A win for Vic Metro against the Allies this Friday would go a long way towards handing David Flood’s team the 2016 NAB AFL U18 Championships title, as James Szabo reports.
Metro go into the game undefeated, after staging an incredible last-quarter comeback against South Australia on Sunday.
With all other teams having lost one game or more, a win on Friday would put Metro a game away from claiming the NAB AFL Under-18 crown.
The side were 35-points down at the last change, before kicking an impressive six unanswered goals to win the game by 3-points.
Metro - supported by Dairy Australia's Legendairy campaign - have now won both of their championship games after trailing at three-quarter time. Flood said the come-from behind win was all part of the plan.
“We knew we were up against a good outfit and we thought that if we could get them, we would get them in the last quarter,” said Flood.
“So I suppose it (the three-quarter time speech) was just about reinforcing that this was part of the plan and this is what we were sort of hoping for – to get into a positon to challenge South Australia in the last quarter.”
Flood admitted the six goal deficit was more than he’d hoped for at the break, but knew his side was still a chance after playing well all day and staying competitive in the first three quarters.
194cm Oakleigh Chargers forward Patrick Kerr became a hero in the last term, after getting his Metro side back into the game with four goals in 10 minutes.
Dylan Clarke (Eastern Ranges) was also impressive with his 24 touches, nine clearances and five tackles, while Callum Brown ( Eastern Ranges -16 possessions, five clearances) and Luke Bunker (Northern Knights -18 possessions, five clearances) provided assistance.
Vic Metro co-captain Andrew McGrath was dominant once again for his team, notching up 27 disposals, six rebound 50’s and six marks.
While Flood was happy with the stand out performance from McGrath, he maintained his trademark attitude of focusing on team aspects rather than individuals.
“I’m pleased with Andrew (McGrath) but I’m also pleased with the other 34 players in our squad,” said Flood.
“Everybody does their job and that allows Andrew’s game to shine as well. Andy’s an important player but so are all of our other players.”
Vic Metro go head to head with the Allies on Friday afternoon at Etihad Stadium from 2.35pm.
With Metro, South Australia and Western Australia all in contention to win the Championships, the game shapes itself as a fantastic opportunity for Flood’s side to edge closer to the title of best U18 side in the country.
The Allies went down by 17 points to Western Australia on Saturday afternoon at Domain Stadium. The side improved after a poor start to the game, but weren’t able to peg back WA’s lead.
Metro will be up against some familiar faces on the weekend, with eight TAC Cup players included in the Allies list.
Among these are Bendigo Pioneer’s Kobe Mutch (19 possessions last game), plus Murray Bushranger’s Zachery Sproule (13 possessions, 5 marks) and Todd Marshall (2 goals) - who were all included in the best players last game.
Brad Scheer 17 (disposals) and Harry Perryman (12 disposals) were also impressive for the Allies and stamped themselves as players to look out for.
Flood explained he will use the match as an opportunity to further improve his players and work on some of the things that haven’t gone well – such as winning just three of eight quarters so far these championships.
He also said that winning a game of football isn’t his main objective.
“It’s nice to have a win, but ultimately it’s trying to improve these lads and put them into a position where they’re playing in a good, healthy, safe environment - where they can play good footy.
“We just go in and do what we can do and hopefully put a few goals on the board.”
Eastern Ranges pair Harrison Nolan and Sam Hayes return for Round 4, along with Western Jet Wilson Berry.
Vic Country, who went down to Metro in their last game by two points, could assist Flood’s side in winning the Championship title with a victory against South Australia this Friday. Murray Bushrangers forward Esava Ratulgolea comes into the team after seven goals in Round 10 TAC Cup action, as well as Cooper Jones from Bendigo Pioneers.
Country and SA will do battle at 12.25pm at Etihad Stadium, just prior to the Metro game.
Country will be out to collect their first points of the campaign, while South Australia are looking to keep their chances of winning the Championships alive with a win.
Follow @TACCup Friday for score updates and coverage.
Both games will be live on FOX FOOTY.
