VIC Country has opened its Under 18 National Championships with a dramatic two-point win over South Australia, with the hosts proving wasteful during the dying minutes at Thebarton Oval. In a tense finish to the relatively scrappy and low-scoring contest, Country’s defenders produced an array of match-winning efforts, while the Croweaters’ forwards failed to convert their numerous opportunities.

Ebbs and flows were aplenty across the four quarters, with the lead changing hands in every period except for the last. Toby McMullin‘s second major at the start of the final term proved the difference, as his side held on in the face of South Australia’s seven minor scores.

The clash of two styles, exaggerated by Country’s possession-based play late in the piece, saw the victors have over 40 more kicks and marks than their opponents, with both midfields getting to work in much different ways. While SA was strong at the contest, Country was powerful in its running away from it.

In that capacity, skipper Jhye Clark was superb in combination with ball winners Oliver Hollands and Mitch Szybkowski, while the likes of Harley Reid, Coby Burgiel, and Henry Hustwaite had plenty to do behind the ball.

Taking advantage of any lingering fatigue from the Victorians’ short trip, the hosts jumped out of the gates with a goal in the first minute of play. It was Eagles teammates Mattaes Phillipou and Adam D’Aloia combining, with the latter kicking truly from 50 metres.

After Aaron Cadman hit back for Vic Country, Max Michalanney restored South Australia’s lead in quick time, before the visitors began to take over. Clicking into gear in midfield and proving resolute in defence, Country made use of those factors with consecutive goals to grab a nine-point lead at quarter time, and it could have been more.

Though Country carried some momentum into term two, South Australia manufactured the better early scoring chances and got on a run through the middle of term two. A string of four unanswered goals saw the Croweaters storm ahead, with their repeat deep entries eventually breaking down the Big V’s defence.

A late major to Cadman proved a minor reprieve for Country, who absorbed plenty of pressure to only be down by nine points at the half – a complete reversal of the quarter time margin. At that point, Isaac Keeler became a real factor for SA up forward, while Hollands was racking it up for Vic Country.

Though wasteful in the third quarter, Country snatched back the ascendancy with three more majors to start term three, with that familiar nine-point buffer theirs again. Seemingly out of nowhere, Jack Delean and Kelsey Rypstra scored for SA against the run of play, and it looked as if the Croweaters would lead come three quarter time.

Enter Country captain Clark, who proved a steady head late in the term to ensure his side snuck back ahead, edging three points clear heading into the final break, despite lacking that finishing touch at times.

Speaking of finishing, it is absolutely remarkable to think that only one goal was kicked in the final quarter, and it wasn’t at South Australia’s attacking end. Not for a want of trying, the Croweaters missed several potentially decisive shots and essentially threw away the game.

Country had seemingly shut up shop and were happy to hold the ball in their defensive half for long periods of time, relying the big plays from their valiant backmen to hold on to the win. At the other end, they wasted a heap of promising passages into the attacking 50.

What mattered most was the result, with the Victorians getting on the board at the first time of asking in this year’s championships. Now 1-1 after two home legs, South Australia will next face Vic Metro on July 17. Country’s second appearance comes against the Allies in Aspley on June 3.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.0 | 6.3 | 8.5 | 8.12 (60)
VICTORIA COUNTRY 3.3 | 4.6 | 8.8 | 9.8 (62)

GOALS:

SA: A. D’Aloia, M. Michalanney, N. Sadler, J. Walker, I. Keeler, K. Ryan, J. Delean, K. Rypstra
VC: A. Cadman 2, Z. Duursma 2, T. McMullin 2, J. Binns, O. Hollands, J. Clark

RMC BEST:

SA: H. Barnett, M. Phillipou, J. Walker, A. D’Aloia, J. Ryan, I. Keeler
VC: J. Clark, O. Hollands, H. Reid, C. Mitchell, M. Szybkowski, C. Burgiel