VIC METRO has snapped South Australia’s stranglehold on the AFL Women’s Under 18s titles, winning the state’s first trophy since 2019. The Croweaters had won back-to-back flags in 2022 and 2023 with no tournament held in 2020 and 2021, but Metro proved the better side at RSEA Park today coming away with a 21-point victory, 9.4 (58) to 5.7 (37).

In perfect conditions at Moorabbin, Vic Metro started in a blaze of glory, booting the first three goals of the game in 14 minutes before South Australia had even registered a score. Emma McDonald, Georgia Knight and Stasia Stevenson all converted majors to get the home crowd up and about, before the visitors – who had more inside 50s in the opening term – kicked a couple of late behinds to make it a 16-point deficit at the main break.

Incredibly, South Australia did not get within 14 points of Metro after that, with Grace Belloni adding her name to the scorers list in the second term. It took until an Asha Dufour running goal to get SA on the board, but that was immediately countered by Knight’s second goal from straight out of the middle on the edge of half-time.

Despite Metro lead 5.0 to 1.4 at the main break, credit had to go to the defenders, in particular Lou-Lou Field and Sienna Tallariti with the former having 11 disposals and five marks in the first quarter alone. The best on in the first half, and across all the four quarters was Sierra Grieves though who amassed 15 disposals to the main break.

For the Croweaters, it was India Rasheed and Laela Ebert who were holding their own around the stoppages, while the defensive work of Esther Schirmer to shutdown the incredibly dangerous Georgie Brisbane was a huge credit to her as well.

Unfortunately for the two-time champions despite kicking the first through Georgia McKee just over a minute into the second half, Metro would kick the last two goals of the quarter and only extend the lead, going out to 27 points with a quarter to play. It was fitting that Grieves got her name on the goalkickers list via a 45m finish, and then Abbey Vicino all but sealed the result with a classy running goal.

South Australia’s hopes of an unlikely comeback were dashed when Sophie McKay – who played forward in the last quarter – iced the game early. The Croweaters would respond through bottom-age talents Sophie Eaton and Monique Bessen, but another immediate response from Knight as had been the case on the edge of half-time put any thought of a comeback to bed.

Charlotte Riggs who add another major to the South Australian’s final total, but it was a mere consolation major as Vic Metro would come away with the ultra-impressive 21-point win. The Croweaters outscored Metro by a goal in the last term, but the better – and crucially more accurate – team on the day had won.

Without a doubt Grieves was best on ground, racking up a match high 28 disposals and eight clearances – 13 and six respectively came in the second half – as well as five marks, four inside 50s, five rebound 50s and a goal. She also earned MVP honours for her state after a wonderful carnival. Belloni and Sarah Poustie were rock solid through midfield with the former also spending time inside 50, while Field and Tallariti were strong behind the ball. Scout Howden also stepped up with some hard running.

For South Australia, once Grace Martin moved into the middle, the Eagles youngster put a two-disposal first half behind her to rack up 18 touches in the second half – the most on the ground – to finish with 20, as well as three marks, two tackles, two clearances, four inside 50s and three rebound 50s.

Ebert was her state’s best with 25 disposals, five clearances, five tackles and four inside 50s, while Rasheed, Dufour and bottom-age inclusion Imogen Trengove were also very good. Schirmer did a huge job in defence, while Lucy Boyd quelled McDonald’s usual aerial dominance.

VIC METRO 3.0 | 5.0 | 7.2 | 9.4 (58)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 0.2 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 5.7 (37)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: G. Knight 3, G. Belloni, S. Grieves, E. McDonald, S. McKay, S. Stevenson, A. Vicino
South Australia: A. Dufour, G. McKee, S. Eaton, M. Bessen

RMC BEST:
Vic Metro: S. Grieves, L. Field, S. Poustie, S. Tallariti, G. Belloni
South Australia: L. Ebert, E. Schirmer, I. Rasheed, I. Trengove, A. Dufour