ON the weekend, Vic Metro had a strong victory over a gallant Allies outfit. Yesterday we posted the notes from the Allies’ win over Vic Country, and here are Peter Williams and Ed Pascoe‘s notes from the second game.

Vic Metro:

#6 Joe Ayton-Delaney

A classy mover all day playing on the wing and pinch hitting in defence, he was composed and his skills were a real asset. Ayton-Delaney did not make many mistakes, often having a quick few steps to avoid trouble to give himself time to use the ball well by foot. He had a nice opposite foot kick inside 50 in the first quarter showing his ability on both sides.

#7 Noah Answerth

Answerth worked his way into the game nicely taking some good intercept marks later in the game while also using the ball well and linking up with teammates from defence.

#8 Angus Hanrahan

The Sandringham Dragons’ forward showed a lot of class and skill up forward and had a good four-quarter performance doing something notable in each term. He was very clean with his hands and ball use and he was rewarded with a major late in the game which was a classy goal on the run.

#9 Daly Andrews

Andrews was a solid player throughout the day, he laid a nice tackle in the first quarter and showed some quick and slick ball movement in the second quarter. His speed was telling around the ground.

#10 Xavier Fry

Fry was the designated player for kick-outs for Metro and he did that role well with some nice kicks and good follow up work. He was moved to the wing in the last quarter and he worked hard, showing some of his dash and long kicking ability.

#11 Ryan Gardner

Gardner did some nice things throughout the game and he showcased his clean hands under pressure. One of his kicks in the third quarter was a fantastic bullet pass.

#12 Tom McKenzie

The Northern Knights ball winner showed a lot of class during the game and was a consistent four-quarter performer. McKenzie kicked a nice running goal in the third quarter and he finished the game well in the final term with one passage of play showing his good vision and composure under pressure. 

#13 Lachlan Sholl

Sholl had a quiet start to the game, he took a nice mark and kicked a goal in the second quarter. He started to show his trademark gut-running in the last quarter working hard from defence to the wing.

#14 James Rowbottom

Rowbottom had an outstanding game through the midfield where he won plenty of clearances, with a large amount of them effective. What impressed most was his spread from stoppages working hard both defensively and offensively, he had a quieter patch when moved to defence in the second quarter but he still performed well in that role showing his commitment to whatever role he is given.

#15 Jack Ross

He started the game well in the midfield using the ball well and cleanly. Ross had a number of crucial one percenters during the game with a crunching tackle in the second quarter and a nice smother in the third quarter. Ross was a busy player at the stoppages and on transition often making good decisions.

#16 Jack Evans

Despite a slow start Evans finished off the game in impressive fashion. He almost took a great mark in the third quarter getting some good hang-time. He kicked a goal late in the game and could have easily gotten more, one shot at goal came from a nice intercept from a kick-out.

#17 Xavier O’Halloran

O’Halloran was dynamic through the midfield often trying to barge through congestion. O’Halloran took some nice strong marks around the ground and his kicking was also very solid showing he also has a nice outside game.

#18 Dylan Williams

Played in the back half and laid a number of strong tackles, showing good defensive pressure. He did not win as much of the ball as we have seen at TAC Cup level, but when he did, it was all class, producing a number of good kicks coming out of defence.

#20 Stefan Radovanovic

Certainly one of the best Metro players on the day. He played primarily off half-back and looked sure above his head. He took a couple of really strong intercept marks and put his body on the line a number of times. In one instant he did really well not to give away a free kick, when in the opening term he tackled an opponent at full speed, but turned the body to avoid going into his back. Radovanovic also put the jets on when he drifted forward, pouncing on a loose ball and sprinting away to run into an open goal for a nice easy one early. Throughout the match he showed clean hands under pressure and a booming kick from defence.

#21 Riley Collier-Dawkins

One of, if not the best Metro players on the day for his influence. He does not win a truckload of the ball like some of his teammates, but he has such an impact with each possession. He booted two goals from outside 50 when the home side needed it, and was fantastic around the stoppages. He picks the right exit out of the congestion and has those first few steps which can burn off an opponent. Collier-Dawkins was one of the better players in transition and very clean on the inside.

