VIC COUNTRY rounded out this year’s AFL Under 18 National Championships with a runaway 31-point win over their Metro counterparts. A run of nine unanswered goals between terms two and three proved the difference as both sides ended the carnival with 2-2 records.

It was a case of cream rising to the top for Country in a turnaround led by co-captain and Most Valuable Player (MVP) Harley Reid. Key defender Ollie Murphy took out the same honours for Vic Metro, and both feature in the latest edition of Scouting Notes.

>> Match Report: Country crushes Metro in nine-goal run

VIC COUNTRY:

#4 Darcy Wilson (Murray Bushrangers)
Midfielder | 18/08/2005 | 185cm | 73kg

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 6 inside 50s

Enjoying a more permanent run in midfield, Wilson showcased his class as a link player out of the contest. The smooth moving Murray Bushranger waxed well with teammates to navigate into space and was often the receiver who could fan an efficient kick down the field. He has the capacity to hurt teams with his decision making on the attack and did so to good effect on Sunday.

#5 Harley Reid (Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder | 17/04/2005 | 185cm | 85kg

Stats: 24 disposals, 5 marks, 11 clearances

Perhaps reminding onlookers of why he has long been considered the top prospect in this year’s draft, Reid stood up when it counted with an imposing midfield performance. The Country co-captain and MVP helped turn the game in a decisive third quarter run, getting first hands on the ball and bursting free with his trademark physicality. Reid’s fend-off game was also on point as he dished them out for fun and set the tone for a terrific runaway win.

#6 Luamon Lual (GWV Rebels)
Defender | 28/03/2005 | 181cm | 71kg

Stats: 12 disposals, 4 tackles, 1 goal

While he perhaps didn’t hit his absolute peak during this year’s championships, Lual produced some of his better moments on Sunday. The rebound defender sliced through traffic and consistently looked to attack with ball in hand, surging it forward at all costs. He capped off his game with a fantastic goal in term four, working into a good launch zone and attracting the ball before slotting it home from 50 metres.

#7 Joel Freijah (GWV Rebels)
Wing | 14/11/2005 | 191cm | 86kg

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

Another top-end talent who helped turn the game in term three, Freijah seemed to enjoy the continuity of running out a full game on the wing. Both scores were converted over the mark, with the first a result of the strong pack mark Freijah plucked overhead. The GWV Rebels talent has the capacity to hit the scoreboard and with versatility he has explored, remains a first round contender.

#8 Tom Anastasopoulos (Geelong Falcons)
Small Forward | 31/05/2005 | 176cm | 66kg

Stats: 12 disposals, 8 marks, 6 tackles, 2 goals

While others turned the game in Vic Country’s favour after half time, Anastasopoulos kept his side in it during term two. The small forward overcame some early mistakes to bring enormous energy in the attacking half, booting two goals from three-consecutive shots in said period. After a hot start to the season, it was positive to see him hit his stride at representative level.

#9 Zane Duursma (Gippsland Power)
Forward | 28/08/2005 | 189cm | 79kg

Stats: 22 disposals, 10 marks, 5 inside 50s, 4 goals

Best afield and the true match-winner among a field of candidates, Duursma was another highly touted prospect who served a timely reminder of his talent. Having been restricted to six touches last time out, the dynamic midfielder-forward came to life in attack to boot four second half goals, including three in the decisive third quarter. Duursma’s majors were apt reward for his involvement in earlier scoring chains, finishing with an array of different skills and clean strikes on goal.

#20 Finn O’Sullivan (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 30/05/2006 | 181cm | 70kg

Stats: 20 disposals, 7 marks, 5 clearances, 1 goal

Bottom-agers have somewhat stolen the show at this year’s championships and O’Sullivan remains among the best of the lot. He is incredibly well-rounded and showed few flaws on Sunday, hardly wasting a touch as he executed smart decisions and was hardly fazed by the heat of the contest. He has already shown the capacity to step up in vital moments at such a high level.

#22 Archer Reid (Gippsland Power)
Key Forward | 19/09/2005 | 203cm | 93kg

Stats: 8 disposals, 7 marks, 2 goals

Though the numbers may not be overwhelming, Reid produced easily his best game of the carnival with more of the form which had him pegged as a top 10 talent coming into the year. He had a tough matchup in Metro MVP Ollie Murphy, but managed to work him over on the lead and snapped up some good delivery. Reid also began to clunk the ball overhead, using his reach as one of the many tools he has to reestablish himself as a genuine prospect.

#23 George Stevens (GWV Rebels)
Midfielder | 14/04/2005 | 189cm | 94kg

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 tackles, 5 clearances

Stevens put together a strong carnival and capped it off with a solid outing in the Victorian derby, again plying his trade through the midfield. The big-bodied ball winner took little time to showcase his terrific distribution skills, darting a beautifully weighted inboard kick to Angus Hastie during term one. He hardly wasted a possession and very nearly hit the scoreboard with a couple of powerful shots, going early on his celebrations but just missing.

