THE gripping Under 16 Division Two National Championships came to an end last Saturday in Yeronga, with Tasmania coming out on top by percentage alone. The Mariners, NSW/ACT and Queensland each picked up two wins, while Northern Territory were the only side to remain winless. 

NSW/ACT’s Errol Gulden was named the Alan McLean Medallist as Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, claiming the same honour for his state side. Meanwhile, Saxon Crozier was adjudged Queensland’s MVP, with Deacon Braun and Sam Collins named best for Northern Territory and Tasmania respectively. 

There were many players outside of the MVPs to put their hands up and have their names noted for the future. NSW/ACT’s Braeden Campbell joined Gulden in the Under-16 All Australian squad as NSW/ACT’s sole contributors after impressing off half-back, while the likes of Marc Sheather and Pierce Roseby were also standouts. For the home side, Queensland, Tahj Abberley proved a smooth mover with damaging traits, with Riley Johnson providing a more than capable option up forward.

Champions Tasmania had a wealth of contributors; key forward Jackson Callow booted 10 goals and averaged almost nine marks per game, Oliver Davis won the ball prolifically through midfield to average 20 disposals and be named alongside Collins and Callow in the All Australian side. Jye Menzie was another Mariner to hit the scoreboard with his six goals from the wing/half-forward.

Despite going winless, Northern Territory also uncovered some eye-catching talent in the form of Jeffrey Simon, who contributed well through midfield, and Malcolm Rosas, who was their only All Australian representative. Richmond fans are already hyped about the potential of Maurice Rioli, who pitched in with a couple of goals and looks to have all the traits his pedigree would suggest.    

Results:

Round 1:

Tasmania 11.9 (75) defeated Queensland 7.11 (53)

GOALS
Tasmania: Callow 3, Bearman 3, Menzie 2, Barwick, Davis.
Queensland: Briskey 2, Davies 2, Gates, Johnson, McGory.

BEST
Tasmania: Collins, Upton, Harper, Menzie, Bearman, Callow
Queensland: Clohesy, Abberley, Davies, Johnson, Crozier, Bulley

NSW/ACT 16.9 (105) defeated NT 6.7 (43)

GOALS
NSW/ACT: Gulden 5, Cullen 2, Steele 2, Eynaud 2, Monaghan, Wilson, Roseby, Dunstan, Dignam.
Northern Territory: Tipiloura 2, Ford, Jeffrey, Barlow, Rioli.

BEST
NSW/ACT: Wilson, Gulden, Pfrengle, Roseby, Steele, Cullen.
Northern Territory: Moniz-Wakefield, Lake, Lynch, Baird, Brock, Rioli 

Round 2:

Queensland 13.5.83 defeated NSW/ACT 10.8.68

GOALS
Queensland: Johnson 3, Crozier 2, Abberley, Cashen-Harris, Coleman, Fidler, Langan, O’Brien, Pickering, Sheriff.
NSW/ACT: Rossman 2, Sheather 2, Okerenyang, Dunstan, Parnell, Cullen, Monaghan, Steele.

BEST
Queensland: Crozier, Abberley, R.Johnson, Coleman, O’Brien, J.Johnson
NSW/ACT: Roseby, Gulden, Campbell, Sheather, Steele, Pfrengle

Tasmania 19.10.124 defeated Northern Territory 7.7.49

GOALS
Tasmania: Callow 4, Harper 4, Menzie 3, Borsboom 2, Barwick 2, Sanders, Norton, Walker, Bearman.
Northern Territory: Lake 2, M.Rioli, A. Moniz-Wakefield, B. Rioli. Rosas, Long.

BEST
Tasmania: Davis, Harper, Steele, Banks, Collins, Sanders, Menzie
Northern Territory: Braun, Forbes, A.Moniz-Wakefield, Lui, Rosas, Patrick

Round 3:

Tasmania 10.8 (68) defeated by NSW/ACT 12.7 (79)

GOALS
Tasmania: Callow 3, Harper 2, Bearman, Butterworth, Menzie, Norton, Sanders.
NSW/ACT: Rossman 3, Campbell 2, Gabila 2, Byrne, Wilson, Gulden, Roseby, Parnell.

BEST
Tasmania: Davis, Steele, Butterworth, Banks, Collins, Callow
NSW/ACT: Campbell, Dunstan, Roseby, Gulden, Eynaud, Byrne

Northern Territory 8.11 (59) defeated by Queensland 10.7 (67)

GOALS
Queensland: Coleman 2, Johnson 2, Langan 2, Abberley, Logi, O’Brien, Rowles.
Northern Territory: Ford 4, Brock, Jeffrey, Long, G. Moniz-Wakefield.

BEST
Queensland: Davies, Nicholls, Johnson, Coleman, O’Brien, Fidler
Northern Territory: Braun, Lui, Simon, Jeffrey, M. Rioli, Rosas