VIC Country will look to keep its title hopes alive when it travels up to Queensland to take on the Allies at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday. While the hosts’ Under 18 championship defence comes to an end, the 2-0 Vics can set up a grand final of sorts against their Metro counterparts next week with a win.

NEED TO KNOW

Who: Allies vs. Vic Country
When: Sunday July 7, 10:35am AEST
Where: Brighton Homes Arena
How to watch: via AFL website & app

RECORDS

Allies: 1-2 | LWL
def. by South Australia 11.9 (75) to 13.9 (87)
def. Western Australia 10.10 (70) to 7.8 (50)
def. by Vic Metro 6.15 (51) to 9.13 (67)

Vic Country: 2-0 | WW
def. South Australia 13.9 (87) to 11.13 (79)
def. Western Australia 11.11 (77) to 9.12 (66)

PREDICTED LINEUPS

ALLIES:

B: #10 L. Carmichael – #41 C. Bell – #26 Z. Millane
HB: #33 L. Hogan – #28 J. Cochran – #31 R. Gilder
C: #16 S. Marshall – #8 L. Lombard – #2 Z. Uwland
HF: #11 J. Delana – #32 J. Shanahan – #21 L. Douglas
F: #4 R. Mentha – #43 T. Gallop – #37 J. Murphy
FOL: #40 L. Smith – #20 D. Annable – #34 N. Sulzberger

INT: #13 O. Depaoli-Kubank, #25 F. McFadyen, #27 W. Davey, #39 T. Gillett, #44 B. Richardson

EMG: #9 J. Harrison, #30 N. Chamberlain, #38 O. Dean

IN: W. Davey, T. Gallop, T. Gillett, R. Mentha
OUT: N. Andreacchio, N. Chamberlain, J. Harrison, B. Kennedy

The Allies have brought in two genuine talls and a pair of small forwards, which is sure to create a serious magnet shuffle against the relatively tall Vic Country outfit. Lions Academy pair Tom Gillett and Ty Gallop come in alongside Northern Territory natives Waylon Davey and Ricky Mentha, with Gillett and Davey making their Allies debuts. All four exclusions were marked as managed.

VIC COUNTRY:

B: #12 H. Charleson – #32 R. Andrew – #31 A. Tauru
HB: #4 O. Warburton – #24 M. Whitlock – #13 T. Travaglia
C: #15 X. Ivisic – #22 H. Langford – #26 J. Ough
HF: #9 J. Berry – #20 J. Whitlock – #30 C. Hynes
F: #1 J. Alger – #38 J. Faull – #10 R. Unwin
FOL: #35 J. Doherty – #5 F. O’Sullivan – #14 S. Lalor

INT: #7 O. Hannaford, #16 L. Jaques, #25 R. Onley, #28 J. Barrat, #37 F. Burmeister

EMG: #2 A. Day-Wicks, #6 R. Stevens, #21 N. Hibbins-Hargreaves, #23 W. Duursma

IN: R. Andrew, J. Barrat, J. Doherty, R. Onley, F. O’Sullivan, R. Unwin
OUT: X. Lindsay (calf), A. Day-Wicks, W. Duursma, N. Hibbins-Hargreaves, M. Lloyd, R. Stevens

Vic Country has made six changes, with only Xavier Lindsay (calf) forced out through injury. The headline inclusion is pick one contender Finn O’Sullivan, while ruckman Jordan Doherty, tall utility Riak Andrew, and small forward Rhys Unwin are set to debut. Doherty and Andrew, both of the Dandenong Stingrays, are over-agers. Andrew is the brother of emerging Gold Coast defender, Mac.

ONES TO WATCH

ALLIES:

Tom Gillett

Arguably a surprise omission from the Allies’ initial squad, Gillett gets his chance at the final time of asking. The 201cm big man averaged 19 disposals, 15 hitouts and four marks in a quarter of Coates Talent League outings this year, showcasing strong fundamental skills and the mobility to impact around the ground. Being among an influx of talls, his role is likely to be as a key forward and rotating ruck.

Logan Smith

One of the standout talls of the tournament, Smith has one final opportunity to stamp himself as this year’s premier ruck prospect. The Giants Academy product has played three-straight VFL games for the orange team in between Allies duties, backing up his strong form at the carnival. At 204cm, he will look to impose himself at the contest by getting first hand to the ball and using it neatly in the clinches.

Zeke Uwland

While this game features a potential top pick for 2024, Uwland is already putting his hand up for the same honour next year. The Suns Academy gun is no stranger to racking up big numbers and whether running off half-back, the wing, or through the middle, has a great knack for finding the ball. His penetrative left-foot kicking and relentless running game are sure to impress in game four.

VIC COUNTRY:

Finn O’Sullivan

He’s back. After a wretched run with injury, O’Sullivan returns to the stage where he earned All Australian honours as a bottom-ager. Considered a chance to be pick one this year, the tough and versatile midfielder is sure to showcase his array of traits. He can mark overhead and pump the ball long by foot, win the inside ball or run on the outer. There are very few flaws to his game.

Harvey Langford

While there is a case for many others across the competition, Langford would have to be Vic Country’s frontrunner for the Larke Medal at this point. He has arguably been best afield in both his side’s wins to date, leading the disposal count as a midfield mainstay. The 190cm bull is clean at the coalface, but keep an eye out for his work rate away from stoppages and piercing left-foot kick.

Alix Tauru

Having made himself comfortable at the level last week with 10 touches and four marks on debut, Tauru should be well poised for a big game. The high-flying intercept defender will be up against it given the Allies’ key forward stocks, but has strong aerial support of his own down back and should be given the licence to play his typically eye-catching brand. He has a speccy in him, for sure.

WHERE IT’S WON

The key position stakes are interesting in this match. Vic Country has 12 players above 190cm compared to the Allies’ nine, though four of them are midfielders or utility types. The hosts should stretch Vic Country’s tall defenders, who barring Matt Whitlock are relatively undersized at 191cm-193cm.

Despite rain forecast for Sunday’s game, both sides have gone in relatively heavy on talls, though perhaps the bigger bodies will help in contested situations. If that’s the case, Vic Country has arguably the more dynamic and mobile players over 190cm across each third of the field.

Vic Country’s top-end midfield talent should also shine. With Langford, O’Sullivan, and Sam Lalor set to run through there, the balance and quality of ball winners are notable. The Allies should not be underestimated though, boasting strong contested mids and damaging outside runners.

PREDICTION

With only one game left together at representative level, and with the title already out of their hands, the Allies will likely play with plenty of heart and freedom. Meanwhile, Vic Country is still in the hunt for the Championship and simply must win. That may create some tension, especially with the extra travel factor for every squad member – the Allies have six locals and 10 Queenslanders. Still, Vic Country’s big game players and quality midfielders should make a difference here. Big V by 12.

REMAINING AFL U18s FIXTURE