QUEENSLAND claimed a 20-point win over Vic Metro in their Under 17 Futures bout on Saturday, with four unanswered third quarter goals proving the difference. The Maroons also forged a four-goal head start in term one and made the better of equal scoring shots to salute 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60).

Despite being dominated throughout stages of the match, Vic Metro finished strongly to win the final quarter with four goals to two. Queensland’s structure and slick ball movement in transition consistently proved an irresistible force though, as the state’s promising top-end talent shone brightly.

VIC METRO 2.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 8.12 (60)
QUEENSLAND 4.3 | 6.5 | 10.7 | 12.8 (80)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: H. El Achkar 2, C. Duff-Tytler 2, J. Ison, T. McGuane, L. Dovaston, N. Canavan
Queensland: C. Collins 2, M. Hoy, D. Annable, Z. Uwland, J. Chambers, K. Coulson, M. Iverach, R. Geesu, O. Tanks, J. Murray, J. Harris

RMC BEST:
Vic Metro: O. Greeves, H. El Achkar, S. Grlj, F. Kneipp, T. Gresham, J. Ison
Queensland: D. Annable, D. Patterson, B. Addinsall, K. Coulson, C. Collins, Z. Uwland

>> Scouting Notes: Vic Country vs. NSW/ACT U17s

VIC METRO:

#1 Tyson Gresham (Northern Knights)
Small Forward/Wing | 167cm | 21/06/2007

Gresham started out in his usual high forward role before being shifted up to the wing, keeping busy between both roles. His work rate and running patterns up the ground allowed him to get involved in the game, helping Metro to connect the lines and applying great tackle pressure. The Carlton Next Generation Academy (NGA) prospect punched above his weight in that sense and wore contact well considering he was the smallest player afield. Tyson the brother of Essendon’s Jade Gresham.

#2 Hussien El Achkar (Calder Cannons)
Small Forward/Midfielder | 171cm | 04/02/2007

Another NGA member, out of Essendon’s program, El Achkar stopped the rot of Queensland’s early scoring with Metro’s first goal. His energy and forward 50 craft helped open up scoring avenues for his side, even if he had to go alone. He ended with two majors in the opening half – from a tight set shot and shrewd snap – before getting a run at the centre bounces thereafter. There, he maintained his attacking flair with speedy bursts and assisted others with good instincts inside 50.

#6 Felix Kneipp (Calder Cannons)
Midfielder | 177cm | 01/12/2007

Among the handy small brigade in Vic Metro colours, Kneipp displayed a sharp turn of speed around the contest and an innate ability to find the footy. The Calder Cannons midfielder proved hard to tie down and was quite balanced when exiting the contest, able to find pockets of space and dart kicks away. His run and energy on the outside were also valuable as Vic Metro looked to transition play.

#11 Sam Grlj (Oakleigh Chargers)
Defender/Midfielder | 182cm | 26/06/2007

Grlj injected great amounts of energy to the game with his willingness to carry the ball and take it on with his pace. He set off immediately on numerous occasions and attacked the corridor when positioned behind the ball, before eventually getting a run in midfield. He was a little more subdued after a strong first half but is certainly capable of producing eye-catching moments.

#19 Andrew Barker (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 189cm | 18/06/2007

Barker has been a mainstay for Eastern Ranges this season, playing all 14 games, and was duly recognised for his solid form down back with representative selection. The tall defender started brightly with some terrific intercept marks. He fared well under long and high entries, but also made an impact off the back shoulder of Queensland’s forwards and worked to distribute the ball calmly.

#22 Jack Ison (Oakleigh Chargers)
Wing | 189cm | 26/02/2007

Ison made an impact at either end of the ground off the wing, tracking into both 50m arcs prolifically. The Carlton NGA prospect got on the board with a goal in the first quarter, but was most often sighted working deep into the defensive half where he helped Vic Metro absorb pressure. His height and reading of the play allowed him to take relieving intercept marks on the last line.

#24 Oliver Greeves (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder | 191cm | 02/07/2007

Greeves looked a class above at times, doing his best work through midfield with strong contested craft and elite ball use. The tall midfielder’s kicking was a particular highlight in Vic Metro’s attacks, as he hit targets with greater ease than others through a combination of composure, decision making, and execution. Greeves also impacted on his forward rotation and was difficult to beat one-on-one, consistently winning the ball without sight of a fumble in open play.

