QUEENSLAND 9.3 (57) defeated TASMANIA 4.13 (37)

QLD: 2.0 | 6.2 | 8.2 | 9.3 (57)
TAS: 1.4 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 4.13 (37)

IT was a tight start in the second match of Round 2 of the AFL Under 16 Division 2 Championships at Metricon Stadium, with Tasmania taking on Queensland in a feisty tussle that saw plenty of intensity and pressure on the ball, with Queensland ultimately coming out on top by 20 points.

It was an uneventful start to the match, with most of the first quarter played through the centre of the ground as both sides had difficulty cleanly moving the ball inside 50. Despite repeat inside 50s, the first goal of the match was not kicked until close to the 12 minute mark, with Tasmania getting the first on the board credit to George McLeod. Scrappiness around the footy proved difficult to combat for both sides with the ground and ball both slippery. Both teams were inaccurate early but made up for it in droves by going hard into every contest and creating opportunities around the mess through the midfield.

The second quarter saw a quick start to Queensland, with Noah McFadyen putting two early goals on the board to set the Maroons in motion. It was a quarter of momentum building for Queensland, smothering Tasmania at every opportunity and treasuring possession. A goal to Tasmania’s Sam Sherriff – their only major for the quarter – drilled one back, breaking Queensland’s five goal run before the Maroons’ connection across the field proved stronger, entering the forward 50 and putting a final goal on the board with 20 seconds left on the clock for a 20 point lead at half time.

The third term was a slow and sloppy affair, with both sides struggling for dominance before Queensland broke away with two majors on the board to take the lead to 30 points at three quarter time. Both sides put on some great defensive pressure in the first half of the quarter, forcing turnovers and causing difficulty when taking clean marks across the field. Nothing seemed to be going Tasmania’s way, with the side struggling to maintain possession or find easy access to the 50, going goalless in the quarter for an altogether forgettable third term.

The final quarter saw the scuffle continue, though Tasmania found the ball better moving it smoothly along the wing before Queensland was able to cut it off before heading inside 50. Tasmania opened well with the first major of the quarter, breaking the drought from the third and putting some hope and confidence on the board. But while the final quarter seemed in Tasmania’s control, Queensland stemmed the flow and stole back the momentum once more, with their consistency and ability to move the ball out of the stoppage doing them a solid as Will Bella kicked his third to all but cement a home victory.

In the victory, Austin Harris (19 disposals, seven marks) and Daniel Lanthois (18 disposals, 11 tackles, seven clearances) had plenty of the ball, well aided by Ethan Kerr (18 disposals, five marks, six rebounds) and Ryan Sergi (17 disposals, five marks, eight rebounds). For Tasmania, Samuel Banks (21 disposals, eight inside 50s) and Baynen Lowe (20 touches, nine tackles, eight clearances and one goal) were among the best, while the likes of McLeod (18 disposals, five tackles, six inside 50s, one goal) and Darcy Gardner (14 disposals, nine tackles, five clearances) put in the hard yards in the frustrating loss.

GOALS
QLD: W. Bella 3, B. McFadyen, J. Lockett 2, L. Harrop, J. Packer
TAS: B. Lowe, G. McLeod, S. Sherriff, N. Holmes

ADC BEST
QLD: D. Lanthois, A. Harris, W. Bella, L. Harrop, R. Sergi
TAS: S. Banks, B. Lowe, G. McLeod, J. Dixon, S. Sherriff