VIC METRO has cracked the ton for a third game running, en route to trouncing South Australia by 73 points at GMHBA Stadium today. The home side was challenged early on but broke clear in term two and never looked back, before piling on six unanswered goals in the final quarter to run out comprehensive 16.15 (111) to 5.8 (38) victors.

Top draft prospect Will Ashcroft did his chances of said status no harm with 38 disposals and a classy goal, leading the way in midfield for a Metro side which did enormous damage inside attacking 50. Five of Metro’s seven goalkickers booted multiples, including a quartet of forwards who snared three apiece.

The first quarter was one of two halves, with South Australia coming out with strong intent to draw first blood, before Vic Metro showed its class in the pouring rain. It was the Mattaes Phillipou show in the opening stages, and the Eagles product set the ball up to the goalsquare for his club teammate Adam D’Aloia to crumb and convert SA’s first major.

That was just about where the visitors’ scoring stopped, as Metro began to showcase their slick hands in transition, and combated the conditions slightly better. A Matthew Jefferson mark and goal proved that, as did Nick Watson’s effortless strike from just inside 50 to put Metro ahead by eight points at quarter time.

The home side’s run of unanswered goals would be extended to six across a dominant second term, fronted by the small-tall duo of Blake Drury and Nate Caddy inside attacking 50. After Watson snared his second goal to give Metro the perfect start, Caddy’s marking came to the fore, and Drury got reward for effort with two snags as Metro broke away.

While seemingly clipped late in term one, Phillipou made good on what limited opportunity came his way up forward with a late moment of magic. Just when his side needed it, the top 10 prospect marked at centre half-forward before burning an opponent and slotting the goal from 50 metres. Still, it was only good enough to draw back to 33 points at the main break.

Though Metro got on the board first after half time through Olli Hotton, South Australia mounted a momentary comeback, as Archie Lovelock and Harvey Pedler made good on repeat forward 50 entries within the opening 10 minutes.

The momentum was short-lived though, as Hotton was again involved in a Metro score, but had the majors toe-poked off him by Jefferson. Cue two more Metro goals to round out the term, as Caddy became the first player to snare three majors and gave his side a 45-point buffer at the final change.

Metro coach Jason Davenport implored his side to put the foot down in the final quarter and after Shaun Bennier snapped a beauty for SA, that is exactly what they did. Hitting the ton for a third-straight game, all of Metro’s prominent forwards piled on the Croweaters’ misery, with Watson, Jefferson, and Caddy all adding to their multiple majors.

In the end, Metro’s six-goal quarter was indicative of their dominance in a 73-point thumping of South Australia. The Victorians will next take on Country in a September showcase, while the Croweaters round out their carnival against Western Australia.

VICTORIA METRO 2.3 | 6.8 | 10.12 | 16.15 (111)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1.1 | 2.1 | 4.3 | 5.8 (38)

GOALS:

VM: N. Caddy 3, N. Watson 3, M. Jefferson 3, O. Hotton 3, B. Drury 2, W. Ashcroft, C. Clarke
SA: A. D’Aloia, M. Phillipou, A. Lovelock, H. Pedlar, S. Bennier

RMC BEST:

VM: W. Ashcroft, O. Hotton, B. Drury, N. Caddy, D. Edmends, L. Hayes
SA: A. D’Aloia, J. Walker, A. Lovelock, M. Phillipou, W. Patton, A. Moir