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Vic Metro |
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| B |
Brodie Romensky |
Harrison Nolan |
Nelson Lane |
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Western Jets |
Eastern Ranges |
Eastern Ranges |
| HB |
Jack Scrimshaw |
Jack Maibaum |
Andrew McGrath |
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Sandringham Dragons |
Eastern Ranges |
Sandringham Dragons |
| C |
Taylin Duman |
Dylan Clarke |
Corey Lyons |
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Oakleigh Chargers |
Eastern Ranges |
Sandringham Dragons |
| HF |
Oliver Florent |
Nick Larkey |
Tim Taranto |
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Sandringham Dragons |
Oakleigh Chargers |
Sandringham Dragons |
| F |
Callum Brown |
Patrick Kerr |
Jordan Lynch |
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Eastern Ranges |
Oakleigh Chargers |
Eastern Ranges |
| FOLL |
Sam Hayes |
Jordan Gallucci |
Wilson Berry |
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Eastern Ranges |
Eastern Ranges |
Western Jets |
| INT: |
Joel Garner |
Daniel Venables |
Josh Daicos |
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Eastern Ranges |
Western Jets |
Oakleigh Chargers |
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Lachlan Filipovic |
Luke Bunker |
Jack Higgins |
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Sandringham Dragons |
Northern Knights |
Oakleigh Chargers |
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Jordan Ridley |
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Oakleigh Chargers |
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Vic Country |
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| B |
Reece Piper |
Oscar Clavarino |
Cooper Jones |
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Dandenong Stingrays |
Dandenong Stingrays |
Bendigo Pioneers |
| HB |
Jarrod Berry |
Jarrod Korewha |
Hunter Clark |
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North Ballarat Rebels |
North Ballarat Rebels |
Dandenong Stingrays |
| C |
Tom Jok |
Will Brodie |
Lochie O'Brien |
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Dandenong Stingrays |
Murray Bushrangers |
Bendigo Pioneers |
| HF |
Sam Fowler |
Esava Ratugolea |
Jo Atley |
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Dandenong Stingrays |
Murray Bushrangers |
Bendigo Pioneers |
| F |
Ben Ainsworth |
Josh Battle |
Tyrone Hayes |
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Gippsland Power |
Dandenong Stingrays |
Gippsland Power |
| FOLL |
Sean Darcy |
Myles Poholke |
Hugh McCluggage |
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Geelong Falcons |
Dandenong Stingrays |
North Ballarat Rebels |
| INT: |
Lloyd Meek |
Mitch McCarthy |
James Worpel |
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North Ballarat Rebels |
Dandenong Stingrays |
Geelong Falcons |
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Tom Williamson |
Willem Drew |
Louis Pinnuck |
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North Ballarat Rebels |
North Ballarat Rebels |
Murray Bushrangers |
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Luke Davies-Uniacke |
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Dandenong Stingrays |
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
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Backs
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33 Mitchell Hinge
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41 Lachlan Cameron
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18 Lee Minervini
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H Backs
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19 Dylan Whimpress
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44 Brennan Cox
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32 Sam Walker
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Centres
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15 Steven Slimming
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23 Jonty Scharenberg
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7 Alex Villis
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H Fwds
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5 Ben Jarman
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48 Callum Coleman-Jones
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9 Conor Noonan
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Fwds
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4 Tyson Stengle
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46 Lewis Young
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38 Darcy Fogarty
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Followers
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47 Peter Ladhams
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31 Jack Graham
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14 Jake Pitman
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Inter
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27 Jackson Lee
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22 Will Hayward
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10 Dakota Nixon
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3 Chris Olsson
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2 Kym Lebois
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25 Joel Thiele
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ALLIES
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Backs
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17 Jamie Hampton
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25 Ryan Garthwaite
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24 Max Spencer
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H Backs
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29 Harrison Macreadie
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5 Jake Brown
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11 Isaac Cumming
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Centres
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13 Harry Perryman
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14 Kobe Mutch
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23 Will Setterfield
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H Fwds
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16 Brad Scheer
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32 Todd Marshall
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12 Jack Rolls
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Fwds
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1 Mitchell Maguire
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30 Zachary Sproule
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26 Jacob Allison
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Followers
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34 Max Lynch
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18 Jack Bowes
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9 Sam Fisher
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Inter
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21 Josh Williams
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6 Brandan Parfitt
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10 Ben Long
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4 Charlie Spargo
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35 Tony Olango
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8 Nick Kempe
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19 Benjamin Davis
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Photo: Peter Argent
Last Modified on 24/06/2016 12:17
