VIC METRO held on to secure a thrilling five-point victory over South Australia yesterday, en route to taking out this year’s AFL Under 16 National Championships title.

In ideal conditions at Southport, Metro looked home when skipper Jack Dalton put his side 19 points ahead with under nine minutes on the clock, but SA hit back hard in the dying stages.

Unfortunately for the Croweaters, Lachlan Sands could not convert his set shot to draw the game in the final minute, and a subsequent West Australian win ensured the Vics would be champions.

The Pool A Most Valuable Player (MVP) race arguably came down to two guns in this game, with Dalton edged out by opposition captain Dyson Sharp for the Kevin Sheehan Medal.

Both players, outstanding midfielders in their own right, feature among our final Scouting Notes instalment for the 2023 National Development Championships.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3.0 | 3.2 | 5.4 | 8.11 (59)
VICTORIA METRO 3.2 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 9.10 (64)

GOALS:

South Australia: W. Prescott 2, A. Schubert 2, D. Cochrane, S. Cumming, B. Oudshoorn-Bennier, N. Roberts-Thomson
Victoria Metro: J. Dalton 2, A. Ludowyke 2, L. Dovaston, I. Dugdale, L. Emmett, O. Greeves, C. Whitehead

RMC BEST:

South Australia: J. Reichelt, D. Sharp, A. Schubert, L. Kellaway, J. Rozenbilds, H. Barker,
Victoria Metro: J. Dalton, T. Burton, X. Taylor, C. Whitehead, L. Dovaston, L. Emmett

MVPs:

South Australia: Dyson Sharp*
Victoria Metro: Jack Dalton

* – denotes also Kevin Sheehan Medal winner

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#3 Jeff Rozenbilds (Norwood)
Wing | 177cm | 16/03/2007

A busy link player on the outside, Rozenbilds accumulated 15 disposals, seven marks and four inside 50s for the Croweaters. He got involved between the arcs during attacking phases with spurts of run-and-carry, and well worked chains of possession between his teammates.

#6 Jim Kelly (Norwood)
Midfielder | 178cm | 16/02/2007

Having thrived in wet conditions last time out, Kelly maintained a strong level of output for 19 disposals and seven marks on Friday. The midfielder got his hands on more outside ball, receiving at stoppage and darting away with a sharp turn of speed, before often unloading a kick on the attack.

#11 Noah Roberts-Thomson (Sturt)
Midfielder | 180cm | 29/03/2007

A rotational piece in midfield, Roberts-Thomson found his 13 disposals in all thirds of the ground. He was sighted pushing back to help spark transitions early on, before having more ball forward of centre in the third quarter. The left-footer assisted Will Prescott with a sharp pass, but missed his own chance over the mark.

#13 Harley Barker (Sturt)
Wing | 186cm | 02/05/2007

Lining up on the wing, Barker provided a bit of dare as South Australia looked to attack. He also tracked back to help the Croweaters shift from side to side, but arguably had more impact when surging the ball forward and very nearly kicked a ripper goal on the run to spark SA’s fightback.

#14 Louis Kellaway (Sturt)
Wing | 182cm | 16/03/2007

Another wingman who added fluency to South Australia’s end-to-end passages, Kellaway provided his typical outside run en route to collecting 17 disposals. The Sturt product also showed good composure the releasing the ball and was another who went close to kicking a clutch goal in term four, instead hitting the post.

#16 Joshua Reichelt (Central District)
Defender | 180cm | 18/06/2007

Topping South Australia’s disposal count with 29 to go with seven marks and six rebound 50s, Reichelt was again among his side’s best players. The running defender was consistently in position to mop up behind the ball and made great decision with ball in hand, helping advance it up the field with polished passages of play.

#17 Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier (North Adelaide)
Midfielder | 182cm | 11/04/2007

Playing in his second Under 16 carnival and as a leader among the South Australian group, Oudshoorn-Bennier looked to impose himself on the contest. He was a touch subdued with 15 touches and three clearances, but showcased his power in possession and kicked a clutch goal to give SA a fighting chance with three minutes on the clock.

