Vic Metro is a step closer to the Under-18s National Championships title after a commanding 46-point victory over South Australia
Top-five prospect Arki Butler failed to play out the game due to a collarbone injury sustained in the second quarter, but players from all three lines stood out as Vic Metro eased past the Crow Eaters to move to 3-0.
Sandringham co-captain was a brick wall in defence, and well supported by Billy Wigmore, Kai Parker and Lochie Burrows, while star 2027 prospect Jake Miller led the forward line with conviction.
Western Australia overcame a one-goal first half to beat Vic Country by 16 points.
Star prospects Heath Mellody, Charlie Banfield and Leo Steed all led the comeback, with Harvey Spawton-Guy a lively front-half presence.
Standout players
George Dimer
What an Under-18s National Championships Dimer is putting together. Had four score involvements in a first quarter where it felt like he was involved in everything in Vic Metro's front end. Showed a great balance of his clean offensive traits and aggressive defence, with a calm inside 50 kick to Arki Butler in the second quarter typifying the poise and danger he posed with ball in hand.
Harvie Cooke
Another strong game from the Northern Knights small forward, who presented well up the ground and showed aerial strength which belied his small stature. Cooke kicked the first goal of the game, a set shot from 20 as he found space inside 50 and rotated through the midfield and injected great energy. Won five clearances, one of those was a driving centre clearance which led to a goal, while his tenacity, competitiveness and repeat efforts were also on show.
Toby Krasna
His numbers may not jump off the page, but his ability to cut through traffic with his wicked sidestep and take the game on by looking into the corridor means he always poses a threat. Nearly kicked a goal through sheer work rate as the fat side winger working into the goal square, but the ball didn't bounce his way, before kicking a goal on the run from 40. His ability to get overlap possession and send the ball forward with purpose are great traits and he showed his competitiveness and courage to put his head over the footy.
Gus Teixeira
Armed with a strong contingent of supporters from St Kevin's College, Teixeira split his time between the midfield and forward line. A snap over his shoulder from 45 in the second quarter had shades of Jordan de Goey about it and he showed the forward craft which has been such a standout in the first two games. When he went into the midfield his toughness and class were on show.
Archie Spencer
Another brilliant defensive showing from the Eastern Ranges prospect. Took a pair of eye-catching intercept marks, one going back with the flight which exemplified the courage and team-first spirit he always played with. Played a ‘defend first' game with some important one-on-one wins, repeat efforts and crumbs at the foot of marking contests highlighting his work rate and mult-dimensional skill as a doughty half-back.
Lochie Burrows
A holding the ball tackle started off his day on the right note as he balanced defensive application with creative intent on counter-attack. Took some strong intercept marks, showing natural defensive instinct to put himself in the right spots, and when there was grass in front of him, he was willing to drive his legs and open the game up with his ball use.
Arki Butler
A bruising tackle in the opening play was a sign of his intent, playing off half forward. His ability to win one-on-ones by outbodying his opponent to protect the drop zone or get goal side was exquisite and repeatedly on show, getting him a mark in the goal square and a major. He also set up a goal with an excellent kick inside 50 after speeding down the wing. His day ended in the second quarter with a left collarbone injury which will put him in doubt for the last game of the Under-18s National Championships.
Kai Parker
Another game that raised the Northern Knights defender's stocks. Parker plays taller than his 189cm frame, pulling in some big intercept marks deep in defence and at times providing overlap run exiting defensive 50. Embraces physicality and has the willingness to put his head over the footy and lay big tackles.Is proving just about impassable at the Under-18s National Championships.
Sam Gayfer
A 3.1 third quarter from Gayfer ensured Vic Metro pulled away from a resilient South Australian outfit. Having been overshadowed by bottom-aged phenom Jake Miller for much of the Under-18s National Championships, Gayfer sprung to life, commanding the footy, leading with conviction and taking big marks as the anchor when Vic Metro needed someone to take the game away. Used his frame well, and finished with four goals as his aerial power was on full display. Got up the field well in the first half for minimal reward, but laid an important tackle which stymied a South Australian attacking chain.
