VIC METRO has won the Division One title in the NAB Under-18 AFL Championships after posting a crushing 48-point victory over rivals Vic Country at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
The final-round victory ensured an unblemished campaign for Metro as they stamped themselves as the dominant team of the carnival.
Midfielder Dom Tyson confimed his status as a first-round draft selection with a best-on-ground display, racking up 29 possessions and seven inside 50s.
Tyson demonstrated great endurance, hardness at the ball and an ability to find teammates with pinpoint disposal.
Metro took charge early with goals to Hayden Crozier and Michael Bussey from inside 20 metres, as they worked to free space inside their attacking zone.
Metro spearhead Jonathon Patton, the early tip to go at selection No.1 in the October draft, was wayward in front of goal for much of the game, despite again being a dominant force in the air. He finished the match with 17 possessions, eight marks and kicked 2.3
Teammates Toby Greene (29 possessions and six clearances) and Will Hoskin-Elliott (17 disposals and seven inside 50s) were also prominent.
Michael Talia (22 possesions) and Brandon Ellis (17) were resolute in defence as well as engineering multiple forward forays.
It took Country until the 19 minute mark in the second term to finally break through and kick their first goal through Taylor Adams. .
Metro, who should have led by more than 14 points half-time, reappeared after the long break with renewed confidence and kicked the first goal of the third quarter when Jackson Paine took a tremendous outstretched mark inside 50.
Paine, a 193cm key forward, kicked another just minutes later after a costly Country turnover in their forward half.
When Patton took a mark on the goal-line and curled the ball home from the tightest of angles, Metro well and truly seized control of the match.
They dominated the possession count (301-248) and inside 50 entries (49-27), as they continually rushed the ball forward against a busy Country defence.
For Country, Lachie Whitfield, who isn't eligible to be drafted until 2012, showed experience beyond his years with his 23 possessions, and was near untouchable in an eye-catching performance.
Defender Matthew Buntine (23 disposals) did his best to stop the Metro onslaught while midfielder Nic O'Brien also tried hard.
Vic Metro 2.2 3.8 7.11 9.16 (70)
Vic Country 0.5 1.6 1.6 2.10 (22)
Goals:
Vic Metro: Patton 2, Paine 2, Crozier, Bussey, Greene, Tyson, Curran
Vic Country: Adams, Valentine
Best:
Vic Metro: Tyson, Longer, Greene, Ellis, Wooffindin, Hoskin-Elliott, Newnes, Talia
Vic Country: Buntine, Boseley, Whitfield, O’Brien, Adams, Docherty
Article courtesy of afl.com.au
Last Modified on 06/07/2011 22:17