THE 2024 AFL Under 18 National Championships went down to the wire at Marvel Stadium today, as Luke Trainor‘s goal after the siren saw Vic Metro clinch the cup. In what was effectively a title decider, Trainor was gifted a controversial 50-metre penalty and kept his cool to hand his side the one-point win.

Just a minute earlier, Archer Day-Wicks looked to have snatched victory for Country with a pluck and snap at the goalmouth. But Metro won the clearance via Jagga Smith to provide one last chance. The umpire’s whistle robbed Tobie Travaglia of a clutch intercept mark at half-forward, before he dissented to hand Trainor his game-winning moment.

The Larke Medal and Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards were handed out post-match. Allies midfielder Leonardo Lombard tied with Vic Country MVP Harvey Langford for the competition best and fairest, while Murphy Reid was named Vic Metro’s MVP.

In a game of ebbs and flows, both sides had definitive spurts of momentum. Vic Country looked home having booted three straight goals in the final quarter, only for Metro to hit back with a hat-trick of their own to see out the game and secure victory.

Metro spearhead Harry Armstrong bagged five goals for a Metro outfit which had just give individual goalkickers. For much of the match, Armstrong, Isaac Kako and Joshua Dolan all had multiples as Metro’s sole scorers. Conversely, Country had nine players split the big sticks, led by three from Jack Whitlock.

Country started strongly with the first two majors, before the teams went goal-for-goal in the opening half to remain level at the main break. Metro rued a few missed chances in the second quarter, but Armstrong brought his kicking boots, converting three set shots across the 25-minute period.

Country again came out firing in the third term with a string of three consecutive goals. Xavier Ivisic was the catalyst having been shifted on-ball, while Joe Berry popped up for two majors and a hand in the other to inject some life into the contest up forward.

The response inevitably came from Metro, led by Armstrong who slammed home his fourth goal of the day. Dolan and Kako latched onto his coattails to add their second respectively, leaving the sides all-square once again at the final break.

It meant a grandstand finish was set up, with nothing to separate the two title contenders and 25 minutes to decide the entire National Championships. Needless to say, the cream rose to the top as the carnival drew to a close in a finish script writers would have envied.

Country midfielder Xavier Lindsay led all comers with 30 disposals, 11 marks and six inside 50s in what was a consistent performance. Travaglia was busy across the backline with 25 touches and nine marks, while MVP Langford posted 19 disposals, six marks, five clearances and a clutch goal.

Among the standouts when the game was on the line were Ivisic (19 disposals, one goal) and Berry (three goals), while Whitlock’s strong marking made him difficult to stop up forward. The mobile tall finished with two majors from 13 disposals and seven marks.

Smith was arguably Metro’s best, proving prolific with 25 disposals and eight clearances. Jesse Dattoli provided great energy out on the wing to post 20 disposals and eight marks, while MVP Reid trailed closely with 19 touches.

Armstrong’s handful of majors came from just nine touches and five marks. Kako finished the game with three goals and was busy inside 50. Christian Moraes was integral at the death en route to 19 disposals and five inside 50s, while midfield maestros Josh Smillie (eight clearances) and Levi Ashcroft (16 disposals, one goal) had their moments.

Players will now return to Coates Talent League and school football to see out the season. Many of the prospects afield are considered strong chances to land in the first round of this year’s draft, which is littered with a unique blend of midfielders at the top end.

VIC METRO 2.3 | 5.8 | 8.11 | 12.13 (85)
VIC COUNTRY 3.1 | 6.2 | 9.5 | 13.6 (84)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: H. Armstrong 5, I. Kako 3, J. Dolan 2, L. Ashcroft, L. Trainor
Vic Country: J. Berry 3, J. Whitlock 2, A. Day-Wicks 2, J. Faull, C. Hynes, X. Ivisic, R. Onley, S. Lalor, H. Langford

MVPs:
Vic Metro: Murphy Reid (Sandringham Dragons)
Vic Country: Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays)

Larke Medal: Leo Lombard (Allies) & Harvey Langford (Vic Country)