Jake Miller
What's left to say about arguably the best player in the 2027 draft class? After a quieter first quarter, he started the second term with a strong lead up mark and goal and finished with four as the best attacking threat on either side across the course of the game. Playing on potential top 10 pick Mitch Harris and star bottom-ager Harvey Chapman, he used his strength to outposition and outmuscle his direct opponents and took full toll of some silver service. A field kick in the third quarter to set up a shot on goal for Blake Justice was another highlight, as was a strong tackle on the wing, and a nonchalant snap finish from 20. The Josh Treacy-like talent wants for nothing.
Tyson Bradley
A brick wall. Finished with a game-high 12 marks, seven of which were intercepts as he beat his man and marked everything that came into South Australia's forward end. Used his brute strength to win big one-on-one contests, backed into the pack to take a couple of marks and came across to support, both aerially and at ground level. Has done little wrong this year at all the levels he has played at and there are not many defenders better in the air than the Sandringham co-captain. A punchy kick inside 50 late in the last quarter showed he has the ability to dart a pass on counterattack, having shown his kicking penetration throughout the season. Also never panics whether in general play or in a tight game scenario and makes the right decisions.
Harry Van Hattum
Yes, Van Hattum perhaps has not had the impact that some would have hoped around the ground with his dynamic disposal as an extra midfielder, but he gave everyone who was watching a lesson in tapwork on Friday. Finished with 26 hitouts to his direct opponent's nine, and showed great touch and skill to put it on a platter for teammates to win dangerous clearances. Was a significant part of Vic Metro's midfield ascendancy with his sublime ruck craft and ability to beat a bigger opponent.
South Australia
Jake Eime
He is one who Adelaide will be frustrated to have missed out on. Reinforced his top 30 credentials by providing electricity off the half-back line, growing into the game and finishing as his team's leading possession winner. A strong contested mark in the second quarter set the tone for a game where he generated plenty of counterattack off the back of strong defending which has been an area he has worked hard to improve at Central District. Has natural smarts, at one stage drawing a defender towards him to open up space for Anthony Long inside 50 who goaled as a result and plays with flair and confidence, knowing his speed is unmatchable at full pelt. His desire to gain metres was on show in the last quarter when he took three bounces and sent it beyond centre wing from a kick in.
Memphis Webb
Had a big second quarter, keeping South Australia in the game despite Harry Van Hattum's ascendancy in the ruck. Is strong through the hips and has the ability to baulk and dance around opponents and is always clean in tight. His balance to both win centre clearances and get involved in possession chains is making him a balanced threat, while he's also willing to work back and provide an extra number to flood defensive 50 when needed.
Kodah Edwards
A bit of a strange game from the South Australian captain. Finished with 26 disposals, 15 of which came in a busy first term, but lacked his usual potency with the footy. That was perhaps best underlined by him having five inside 50s to quarter time, but none of those resulting in South Australian scores. He continued to work hard and has the ability to escape traffic and his work rate and fight was pleasing, but wasn't at his usual high levels.
Jack Slattery
Won a free kick in the goal square and slotted South Australia's first major, ultimately finishing with five to back up a six goal haul last week. Has innate forward nous and as a third tall, leading forward type, his ability to stay relevant once the ball hits the deck is important and was a source of two of his goals. Ran the game out well. If anything, does most of his work deep in attack and could show greater impact further up the field but is proving a potent threat.
Anthony Long
Kicked two goals from four shots as the Adelaide Next Generation Academy forward's conversion again let him down, but his ability to generate scores continues to impress. He finds space to lead into and when he gets up the ground, his footy IQ shines through with his ability to not only put himself in positions to win the footy, but then get it going forward smartly. A goal on the run on a tight angle from 45 was the highlight of his day.
Jacob McNicol
The highlight of McNicol's Under-18s National Championships has been his poised kicking inside 50 and that was once again a feature on Friday. Can hit a target on the run and if there is nothing obvious, tended to prefer to send it to a dangerous position deep inside 50 rather than taking a low percentage shot. When he went through the midfield.