#38 Noah Mraz (Dandenong Stingrays)
Key Defender/Ruck | 20/02/2006 | 197cm | 82kg

Stats: 9 disposals, 5 marks, 7 hitouts

Given how he played upon being called up, it’s a wonder that Mraz didn’t get a run earlier in this year’s National Championships. The versatile bottom-aged tall most often plays in defence but gave Lachlan Smith a chop-out in the ruck and was a handy aerial asset around the ground. His dexterity and skill were promising for a 197cm player, as Mraz clunked a series of terrific grabs behind the ball in a handy sighter for what he may be able to produce next year.

>> Remember the names: 2023 AFL Under 18 MVPs

VIC METRO:

#3 Nick Watson (Eastern Ranges)
Small Forward | 24/02/2005 | 170cm | 67kg

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 4 goals

Having lit up game three with five goals in a half, Watson didn’t have it his own way for three quarters against Vic Country, but popped up for a hat-trick of consolation goals. He booted three-straight majors during the fourth quarter to bring his tally to four, showcasing great forward craft to both crumb and convert shots over the mark. His game was evidence that you cannot keep a good player down for long, though supply wasn’t exactly constant throughout the game.

#6 Jagga Smith (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 28/01/2006 | 181cm | 68kg

Stats: 22 disposals, 6 clearances, 1 goal

Starting brightly with four of his six clearances coming in the first half, Smith was on track for some serious numbers. He still had a productive game rotating forward from his primary midfield post, tearing onto the outside with his patented turn of speed and evasive nature. As is often the case, Smith’s movement at work rate were his standout traits and he’s well on track to be another star of the 2024 draft crop.

#10 Levi Ashcroft (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder | 18/12/2006 | 179cm | 75kg

Stats: 27 disposals, 8 marks, 2 inside 50s

Had it not been for forced rotation in game three, Ashcroft would have had claims for taking out Metro’s MVP award as a bottom-ager. The 2024 Brisbane Lions father-son candidate led all comers with 27 touches and balanced his game nicely in either half with a high of 14 to the main break. Like big brother Will, he knows how to rack up possessions and waxes well with teammates by hand, often winning and receiving the ball multiple times in a single passage of play.

#16 Archie Roberts (Sandringham Dragons)
Defender | 18/11/2005 | 184cm | 77kg

Stats: 24 disposals (17 kicks), 5 marks, 8 rebound 50s

Roberts is such an integral part of Metro’s system and when the ball is in his hands often, they have a chance at winning. He posted strong numbers on Sunday despite not being able to spark his side to a third win, taking on his usual distributional duties from defence. His radar was not always on, but Roberts picked out good options and looked to drive Metro into attack with spurts of run and a positive mindset. He sees the game well and is capable of setting it up.

#20 Charlie Harrop (Sandringham Dragons)
Forward | 13/07/2005 | 186cm | 79kg

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 3 goals

A player who produced a quietly good carnival, Harrop received reward in the form of three goals on Sunday. The bustling medium forward kicked two in the second quarter as Metro broke to a momentary lead, first finishing nicely from the pocket before getting on the end of a 50-metre penalty. Harrop converted another over the mark and could hardly be faulted for effort, bringing high intensity with each possession and ball winning attempt.

#32 Ollie Murphy (Sandringham Dragons)
Key Defender | 16/09/2005 | 200cm | 85kg

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 5 rebound 50s

Murphy took out Metro’s MVP award having been arguably his side’s most consistent high-end prospect throughout the fourth games, finishing strongly against another tricky opponent in Archer Reid. His aerial nous is terrific and saw the 200cm defender rise for intercept marks at full stretch, proving hard to beat when afforded a leap at the ball. He read the play well and made few mistakes with ball in hand, dishing out efficient and short left-foot passes.

#33 Jordan Croft (Calder Cannons)
Key Forward/Ruck | 12/05/2005 | 200cm | 80kg

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 10 hitouts

Metro’s forward line was stacked with marking talent, but Croft was the only one who consistently attacked the ball with authority and managed to clunk his marks. He gave Will Green a chop-out in the ruck and that allowed him to get his hands on the ball more often, perhaps boosting his confidence when shifted back to attack. He didn’t find the goals but played at a high intensity and was defensively active, chasing down opponents early in the piece.

#34 Will Green (Northern Knights)
Ruck | 08/09/2005 | 204cm | 89kg

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 22 hitouts

There’s just something about Green, who continues to show nice signs as a developable ruck prospect on the fringe of first round status. He won a game-high amount of hitouts, but was arguably more impressive with his work around the ground. Whether it was strong tackles or clean marks as a viable kick-in target, Green displayed sound fundamentals and is beginning to make his mark on games more often.