the ground and get involved, and set others up with her elite disposal on both sides of her body. Though a right footer, McKee is just as good on her left, and that makes her so potent when summing up a one-on-one situation and how to sidestep opponents.

McKee is still making up for lost time, and though she is capable of playing midfield, has only played forward this year for the Bulldogs and now Croweaters. Boasting enormous potential, had it not being for her knee injury, McKee would be talked up amongst the top few draft prospects in this year’s crop. However her talent has not been lost here and she is entrenched in our Top 10.

Watch for McKee to be a crucial player in South Australia’s massive game against Vic Metro – which could decide the national carnival title – which takes place at RSEA Park on August 11.