#22 Will Kelly

Started at half-back and was strong overhead with a long, piercing kick. He generally makes good decisions and showed quick hands under pressure. He is composed with the ball in hand and while he has spent a fair bit of time forward for the Chargers, he looks suited to defence where he has played at school footy and in stints in the TAC Cup. He moved to full-forward in the second half, booting a goal, then back to full-back where he lined up on Tarryn Thomas, managing to stop him from hurting them in the final term – albeit with Metro mostly controlling the play.

#23 James Blanck

Played his role, did not win a heap of the footy as a nullifying defender. He is good in the air or at ground level and does not lose too many one-on-ones. Did well in the final term not to give away a free kick during a spoil, turning his body in mid air to roll to the side of his opponent.

#24 Mark Baker

Rotated through the ruck and up forward, and led up the ground to provide a target. Worked tirelessly around the ground and was rewarded by dropping into a hole late in the game, marking uncontestedly and nailing the set shot from 35m out.

#25 Emerson Jeka

The only AFL Academy member in the side, Jeka started in defence and was often matched up against a much bigger Briggs. However one pass in particular out of defence was a laser, low bullet which is not common in players of his size. He moved forward in the second half and looked a lot more comfortable, taking a nice mark and kicking a set shot goal from just inside 50. He had a chance for a second after receiving a free kick but his set shot from 40m out just missed to the right.

#27 James Rendell

Played up forward and while he did not kick a goal, showed good hands and recovery for a taller player. He had an early shot on goal from outside 50 which bounced towards the goal face before just hitting the woodwork. Rendell took a number of good marks leading outside 50 and was generally a good decision maker by foot. He stands strong in the marking contest when under pressure and his ability to cleanly pick up at ground level and kick inside 50 was good.

#29 Ethan Casey

Played through the ruck and provided a strong body around the ground. Spent time up forward and always provided a contest. It was a little heartbreaking at the end when he had to be helped from the ground, punching the ground after going down late in the final term with all the best wishes it is not as serious as thought (he has come off an ACL injury).

#30 Joe Griffiths

Was really busy early rotating between forward and ruck, with his set shots just missing the target, including a tight shot close to goal in the pocket. He was smart by dropping into the hole up forward and took some good marks.

Allies:

#2 Timakoi Bowie

Bowie competed well all day going in hard despite his small frame. He laid a good spoil in the 2nd quarter and his recovery afterwards was also impressive. He showed in the 3rd quarter he could do plenty on the outside with a nice long kick inside 50.

#5 Darcy Marsh

He was a hard worker through the midfield, handling the ball very cleanly and often hit a target by hand.

#7 Jesse Quint

Quint was nippy around the ground, he linked up well over the ground throughout the day. He had a nice pickup and shot at goal in the second quarter, he missed the goal but his pickup and run looked good.

#8 Baxter Norton

A good user from the backline with his left foot hitting many targets. His run out of defence and ability to work up and kicking inside 50 were features of his game.

#15 Guy Richardson

Richardson played with a lot of confidence playing at half-back using his penetrating kick to his advantage. Richardson started to have an impact in the last quarter through the midfield winning a nice clearance and one of his kicks inside 50 was sublime.

#18 Lachlan McDonald

McDonald did some really nice things in the last quarter, several times he moved well in traffic. He was able to push forward and kick a nice set shot goal and also took a good intercept mark in defence.

#22 Izaak Wyatt

Wyatt was the forward spark in the first quarter kicking two goals with one a sneaky goal out the back and the other was a nice running goal. He showed clean hands up forward throughout the day and his handballs where effective and quick.

#24 Kyle McKellar

McKellar was a workhorse through the midfield using his strong body to win clearances but he also showed some nice work on the outside with a number of penetrating kicks inside 50. He showed great intent all day and his follow-up work was also good.

