AN INCREDIBLE 11 goal to nil second half saw Victoria’s 15 and Under Boys side remain undefeated and secure its place in the School Sport Australia final. The ‘Big V’ knocked off New South Wales by 107 points in the semi-final to flex their muscles in the tournament.

After racing out to a 41-4 lead midway through the second quarter having kicked the first six goals of the match, Victoria conceded two in quick succession to Dashiel Delaney-Fielding and Zac McPherson to cut the deficit back to 25 points. However that mini-comeback was short lived, as Sachin Tyrrell gave his side some breathing room at the half with Victoria up by 33 points.

After half-time it was complete and utter domination as Victoria piled on 6.3 and then 5.5 in the respective second and third quarters to record a massive victory. The likes of Baxter Sruk and Noah Hanegraaf were lively out of midfield, as Tom Steinfort was named best-on for the ‘Big V’.

In piling up 18 goals, the Vics had six mutliple goalkickers among 10 individuals, with Griffin Barker slotting an equal game-high three and handballing off a gimme to Tyrell last in the match for his second. Angus Brown also kicked three including a classy one running hard out of the middle to get involved in a chain of handballs.

Potential Port Adelaide father-sons, Tevita Rodan and Steven Salopek were both dangerous in attack kicking two goals, while another father-son prospect in Koby Bewick (Essendon, Darren) also managed a couple of majors in the win. Though he only kicked the one goal, Oliver Bond provided a nice target inside 50 in the big victory.

For New South Wales, Henry Lamond and Joe Stone were named among the best, as was Coen Hardy, Chase French and Franklin Murray-Wright. The state now prepares for a bronze medal match up against Queensland tomorrow.

VICTORIA 3.3 | 7.7 | 13.10 | 18.15 (123)
NEW SOUTH WALES 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 (16)

GOALS:
Victoria: G. Barker 3, A. Brown 3, T. Rodan 2, S. Tyrell 2, L. Salopek 2, K. Bewick 2, M. Darwish, O. Bond, N. Hanegraaf, B. Sruk
New South Wales: D. Delaney-Fielding, Z. McPherson

BEST:
Victoria: T. Steinfort, N. Hanegraaf, K. Bewick, A. Brown, O. Bond
New South Wales: H. Lamond, J. Stone. C. French. C. Hardy. F. Murray-Wright

Sandgropers overcome slow start to run over Queensland

WESTERN Australia will face Victoria in the School Sport Australia decider after coming back from a 17-point quarter time deficit to win by 38 points. The Sandgropers conceded the first three goals of the match, but piled on nine of the last 10 to run away with the contest, 9.10 (64) to 4.2 (26).

Mitchell Baker did the bulk of the damage for the West Australians slotting four of his side’s nine majors, while Jacob Kee finished off with two. Jett Edwards was named best on ground in the victory, while Taj Allan, Kade Carthew and Axel Walsh were also among the better Sandgropers.

Queensland had four insidvidual goalkickers in the match, withJackson Noble one them while also being in the best. Zavier Kleinschmidt, Noah Rafter and Kodi Wallace were all among the better Queenslanders, as was Jackson Bridge.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.2 | 2.6 | 6.8 | 9.10 (64)
QUEENSLAND 3.1 | 3.1 | 4.2 | 4.2 (26)

GOALS:
Western Australia: M. Baker 4, J. Kee 2, A. Walsh. J. Oliver, A. Martignago
Queensland: A. Stolz, J. Noble, J. Kernick. M. Seebeck

BEST:
Western Australia: J. Edwards, T. Allan., K. Carthew, A. Walsh. M. Baker
Queensland: Z. Kleinschmidt, N. Rafter, K. Wallace, J. Noble, J. Bridge

AROUND THE GROUNDS

South Australia and Tasmania will play off for fifth spot in the grade after picking up respective wins in their crossover games. The Croweaters stormed to a 94-point victory over the combined Suns and Lions Academy, 16.12 (108) to 2.2 (14), while Tasmania accounted for the Australian Capital Territory by 30 points, 10.6 (66) to 5.6 (36).

Kai Ivins (five goals) and Joshua Jarrad (four) were the major goalkickers for South Australia in the win, as Carter Gallasch (three) was the other multiple goalkicker. Mitchell Brook and Harrison Webb were named among South Australia’s best by the coaches. For the Suns and Lions Academy, Maxwell Boothey and Max Holden were adjudged the best, with Julian Cook also impressive and hitting the scoreboard.

In Tasmania’s victory, Jake Beams kicked four of his side’s 10 goals and helped the Apple Isle shrug off an early challenge from Australian Capital Territory. Max Dawkins and Ben Russell were named the top two for the winners. Zac Owen‘s two majors for the losing side saw him named best-on, as Aiden Henderson and Ben Kopievsky also tried hard.