Western Australia
Heath Mellody
With Lucas Robinson out, Heath Mellody went into the midfield and thrived. The precise-kicking half-back injected athleticism and confidence and was clean around the footy, proving elusive despite his slight frame. When afforded time and space, he was able to kick inside 50, with his foot skills going inside 50 proving an important factor in the win.
Harvey Spawton-Guy
A strange game in a way for the Western Australian spearhead, because his ability to hit up at the ball carrier with speed, escape his opponent and compete aerially was the best part about his game, but it netted him five scoring shots, from which he kicked 0.3. His two goals both came courtesy of snaps, one in the third quarter and one in the fourth quarter, which showed impressive mobility for a player of his size. Has natural forward craft and is exceptionally hard to beat in a one-on-one contest and commands the footy with conviction. After playing a good half in each of the first two games, this was a much more complete performance – save for poor goal kicking.
Harper Banfield
His ability to run contest to contest and his clean hands around the clinches was a real feature. Has great speed which he backs to break away from opponents stood out, while he also laid some crunching tackles and was able to flick the switch from offence to defence in a flash.
Leo Steed
Was one of many Western Australians who was quieter in the first half but when his side needed someone to shift the momentum, he was one who stood up. A driving holding the ball tackle on Vic Country skipper Noah Williams in the third quarter was symbolic of Western Australia's hunger which got them back into a contest they seemed out of. His competitiveness through the midfield helped turn the tide and he backed his strength and speed to open the game up when Western Australia needed some brave and quick ball use.
Cam Maynard
Pulled out the backflip for the first of his three goals and the third of them was the game-winner. It was not a high output game from McGlade, but his speed and x-factor was critical as he proved a menace around the big sticks.
Vic Country
Gus Kennedy
This is more like the Gus Kennedy we know. Won one-on-ones – and even a goal-saving one-on-two aerial contest in the goalsquare early – and attacked aerial contests with vigorous aggression. The well-built medium defender used his strength to work his opponent around both in the air and at ground level, at one stage making up a couple of metres and outbodying his opponent as he hunted a groundball, which he cleanly collected and disposed of. His ability to drive through a contest is a feature of Kennedy's game at his best and he showcased that, breaking lines and making good, bold decisions with the ball. Also tackles hard which underlines the ruthlessness he plays with.
Tanner Armstrong
The leading possession-winner on the ground played mostly off half-back but also spent time in the midfield. Worked hard to get to lots of contes and was typically clean and put himself in positions to get the footy but did not hurt the opposition with his disposal as much as he could have. While many of his teammates dropped off, he remained involved for four quarters.
Cody Templeton
Playing as a forward, Templeton started the game excellently, threading the eye of the needle with a fine set shot to open Vic Country's account, before also kicking their second goal, a banana in traffic which showcased his footy IQ and dynamism. Tried to make things happen throughout the rest of the game without much reward, but did soccer home a goal late in the last quarter which gave Vic Country a chance of an unlikely comeback.
Jackson Phillips
It was hard to pick a best for Vic Country, but no-one had classier moments than Phillips. Given a chance through the midfield, he certainly capitalised, showing not only did he have the fitness, but he had natural nous around stoppage. The clean hands, power and fend off which have been a feature at Talent League level were again on show, while he helped chain possession and drive the ball forward. A goal off a step from 50 typified why he is being discussed as a top 30 talent. Was much quieter in the second half like most of his teammates.
Wil Malady (Vic Country) v Tom Brown (Western Australia)
The best one-on-one duel of the day, Vic Country first round prospect Malady split the battle with Brown, who is rising with a bullet. Most of the intriguing one-on-one battles happened in the first half as Vic Country's opportunities dried up significantly thereafter. Brown took two contested marks to Malady's four, with Malady finishing with one goal. Brown's first thougth was always to nullify Malady but he also backed his natural defensive instincts to provide support or go for his marks. Malady tried to use his athleticism and mobility to tire Brown but Brown was dogged in his competitiveness. They matched each other for strength and intent and both showed promising glimpses on a highly rated opponent.
