VIC Country raided Western Australia on Saturday to claim an 11-point win and move to 2-0 in this year’s Under 18 National Championships. In what was the Sandgropers’ final game of the carnival, plenty of prospects continued to play with a point to prove and feature in our latest Scouting Notes instalment.

>> Match report: Sandgropers push Vic Country all the way in Claremont classic

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

#1 Cody Angove (Claremont)
Forward/Wing | 182cm | 28/05/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s

It seemed like every time Western Australia scored on the end of an end-to-end passage, Angove was involved in the play. He put speed on the ball with his run-and-carry on the outside, helping the Sandgropers transition with great flair and connection. Angove’s hard running and attacking instincts on the wing were indicative of his side’s ability to run over the top in term four.

#5 Will Hayes (Claremont)
Forward | 178cm | 16/05/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 2 behinds

Once again it seemed as though Hayes was everywhere at times, as the high forward displayed his enormous running capacity. He advanced so far up the ground that his rebound 50 count (three) cleared his inside 50s (zero), as he worked over each opponent and provided an outlet to transition the ball. He very nearly had two snap goals, too, but missed after hitting the ball at speed.

#7 Wesley Walley (Subiaco)
Forward | 180cm | 29/11/2007

Stats: 8 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals

Making his state Under 18 debut, Walley was a menace up forward with his pace and marking ability. The bottom-ager was difficult to contain on the lead and proved a tricky matchup as he glided across the turf and clunked several strong overhead grabs. He capped off his work nicely with goals in the second and third terms, looking dangerous each time the footy entered his area.

#11 Hamish Davis (Claremont)
Forward | 190cm | 02/05/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 goals, 3 behinds

Davis capped off his strong national carnival as one of Western Australia’s key catalysts for a late fightback. He popped up with two goals from four scoring shots in the final term and got into all the right spots to very nearly win his side the game. The tall forward was a viable target and one of WA’s many forwards who looked dangerous on the end of quick ball movement up the field.

#12 Bo Allan (Peel Thunder)
Midfielder | 191cm | 16/02/2006

Stats: 23 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 clearances

Once again leading from the front as WA’s top disposal getter, Allan also led his side for tackles (seven) in a terrific two-way captain’s effort. The midfielder was a factor at stoppages with his big frame, but also jetted off to the outside where he was often among the final links in the chain going inside 50. His ball use was a little scratchy with seven clangers in an otherwise strong display.

#13 Jaxon Artemis (South Fremantle)
Defender/Wing | 187cm | 07/02/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 7 rebound 50s

Crowned Western Australia’s MVP post-match, Artemis produced another performance full of dash and dare. The hard-running utility started on the wing but was arguably most effective when shifted to defence, where he took on the kick-in duties. From the restarts, he would often follow-up his initial disposal to get the ball back and surge forward, before using it sharply by foot.

#16 Loch Mactaggart (Perth)
Defender | 183cm | 27/08/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 5 marks, 6 rebound 50s

Complimenting Artemis well across the defensive half, Mactaggart helped mop the ball up before sparking Western Australia’s transitional play. For his proficiency in accumulating uncontested possessions (15) and rebounding the ball, one of Mactaggart’s best moments was a rundown tackle on Vic Country livewire Joe Berry during the third quarter.

#18 Clancy Dennis (Claremont)
Key Defender | 195cm | 28/12/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 6 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Perhaps a slightly unheralded member of WA’s backline, Dennis was an absolute rock for the Sandgropers on Saturday. He was difficult to beat inside defensive 50 and rose for several intercept marks, taking the ball cleanly overhead. His level and output remained consistent throughout the four quarters despite Vic Country’s forwards posing some tough matchups.

#20 Cody Curtin (Claremont)
Key Defender | 197cm | 18/05/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Curtin looks a real type for next year’s draft and rounded out his terrific bottom-age carnival with another resolute performance down back. Locking horns with opposite number 20 Jack Whitlock, Curtin held his own with some shrewd reads and intercepts. He was competitive as every aerially, but arguably impressed more with his level of comfort in possession and mobility at 197cm.

