THE DUST has settled on an epic Under 18 National Championships, which was decided on Sunday as Vic Metro defeated their Country counterparts with a kick after the siren. Relive all the action from the carnival’s 10 fixtures, including match reports, scouting notes, and the MVP winners of each side.

>> Top prospects: 2024 AFL Under 18 All Australian squad

CHAMPIONS: Vic Metro | 4-0 | 139.7%
Larke Medal: Harvey Langford (Vic Country) & Leo Lombard (Allies)

>> Remember the Names: AFL U18 National Championships MVPs

ALLIES

MVP: Leo Lombard (Suns Academy/Queensland)
RECORD: 4th | 1-3 | 96.6%

RESULTS:

def. by South Australia 11.9 (75) to 13.9 (87)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. Western Australia 10.10 (70) to 7.8 (50)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Vic Metro 6.15 (51) to 9.13 (67)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Vic Country 14.4 (88) to 13.12 (90)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

HOW IT HAPPENED:

The Allies usually shake out the cobwebs in game one before a strong second outing and that’s exactly what happened this year. A promising first outing saw them go down by 12 points on the road to SA, before recovering to run out a 20-point better side against WA. Eventual champions Vic Metro then turned the tables to finish strongly and hand the Allies their second defeat. A third competitive loss came at the hands of Vic Country, by a mere two points, after kicking the first four goals of the game. Fittingly, MVP and Larke Medallist Leo Lombard kicked the final goal just before full time.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

MVP: Ben Camporeale (Glenelg)
RECORD: 5th | 1-3 | 69.6%

RESULTS:

def. Allies 13.9 (87) to 11.9 (75)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Vic Country 11.13 (79) to 13.9 (87)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Western Australia 6.12 (48) to 17.7 (109)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Vic Metro 7.7 (49) to 15.11 (101)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

HOW IT HAPPENED:

SA started its carnival in ideal fashion, holding strong in an enthralling opener against the Allies to win by 12 points. Both sides had the ascendancy at different stages but the home side got on top when it mattered at Thebarton Oval. The Croweaters had another close encounter next time out, and despite again finishing with a flurry, fell eight points short of Vic Country on the road. Things began to unravel from there, with a pair of heavy losses at Alberton Oval making for a 1-3 record. While comprehensively beaten for four quarters by WA, the Croweaters only wilted after half time against Vic Metro.

VIC COUNTRY

MVP: Harvey Langford (Dandenong Stingrays)
RECORD: 2nd | 3-1 | 106.3%

RESULTS:

def. South Australia 13.9 (87) to 11.13 (79)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. Western Australia 11.11 (77) to 9.12 (66)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. Allies 13.12 (90) to 14.4 (88)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Vic Metro 13.6 (84) to 12.13 (85)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Vic Country had one hand on the title after full time of their decider against Vic Metro, only to have the cup cruelly snatched away. The Vics were otherwise flawless across a quartet of closely contested games, with each decided by no more than 11 points. The held firm against late rallies to beat SA, WA, and the Allies, though led by over four goals against the former pair. Conversely, the Allies had them pinned after kicking the first four goals, and the Vic Metro game was a see-sawing affair.

VIC METRO

MVP: Murphy Reid (Sandringham Dragons)
RECORD: 1st | 4-0 | 139.7%

RESULTS:

def. Allies 9.13 (67) to 6.15 (51)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. Western Australia 15.16 (106) to 10.13 (73)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. South Australia 15.11 (101) to 7.7 (49)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. Vic Country 12.13 (85) to 13.6 (84)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Vic Metro went unbeaten to take out this year’s title – their second gong in three years. This one happened in dramatic fashion, with Luke Trainor kicking a goal after the siren to beat rivals Vic Country in the final game of the championships. The Vics were fresh off dismantling SA to the tune of 52 points, but had to fight to overrun WA before that. Metro’s run to the title began with a 16-point win over the Allies in dour conditions, which set the side up nicely to attack their consecutive away legs with vigour.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

MVP: Jaxon Artemis (South Fremantle)
RECORD: 3rd | 1-3 | 101.0%

RESULTS:

def. by Allies 7.8 (50) to 10.10 (70)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. South Australia 17.7 (109) to 6.12 (48)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Vic Metro 10.13 (73) to 15.16 (106)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

def. by Vic Country 9.12 (66) to 11.11 (77)
Match Report | Scouting Notes

HOW IT HAPPENED:

Western Australia came into the championships with a point to prove and firmly made it across four competitive outings. A 33-point loss to the eventual title-winners at home was not without highlights for the Sandgropers, and ended up being their heaviest defeat. The clear highlight was WA’s thumping road win over South Australia, which proved great reward for the side’s overall effort. The Black Swans had their chances in the final quarter against Vic Country too, which was a strong final outing at home.