VICTORIA Metro got its Under-16 Division 1 campaign off to the perfect start with a hard-fought 10.7 (67) to 7.7 (49) win over Vic Country at GMHBA Stadium.

Oakleigh’s Alex Lukic played a key hand with four goals, including two in the final term to seal the result, with skipper Josh Sinn and Tyler Sonsie instrumental further afield.

Earlier, Dandenong product Judson Clarke ensured Country got off to an ideal start, converting the first clear chance of the game with a straightforward set shot and adding another on the run later in the term. Fellow Stingray Justin Davies popped up for a goal from nothing in-between Clarke’s majors, but Metro replied with goals from Jack Newitt, Lukic, and Jack Rossimel – the latter of which came from an outstanding contested mark in the goalsquare. Country entered the first break ahead by the slimmest of margins, with an armwrestle beginning to ensue.

The second term produced much of the same as the sides struggled to gain any form of ascendancy. Most of the play came in Country’s attacking half, but the home side could not quite capitalise on the territorial advantage. A clinical Ben Hobbs set shot finish from 40 metres out on the boundary gave Country their only goal, but it was matched once again by Metro’s Lukic, who added a second goal from close range.

Metro looked primed to break away in the third term as Rossimel slotted another major in the early stages, but Country hit back well to stay in the game as Oskar Faulkhead got on the end of a couple of neat kicks inside 50 to claim two important goals. The deadlock remained unbroken, setting up a grandstand finish with the home side ahead by just one point at the break – exactly as was the case after the first term. The grand finale did not quite eventuate, as goals from Sonsie, Blake Howes, and Lukic put the result all but beyond doubt about half way through the final term. Clarke’s third goal for Country gave them a sniff with five minutes on the clock, but Lukic’s fourth major sealed the deal and saw Metro run away 18-point winners.

The Metro half-back pairing of Sinn and Lachlan Rankin proved damaging, with both using their smarts by foot to rebound time after time. Braden Andrews swapped roles with Sinn to move from the midfield to a back flank, providing a bit of solidity and cleanliness by hand in the closing stages after winning a good amount of ball earlier. Speaking of, Sonsie won his fair share through midfield on top of hitting the scoreboard in the fourth term, with Ranges teammate Jake Soligo also pitching in well. Youseph Dib and Darcy Wilmot proved constant threats rotating off the wing and half forward, while Howes was another who built into the game strongly. Up forward, Lukic was the standout, with Rossimel the only other Metro representative to slot multiple goals (two).

For Country, Hobbs continues to put his name in lights with his midfield form – digging in hard to win a heap of disposals and be his side’s clear best. Charlie Molan often joined him in midfield when coming off the forward rotation, and stood up in the last quarter with his tackling pressure and smart use by hand. Co-captain Campbell Chesser made the wing his own throughout with damaging forward carry, while fellow skipper Joshua Rachele provided his usual spark with brilliant agility at stoppages and nous forward of centre. Clarke and Faulkhead were the multiple goal kickers with three and two respectively, while ruck/forward Davies also hit the scoreboard and renewed his key position partnership with Josh Rentsch.

Both sides will take their championship campaign to Queensland for Rounds 2 and 3, with Metro facing South Australia first and Country set to meet Western Australia.