AN ALL-Victorian clash awaits today at Marvel Stadium, with the Under 18 Vic Metro girls taking on Vic Country in a huge day for the national carnival. Both sides are coming off different results in Round 1, though after the Allies’ defeated Queensland yesterday, it shows anything can happen on any given day.

DETAILS

Sunday, July 14 @ 1:00pm AEST
Marvel Stadium
Live streamed via afl.com.au

STATE OF PLAY

Vic Metro opened its national carnival up with a huge win over the Allies by 94 points. Considering the Allies bounced back with a win over Queensland yesterday, it looks to be ominous form. Vic Country on the other hand jumped the Maroons in their match, but could not muster a goal in the two and a half quarters as the home side kicked the final five majors of the match to win by 21 points.

CHANGES

Despite playing a ripper game one, Oakleigh’s Chloe Bown has been rotated out of the side – as per the usual policy with bottom-agers, while Northern Knights’ Marlo Graham gets her chance on Marvel Stadium. Fellow forward Amelie Gladman essentially replaces Stasia Stevenson in the forward 50, while the side has opted for some more run with wing/defender Scout Howden coming in for another bottom-ager in Zara Neuwirth.

Country has named a squad of 24 for today with one to be the emergency. A couple of Pioneers in Lavinia Cox and Sienna Hobbs, and GWV Rebels’ Olivia Wolter are the three out of the side, while Murray Bushrangers’ Madison Ibrahim returns from injury and is among four inclusions. Forwards, Dandenong Stingrays’ Makhaela Bluhm and Geelong Falcons’ Rebecca Clottey add a different dynamic inside 50, while 2023 Under 16s Vic Country MVP Ella Stoddart also makes her way into the team, likely as a running defender, but can play any line.

ONES TO WATCH

Vic Metro’s forwardline is the most potent going around and it is easy to see why with three spearheads in Georgie Brisbane (five goals), Emma McDonald (four) and Grace Belloni (four) all having huge days out against the Allies. They will be complemented by the mosquito fleet of inclusions in Gladman and Graham, while Abbey Vicino also did well as a half-forward in the first game.

The Metro midfield on paper is superb, though too much of the clearance work was left up to Sierra Grieves and Sophie McKay (six clearances). They were beaten in that area despite winning by 94 points, though also largely because their midfielders including Sarah Poustie and Maggie Mahony are very good defensive runners and at forcing turnovers.

Metro will have a battle against the most stacked on-ball division featuring Ash Centra, Lou Painter and Sara Howley who spent the most time on-ball against Queensland as expected. By the trio doing the bulk of the on-ball work, other midfielder/forwards such as Jemma Reynolds, Jasmine Sowden and Kayla Dalgleish can do damage up forward.

Country has the size to match the Metro forwards, with Millie Lang and Sasha Pearce both great intercept marks and strong defensively, allowing the likes of Holly Egan and Jemmika Douglas to provide the run. Elise Cook was also lively at half-back against the Maroons and will have an important role.

For the Metro side, Kyla Forbes and Lou-Lou Field can provide some run alongside Sienna Tallariti as they look to contain Country forwards such as Claire Mahony, Lexi Gregor and Zoe Besanko.

PREDICTION

The first matches are always hard to look too much into as shown by the Allies’ performance from game one to game two. Breaking down the areas, Vic Country should have the slight top-end advantage in the midfield, though Metro has the depth in that area with the likes of Belloni and Vicino among those able to step in if need be.

Metro’s forwardline could be the difference if the midfield does break even, and though the Country forwards matchup better on their state rivals better than the Allies defenders did, it will still be a tough task.

Up the other end, Country does have some seriously talented forwards, but the Metro defence is rock solid. The rucks for both teams are athletic and a chance to get ahead in the hitouts so break even in that regard.

Based off that, we’ll tip Vic Metro in a close one, by about 10 points. Expect it to be a lower scoring tight tussle though, purely because both sides will have their fair share of the ball but have to get it past some quality back fives.