VIC Metro welcomed back a number of top talents from injury and earned bragging rights against their Country rivals, getting up by 16 points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval today. Despite Country leading at quarter time, Metro made more of their chances in the second half to kick four of the first five goals after half-time and run out 7.10 (52) to 5.6 (36) winners.

Metro welcomed back the likes of Kristie-Lee Weston-Turner, Amy Gaylor and Jacinta Hose from long-term injuries, with only Weston-Turner (one game) playing Talent League in the past couple of months. Starting strongly, the Metro side had the bulk of the play in the opening term with 10 inside 50s to five.

Despite that, the Country defence held up as Metro peppered the goals and missed, and then Country – through Sophie Butterworth – with their first intercept nailed the opening goal of the contest. It proved to be the only major of the contest with bottom-age star Ash Centra hitting the post, and Weston-Turner missing the first of a number of chances off a snap which was touched on the line.

When GWV Rebels forward Lily Jordan put through the first goal of the second term, Country was up and about. Lila Keck – who was looking dangerous playing higher up the field – missed a chance she would normally gobble up, and Metro made the Country team pay.

In the space of two minutes, Tamara Henry and Emma McDonald both converted chances off eye-catching players from Ava Jordan and Weston-Turner, and by the time McDonald kicked a second goal, Metro held a six-point lead.

After missing her earlier chance, Keck made sure to make no mistake off a clever rove, snapping around her body and kicking truly to level the scores again. Both Sarah Grunden and Ava Jordan had other chances heading into half-time, but let Country off the hook to hold a narrow four-point lead at the main break.

Metro needed to turnaround the 10-3 clearance loss in that second term if they were going to get back on track and make the most of their opportunities. The move to free up Western Jets skipper Kiera Whiley worked well as she had four clearances in the quarter alone, while Country only had the three in total. Metro regained that ascendancy with a total of nine for the term.

In that quarter, Metro booted 3.4 to 0.3 and essentially sealed the game, with Ava Jordan kicking a couple of incredible small forward goals, while partner-in-crime Alyssia Pisano – who to that point had been relatively well-held by Ruby Murdoch – made her mark with a long-range ripper on the run that bounced home.

The third quarter had belonged to Metro as Weston-Turner continued to pepper the goals, and she would finally get one, but not until later in the final term. Country had more of the ascendancy early in the last, with Centra nailing a pinpoint pass to Butterworth for the Stingrays forward’s second major of the contest.

Any chance of a comeback was snuffed out by Hayley McLaughlin producing a goal-saving effort on the line off a Sara Howley shot. Metro held on, and while Country scored a consolation goal through Chantal Mason with the last kick of the day, it would not be enough. In an entertaining contest, Metro won 7.10 (52) to 5.6 (36).

Weston-Turner was a little off with her accuracy booting 1.4, but she was still a standout for the Metro side, collecting 17 disposals and taking three marks. She combined well with McDonald (11 disposals, three marks and two goals) while Ava Jordan also kicked the two majors from 11 touches. McLaughlin (13 disposals, four marks) and Whiley (15 disposals, six clearances and six tackles) were the perfect inside-outside combination, and in defence, Sienna Tallariti was strong overhead and reliable.

For Country, Centra was a clear best-on, picking up 23 disposals as well as four marks, three clearances and two inside 50s. Mikayla Williamson, Keck and Howley all had 20-plus disposals and worked hard around the ground adding speed to the lineup. Through the ruck, Elli Symonds played well with 17 disposals and 16 hitouts despite coming off sore after an opposition smother.

VIC COUNTRY 1.1 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 5.6 (36)
VIC METRO 0.3 | 3.5 | 6.9 | 7.10 (52)

GOALS:
Vic Country: S. Butterworth 2, L. Jordan, L. Keck, C. Mason
Vic Metro: E. McDonald 2, A. Jordan 2, T. Henry, A. Pisano, K. Weston-Turner

RMC BEST:
Vic Country: A. Centra, L. Keck, M. Williamson, S. Howley, E. Symonds
Vic Metro: K. Weston-Turner, E. McDonald, K. Whiley, H. McLaughlin, A. Jordan