A FIVE-GOAL burst during the third term has seen NSW/ACT defeat Vic Country in their Under 17 Futures clash on Saturday. The Rams saluted by 23 points at Avalon Airport Oval, spearheaded by Liam Hetherton who bagged five goals overall and three consecutively in the premiership quarter.

Things weren’t always in the visitors’ favour though, as they trailed by narrow margins at the first two breaks. The low-scoring slog opened up on the back of NSW/ACT’s scintillating purple patch, which complimented a resolute defensive performance at the other end of the ground.

VIC COUNTRY 2.4 | 4.6 | 6.9 | 7.13 (55)
NSW/ACT 2.2 | 4.5 | 9.8 | 11.12 (78)

GOALS:
Vic Country: Z. O’Keefe, N. Marchant, T. Sinnema, C. Glenwright-McGuane, J. Scapin, T. Ah-Mu, J. Lindsay
NSW/ACT: L. Hetherton 5, R. Hansen 2, J. Warden 2, J. Houston, M. King

RMC BEST:
Vic Country: J. Lindsay, R. Hilliard, A. Taylor, J. Scapin, M. Stevens, T. Sinnema
NSW/ACT: L. Hetherton, R. Corrigan, L. Carmichael, M. King, N. Chamberlain, H. Wilson

VIC COUNTRY:

#1 Archie Taylor (GWV Rebels)
Defender/Midfielder | 178cm | 25/05/2007

It was no surprise to see Taylor go about his usual business racking up possessions as a prime distributor down back, but plenty of positives came from his second half midfield shift. The diminutive talent provided plenty of run and used the ball neatly by foot in the short-range. Taylor’s pace was dangerous when accelerating out of stoppages, doing his best work facing forward.

#5 Josh Lindsay (Geelong Falcons)
Defender/Wing | 182cm | 07/04/2007

Lindsay made a terrific start to proceedings and was a major factor in Vic Country’s ability to intercept high up the ground. He read the play well down back and peeled off to either thwart NSW/ACT attacks or provide impetus on the rebound. Lindsay’s agility and core strength made the him a threat when bursting forward, and he was strong overhead. He put the cherry atop a strong performance by slotting a classy snap goal in the final quarter.

#6 Toby Sinnema (Dandenong Stingrays)
Wing | 179cm | 11/12/2007

Sinnema had some typically electric moments in the first half, providing a spark to Vic Country’s attacks. The wingman backed his pace and could be seen launching long kicks inside 50, even fancying his chances within 55 metres of goal. He managed to stick one of his attempts from long-range in the second quarter, thanks to an unselfish shepherd from Tairon Ah-Mu in the goalsquare.

#10 Riley Hilliard (Dandenong Stingrays)
Wing/Defender | 186cm | 13/07/2007

Hilliard popped up as one of Vic Country’s most willing and effective players, first on the wing and then down back. The Dandenong Stingrays prospect was brave when soaring for overhead marks and provided aggressive outside run before compounding his metres gained with long kicks. Throw in some hard defensive efforts, and Hilliard’s game was full of intent going both ways.

#16 Jobe Scapin (Gippsland Power)
Defender/Forward | 187cm | 01/05/2007

One of the many versatile Vic Country talents, Scapin showed his wares at either end of the ground. Starting in defence, he took on some of the kick-in duties and used his dangerous kicking to distribute the ball from both deep and high positions. Scapin then made for a useful connection piece in the forward half, working up the line and even sneaking free inside 50 for a third term goal.

#18 Mitchell Stevens (Gippsland Power)
Defender | 184cm | 15/08/2007

Adelaide fans and recruiters alike will be watching Stevens closely, with the son of premiership Crow Mark tracking nicely. As he has done for Gippsland Power, Stevens plied his trade in defence where he offered a dual-threat of intercept and rebound play. He marked well overhead and worked into dangerous positions to overlap in transition, repeatedly attacking through the corridor.

NSW/ACT:

#1 Lachlan Carmichael (Swans Academy)
Defender | 182cm | 27/08/2007

One of two Allies representatives afield, Chamberlain took some time to build into the game but offered his usual output down back. The prolific rebounder looked most dangerous when working into space beyond defensive 50, offering an outlet on the overlap and launching attacks by foot. His ball use makes his ability to rack up possessions all the more damaging.

#10 Noah Chamberlain (Swans Academy)
Wing/Forward | 191cm | 21/03/2007

Chamberlain looms as one of next year’s most promising prospects, with his versatility pointing towards enormous upside at 191cm. He started out on the wing and displayed great touch for a tall player, using his vision to hit inboard targets by hand and foot. The Allies representative competed hard at ground level before getting to showcase his aerial ability up forward in the second half. There, he was a reliable target down the line and utilised his punchy left-foot kicking brilliantly.

#13 Harrison Wilson (Murray Bushrangers)
Defender | 187cm | 03/02/2007

Along with Carmichael, Wilson was one of NSW/ACT’s key playmakers in defence. He took on the bulk of kick-in duties and was not afraid to take metres before spreading the play with his use by foot. While he would have enjoyed racking up uncontested possessions, Wilson also showcased his ability to take intercept marks with a spring-heeled leap and was constantly on the move forward.

#14 Ryder Corrigan (Murray Bushrangers)
Midfielder | 187cm | 14/03/2007

Providing some extra height and size in the Rams’ midfield, Corrigan was a mainstay on-ball. He competed hard in-and-under and was willing to burst through tacklers, albeit if it effected his ability to distribute effectively by hand. On the outside, Corrigan backed his explosive speed and took the game on by foot, though could have been a touch sharper in front of goal having missed a pair of set shots. His all-round power game was capped off by a super pack mark in the fourth quarter.

#16 Max King (Swans Academy)
Utility | 191cm | 09/01/2007

Having not turned out for the Swans Academy this year, King made a triumphant return to the representative scene in state colours. The freakishly athletic prospect started up forward and took little time to get his aerial game going, taking a series of one-grab contested marks in the first half. He went on to have a run in midfield and featured on the wing after half time, where he covered the ground beautifully and navigated tight spots with rare agility for a player his size.

#24 Lenny Koller (Murray Bushrangers)
Key Defender | 195cm | 21/03/2007

Koller has enjoyed plenty of exposure in 10 Coates Talent League games for the Murray Bushrangers, and was the backbone of a talented NSW/ACT defence on Saturday. The tall talent showed he was not only capable of reading the play and intercepting in the air, but also decently nimble and a sound distributor on the rebound. He looms as a versatile prospect.

#25 Riley Hansen (Giants Academy)
Tall Forward | 191cm | 06/03/2007

Hansen worked nicely in tandem with fellow tall forward Liam Hetherton, providing a sound marking target and contributing to the scoreboard with two majors. The Giants Academy member displayed a strong set of hands either in packs or when holding front position, which led to his opportunities on goal. He could well have bagged three or four six-pointers, had he converted all his set shots.

#26 Liam Hetherton (Murray Bushrangers)
Key Forward | 194cm | 02/05/2007

Hetherton broke the game open with a terrific run of three consecutive goals during the third quarter. He also booted NSW/ACT’s only two majors of the second quarter in a pleasing feat of numerology, en route to five goals overall. He showed a great ability to pluck the ball at the top of his reach and converted well over the mark, barring a couple of attempts. Hetherton also displayed great dexterity for his fifth goal, recovering first after an aerial contest and snapping the ball home.