#28 Cooper Duff-Tytler (Calder Cannons)
Key Forward | 199cm | 22/08/2007

It was a tough day to play forward for Vic Metro, though Duff-Tytler grabbed his moments during the final quarter with two of his side’s five goals. The highly touted tall showcased his mobility by staying with the play and recovering ground balls to manufacture his scoring opportunities. He also impacted aerially with a couple of strong marks to help lock the ball into Vic Metro’s attacking 50.

QUEENSLAND:

#3 Raphael Geesu (Lions Academy)
Small Forward | 172cm | 23/07/2007

Geesu is a clever forward with enormous talent and while he may not always stuff the stats sheet, is capable of producing great moments. He provided a useful link up the ground for Queensland to connect into attacking 50, using his speed to get separation on his opponent before wheeling around back to goal. Geesu had arguably his best patch in the third quarter, hitting the scoreboard and getting involved in other scores with his speed and creativity.

#4 Benjamin Lillico (Lions Academy)
Small Forward/Midfielder | 176cm | 12/05/2007

Lillico was utilised in a few different roles, featuring in the starting on-ball mix before rotating forward and also spending time on the wing. Along with Geesu, he was a useful link player between the lines and used the ball well on his favoured left foot. The Lions Academy prospect’s slick skills and ability to stay upright made him a good player to have possession going forward.

#8 Zeke Uwland (Suns Academy)
Small Defender | 178cm | 24/04/2007

Uwland went about his usual business on Saturday, racking up the ball and having several moments of class. He spent the day down back but snuck forward to slam home a goal in typically assured fashion during the first quarter. Otherwise, Uwland adopted a high line and looked to pounce any time possession changed hands, providing plenty of run and elite decision making in transition.

#13 Dylan Patterson (Suns Academy)
Wing | 183cm | 01/09/2007

Patterson had an electric game rotating between the inside and outside of Queensland’s midfield. His pace was a real feature, as the Suns Academy star constantly took the game on and showed his opponents a clean set of cleats. Whether accelerating away in straight lines or side-stepping those in front of him, Patterson was near-impossible to catch. Even when he looked like being tackled, his power and one-touch handling off the deck brought him extra time to break clear.

#18 Beau Addinsall (Suns Academy)
Midfielder | 180cm | 09/03/2007

Addinsall was at his industrious best on Saturday, winning plenty of inside ball and gliding from contest to contest. He was a mainstay in midfield and used his speed to find clean stoppage exits, otherwise clearing the ball long with decent kick penetration off only a few steps. That sort of play seldom allowed his ball use to shine, but Addinsall began to carry and connect more in the second half to compliment his consistent extraction work.

#20 Daniel Annable (Lions Academy)
Midfielder | 185cm | 05/04/2007

Annable is a renowned contested ball winner but dominated Saturday’s proceedings with his work rate and sheer accumulation factor. The Lions Academy standout started on-ball but had stints on the wing, showcasing a handy balance of traits in either role. His clean hands and quick thinking were useful in tight spots, while a strong running base saw him spread hard and find space in attacking phases. He was simply everywhere at times and hardly lost a contest.

#21 Cooper Collins (Suns Academy)
Forward | 183cm | 13/11/2007

Collins was a constant threat inside Queensland’s attacking 50, benefitting from the class of his side’s midfielders but also working hard to find space close to goal. The left-footed forward had a wealth of scoring chances throughout the day, booting majors in the second and fourth quarters – both from set shots – to go with several other opportunities over the mark. Collins slotted the sealer and offered great physical presence, hunting the opposition and holding his own as a target.

#23 Koby Coulson (Suns Academy)
Midfielder | 178cm | 31/07/2007

Coulson was somewhat of a surprise packet amongst Queensland’s highly touted midfield group. He popped up time and time again throughout the match, working hard into dangerous spaces across the forward half to carve up Vic Metro on the spread. He snared a goal out the back in term two and while effective in space, was also powerful enough to step opponents or break tackles.