#25 Ryan Gilmore

Gilmore had a solid game down back taking some nice intercept marks and hitting the contests hard, he did so several times in the 3rd quarter attacking the football at pace then having a run and using the ball cleanly.

#26 Thomas Green

Green was a clean player throughout the day playing forward and through the midfield, he was composed and clean in the 3rd quarter especially with some very nice plays.

#27 Emmanuel Baru

Baru played on the wing and despite not getting a lot of the ball he made his possessions count. His kicking was his main feature with plenty of nice long kicks inside 50.

#28 Matthew Green

The most impressive game for Green for the year, just working really hard on the outside and spreading well. As we have come to know with Green, there is not much of the tall midfielder, but his ability to sidestep opponents and think his way through situations is good. He showed good hands under pressure and can release a long handball into the path of a running teammate showing great composure whilst under pressure. He is poised with ball in hand and is good in the air. Green also works his way out of contested situations, whether it’s through a clever side-step or a spin out of trouble. One of the best Allies on the day.

#29 Joey Reinhard

The first time seeing Reinhard live and he seems like a bit of an unpredictable player. He has a piercing low bullet kick, which can either hit targets or be too strong for the leading players. He took a kick after Kieren Briggs was unable to, following a big mark, and his dart was so powerful it missed the leading target and went out on the full. But he also showed he has that X-factor with his ability to burn off an opponent and kick long inside 50. Reinhard showed good vision late in the game when he weighted a handball to Matthew Green on the outside.

#33 Liam Delahunty

Definetely a player to watch next year, playing forward and pushing up the ground to have an impact. A good size and while his first set shot went out on the full and second shot hit the post, he managed to get on the goal scorers list with a great running goal following a handball receive. He is smart in contested situations and looks composed at stoppages, thinking his way through and being able to pick the right exit out of the congestion. Delahunty is also strong above his head taking some good marks.

#34 Zachary Cameron

Took a good defensive mark on the last line running back towards goal and produced a long kick to the wing. He showed a good turn of pace and is able to kick at full speed which was good for a taller player.

#35 Joshua Rayner

First time I have seen Rayner live and he was solid with his disposal across the ground, having a number of inside 50s most of which were able to hit targets. He set up a goal for Lachlan McDonald with a great piercing kick inside 50, and can take weight off his kicks to accurately find a teammate going forward.

#36 Matthew McGuinness

Took a strong mark in front leading out in the second quarter and showed good agility to turn around quickly and kick long inside 50.

#38 Riley Corbett

Rotated between the ruck and forward 50 and was able to effectively impact in the ruck contest to tap to dangerous areas. Up forward he had two shots on goal, but missed both attempts.

#40 Kieren Briggs

The GWS GIANTS big man put in a really impressive performance across the ground, which while not the most polished, had a work rate higher than most others out there. He covered ground incredibly well and had a good recovery rate after he was spoiled in a marking contest. Briggs caused headaches for his opposition, winning a number of free kicks due to holding or pushing because of his ability to position himself well in one-on-ones. He was strong overhead and also laid a number of fierce tackles to go with his defensive pressure. Just needed to finish a bit better, missing a few set shots. Overall one of the best Allies for sure.

#46 Tarryn Thomas

Another game, another best on performance for Thomas who starred, winning the ball in each of the thirds – defence, midfield and attack. He started on the defensive side of the centre and moved through the midfield before finishing at full-forward. He booted just the one goal later in the match after getting goal side, but was able to impact the contest in multiple ways. In one instant he stopped Will Kelly in his tracks with a fantastic tackle, put pressure on Xavier O’Halloran as he tried to take him on, and showed great vision to bring his teammates into the game on multiple occasions. The best example of his class is his cleanliness which he showed in one instance where he spoiled an opponent with one hand, picked it up cleanly with the other all in one-grab and then hand-balled to space as if he had all the time in the world. Unbelievable piece of play.

#48 Dirk Koenen

Played in defence and was strong one-on-one matching up against James Rendell early. He showed quick hands for a big man and laid a good tackle in the second half later in the game.