VIC COUNTRY:

#2 Archer Day-Wicks (Bendigo Pioneers)
Forward | 186cm | 13/05/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 7 marks, 1 goal

After a steady game starting in midfield last time out, Day-Wicks played primarily up forward on Saturday and did some nice things. His marking was a real asset, proving strong overhead and working into dangerous lanes inside 50. Day-Wicks booted a lone goal in term two, but had a couple more opportunities from tough spots – requiring more depth and accuracy on his kicks.

#3 Xavier Lindsay (Gippsland Power)
Midfielder | 183cm | 03/08/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 7 tackles, 8 clearances

Lindsay benefitted from Vic Country’s midfield magnet shuffle on Saturday, taking his chance to play on-ball with both hands. He was super clean in the clinches, prising eight clearances by either flicking the ball off by hand or wheeling away on his favoured left foot. Lindsay was truly enormous out of the middle and hardly fumbled, while also doing the tough stuff defensively.

#12 Harry Charleson (GWV Rebels)
Defender | 182cm | 26/06/2006

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 4 rebound 50s

Consistently in the right spots to mop up or provide an outlet across the backline, Charleson went about his usual business with 16 uncontested possessions and 10 handball receives. Such numbers are indicative of his prolific rebounding style, able to wax with teammates and move the ball fluently. Unlike game one, he switched things up with a kick-first approach.

#13 Tobie Travaglia (Bendigo Pioneers)
Defender | 187cm | 26/10/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Much like in game one, Travaglia was one of the standout starters on Saturday as he took a couple of terrific intercept marks in the early stages. After collecting 13 of his 19 disposals in the first half, Travaglia’s output waned thereafter but he competed hard and looked threatening when defending off a high line, helping Vic Country lock the ball into its forward half.

#16 Lachie Jaques (Geelong Falcons)
Defender | 184cm | 01/06/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 rebound 50s

Another productive and prolific member of Vic Country’s defence, Jaques was constantly in the right spots to relieve pressure. He made the highlight reel with a third quarter speccy but a lot of his other work would have gone under the radar. Jaques showcased deceptive strength to lay hard tackles and held his when the ball was there to be won. He also used it neatly when moving at pace.

#20 Jack Whitlock (Murray Bushrangers)
Key Forward/Ruck | 200cm | 16/05/2006

Stats: 18 disposals, 7 hitouts, 5 clearances

Starting up forward with a rotation through the ruck, Whitlock proved difficult to beat in the air. The potential first round prospect utilised his range at 200cm but also held his ground firmly and looked mobile on the lead. He racked up 18 touches (13 handballs) and five clearances with super clean handling and confident distribution in congestion, making his presence felt.

#22 Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder | 190cm | 15/03/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 8 marks, 5 clearances

Langford has had an excellent start to the National Championships and was again prolific as a midfield mainstay. While his big frame and clean extraction ability normally stand out, Langford was arguably more effective on the spread. He had 20 uncontested possessions by working hard into pockets of space after the initial contest, but also connected well with teammates as the receiver at stoppage and was able to use his penetrative kicking going inside 50.

#30 Cooper Hynes (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder/Forward | 190cm | 28/02/2006

Stats: 20 disposals, 8 marks, 2 goals

Somewhat the inverse of Davis for WA, Hynes helped ice the game for Vic Country with his strong marking and presence up forward. He kicked a clutch snap goal and took a couple of crucial grabs in the dying stages, taking time off the clock to thwart the Sandgropers’ comeback. Hynes really began to work into the game after half time with terrific contested craft and goal sense.

#31 Alix Tauru (Gippsland Power)
Tall Defender | 191cm | 16/11/2006

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 2 inside 50s

Tauru’s Coates Talent League form saw him earn a representative call-up and the rising prospect showcased glimpses of his talent. Taking a tough matchup on Kayle Gerreyn, he was challenged by his opponent’s leading patterns early on but eventually found his groove with some super intercept marks, including one screamer up on the wing. There’s plenty to work with.

REMAINING AFL U18s FIXTURES

DATE	MATCH	VENUE	TIME
Sun, July 7	Allies vs Vic Country	Brighton Homes Arena	10:35am
Sun, July 14	Vic Metro vs Vic Country	IKON Park	10:35am