WESTERN Australia is on the board in this year’s AFL Under 18 National Championships, after defeating South Australia by 28 points at Optus Stadium today. The Sandgropers booted six of the game’s last eight goals, kicking away to the 10.10 (70) to 6.6 (42) victory in what was otherwise an arm wrestle.

The two sides shared two-by-two goal chains across the first half, with Western Australia leading the dance but their southern counterparts hitting back each time.

It was only until the third quarter where the home side began to pull away, stringing together three unanswered majors and extending their lead to a game-high 33 points in the early stages of term four.

South Australian livewire Jack Delean popped up to break the streak of five goals having been well contained by Oscar Hine-Baston, while bottom-ager Tyler Welsh booted his second major in a late consolation for the Croweaters.

Koen Sanchez had the opportunity to add a cherry atop the icing on WA’s victory cake after the siren, but alas could not convert his third major from the 50-metre arc. The busy East Fremantle speedster was one of the Black Ducks’ nine individual scorers, and his side’s lone multiple goal kicker.

Timely inclusion Koltyn Tholstrup worked hard all day in attack to be one of WA’s best players afield, while tall midfielders Clay Hall and Daniel Curtin proved prolific at the source.

Elsewhere, Aiden O’Driscoll‘s running power came to the fore in the forward half and ruck Mitchell Edwards did his stocks no hard against an opponent who matched him for eight and mobility.

South Australia’s carnival ends at 1-3, with bottom-age midfielder Sid Draper seemingly the frontrunner for Most Valuable Player (MVP) honours.

Should the state instead opt for a top-ager, leadership group member Kane McAuliffe rounded out his campaign with another robust effort, along with skipper Will Patton.

Delean may also be in contention for his two seperate hauls of four goals, though his two other performances were relatively subdued.

Western Australia faces a quick turnaround to host Vic Country at the WACA Ground on Friday night, with the Victorian side travelling across off a loss to South Australia last weekend.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 4.2 | 4.5 | 7.7 | 10.10 (70)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.1 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 6.6 (42)

GOALS:

Western Australia: K. Sanchez 2, C. Livingstone, R. Wills, A. O’Driscoll, J. Matthews, K. Tholstrup, T. Lindberg, M. Edwards, S. van Rooyen
South Australia: T. Welsh 2, K. McAuliffe, L. Rawlinson, P. Hargrave, J. Delean

RMC BEST:

Western Australia: K. Tholstrup, C. Hall, A. O’Driscoll, D. Curtin, M. Edwards
South Australia: S. Draper, T. Welsh, B. Ryan, K. McAuliffe