Brisbane and Hawthorn-tied prospect Cooper Hodge had a big last quarter as the Allies stunned Western Australia by six points at Mars Stadium, Ballarat, on Wednesday.
Hodge's Brisbane Academy teammate Caylen Murray and Tasmanian pair Jake Beams and Charlie Bovill were the best across four quarters, but Hodge had some critical moments in the last quarter.
He won the first centre clearance of the fourth quarter, and another soon thereafter, while also laying some crunching tackles in a hard-nosed midfield effort to lead a come-from-behind victory.
It followed a chiselling pass inside 50 to Gold Coast Academy's Archie Hill in the first quarter – an important showing of how good his ball use can be, given it has been questioned across the year.
Murray was electric off half-back, showing his trademark game-breaking ability.
Jake Beams blended his ball use and ball-winning to great effect, particularly as the Allies got back into the contest in the third quarter.
It was the best game of the carnival from Sydney Academy's Jake Medved, who intercepted magnificently across the afternoon, while swingman Charlie Bovill was hard to beat all day.
Sydney-tied Henry Meaney was the pick of the midfielders with 22 disposals and a goal.
Western Australia will be left to rue a 5.8-second quarter where they ran rings around the Allies but kept them within 23 points at the main break.
West Coast Eagles-tied trio Garrison Kenh, Harper Banfield and Noah Braun were all dynamic.
AFL Academy member Kenh missed the first two games of the Under-18s National Championships as concerns circulated about the livewire half-back's defensive capabilities.
On Wednesday, he showed great instinct and balance between defending and attacking, with his willingness to come forward to intercept and use his chiselling kicking in the forward half, creating headaches for the Allies' defence.
It follows his promising 22-disposal game against Vic Country on Friday, rising with some important moments late in the game.
He came into the carnival, given a run through the midfield for West Perth, where he put forward a best afield performance
Eagles' father-son prospect Braun also proved he is capable at the National Championships level, with much of Western Australia's attacking going through him.
He also kicked a snap goal on his trusty left foot.
A late addition to the squad off the back of a 52-disposal WAFL Colts game, the son of 228-game former West Coast player Michael's work rate and ability to dart in and out of traffic were instrumental in the result.
Banfield, the son of former Eagle Drew and brother of St Kilda's Charlie, had 23 disposals and seven tackles, with a four-clearance opening term setting the tone for a busy midfield day.
George Gale finished off a strong national championships with 25 disposals, including a goal assist to Claremont teammate Harvey Spawton-Guy at a critical last-quarter juncture.
Star Swan Districts midfielder Leo Steed was everywhere in the first half and kicked a brilliant goal in the third term largely at forward before sitting off in the last quarter with illness.
Top-10 prospect Heath Mellody was also among Western Australia's best with 30 disposals as the Black Swans stuck with him in the midfield after a strong showing there on Friday, having made a name for himself as a distributing half-back.