#21 Aidan Schubert (Central District)
Ruck/Forward | 194cm | 21/12/2007

South Australia’s premier tall was again dynamic in his ruck-forward rotation, claiming 14 disposals, 10 hitouts and two goals. The 194cm prospect was not as deadeye in front of goal this time out, but hit the scoreboard at crucial times in the second half and reeled in some handy overhead marks around the ground.

#22 Dyson Sharp (Central District)
Midfielder | 188cm | 23/05/2007

A deserving recipient of both his side’s and Pool A MVP honours, Sharp stood up when it mattered despite the loss. He lifted in the second half to register 22 disposals, five clearances and seven inside 50s, with his most important moment an intercept of Metro’s kick-in, before hitting up Sands with great composure for what could have been a definitive shot on goal at the death. Not only does he find the ball, but busts a gut defensively when required.

VIC METRO:

#2 Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges)
Wing | 175cm | 29/05/2007

Dovaston made the wing his own throughout the carnival and finished strongly on Friday with 19 disposals, four inside 50s and a polished fourth quarter goal. He looked to break forward quickly with each possession, driving his legs and taking the game on with increasing confidence.

#3 Thomas Burton (Western Jets)
Midfielder | 177cm | 09/01/2007

A slick small midfielder, Burton had his best game of the carnival with 26 disposals and five inside 50s on Friday. He showed a good turn of speed away from the contest and although 17 of his touches were handballs, he looked most dangerous when jetting off into position to launch inside 50.

#7 Jack Dalton (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder | 176cm | 05/04/2007

Metro’s title-winning captain and MVP, Dalton had another day out with 33 disposals, nine marks and seven inside 50s. His inside-outside balance was on show with a blend of clean extraction and classy link-up play on the outside, with Dalton also showing strong form overhead. He rounded out his game with two goals, despite a few more shots falling short or wide, with the left-footer’s fourth quarter major essentially sealing the result.

#16 Xavier Bamert (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder | 184cm | 29/01/2007

A solid body and smooth mover in midfield, Bamert was another who showed balance in his play. He rolled tackles off his back on the inside, but also provided run-and-carry on the outer and snuck forward to display his marking prowess. The Sandringham Dragons prospect ended up with 23 disposals and five marks.

#22 Xavier Taylor (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 190cm | 30/01/2007

Along with Callum Smith, Taylor was a marking machine down back with seven among his 17 disposals. The 190cm defender read the play beautifully and was fluent in each of his intercepts, rising with a smooth run and jump at the ball. With clean hands and composure, he relieved pressure for Metro time, and time again.

#23 Oliver Greeves (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder/Forward | 190cm | 07/02/2007

Having produced a monster performance in the wet last time out, Greeves was a touch quieter but still registered strong numbers with 18 disposals, six marks and six clearances. The big-bodied midfielder-forward was typically clean and proved a tough matchup on each line, also showing great game awareness to milk the clock with a late 50m set shot which he hit the post with.

#25 Charlie Whitehead (Oakleigh Chargers)
Forward | 191cm | 29/03/2007

Having spent a lot of time camped inside 50 on Tuesday, Whitehead got to show his dynamism at 191cm with plenty of successful forays up the ground. His movement was eye-catching upon hitting up at the ball, with smooth shifts in and out of traffic leaving opponents in the dust. He managed 19 touches and one goal in a promising outing.

#26 Archie Ludowyke (Sandringham Dragons)
Key Forward | 193cm | 19/11/2007

Though his six disposals, three marks and two goals make for relatively modest reading, Ludowyke put on one of the more exciting showings in Metro’s winning effort. The tall forward has serious hops, able to reach heights few others could and reeling in a couple of screamers. Both his majors came in the second term as Metro pulled away, highlighting the kind of impact he can have.

#40 Louis Emmett (Oakleigh Chargers)
Ruck | 198cm | 23/03/2007

Another mobile tall who had his moments, Emmett showed good range in his play for 13 disposals, five marks, 16 hitouts and a goal. His aerial game was strong, but the Oakleigh Chargers talent also covered the ground nicely and got involved in general play amid a decent battle with SA ruck-forward, Schubert.