SOUTH Australia firmed its grip on pole position in the National Championships title race after trouncing Vic Metro by 61 points at Alberton Oval on Sunday. The Croweaters poured on 13 goals to two after quarter time against a Metro side which couldn’t find its radar, nor a way forward.

The 48-26 inside 50 count tells the story of South Australia’s territorial dominance on home turf, even after conceding a deficit at the first break. The result sees SA move to 2-0 in the series after knocking off the Allies last week, while the reigning champions start their defence at 0-1.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.2 | 7.5 | 11.8 | 15.10 (100)
VICTORIA METRO 3.3 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 5.9 (39)

GOALS:
South Australia: A. Schubert 3, S. Cumming 2, Z. Peucker 2, D. Sharp 2, H. Barker, M. Marsh, C. Nairn, J. Nye, J. Reichelt, N. Roberts-Thomson
Vic Metro: X. Bamert, L. Dovaston, O. Greeves, Z. McCarthy, J. Saxena

BEST:
South Australia: D. Sharp, A. Schubert, Z. Peucker, M. LeRay, L. Kellaway, S. Cumming
Vic Metro: O. Greeves, S. Grlj, C. Duff-Tytler, X. Taylor, J. Ison

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#7 Louis Kellaway (Sturt)
Midfielder/Defender | 180cm | 16/03/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Richmond F/S

Kellaway stood up to the level of representative football with his uncompromising style and willingness to move the ball on quickly. He competed hard and held his own physically against bigger opponents, often helping win the ball back for his side. That included a couple of gutsy marks as he rotated to defence, where he looked to change angles with sharp short kicks.

#11 Zane Peucker (Woodville-West Torrens)
Small Forward | 180cm | 04/12/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals

Peucker was a surprise packet on Sunday, popping up with a couple of the game’s best highlights. He powered through congestion to kick the opening goal and showed similar explosiveness to burst inside 50 and assist Dyson Sharp later in term one. Peucker was full of energy and intent, hunting the ground level ball and proving difficult to contain with his core strength and speed. He got into good crumbing positions and was willing to compete in the air, even against three opponents like he did in the third quarter. He booted a second goal in the same term to maintain SA’s scoring rage.

#16 Sam Cumming (North Adelaide)
Midfielder/Forward | 186cm | 27/07/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

After a steady performance in game one, Cumming found his feet in a typically hard-working outing. Starting in midfield, he showed good desperation to compete for ground balls and didn’t mind getting his hands dirty in the wet. The North Adelaide prospect was also sure to impact up forward with two goals in the second quarter, kicked within five minutes of each other. His scores helped propel South Australia into the lead and his effort around the contest set a strong tone.

#24 Harley Barker (Sturt)
Wing | 187cm | 02/05/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

A constant outlet in the expanses of Alberton Oval, Barker drove his side into attack and was a key connection piece throughout the day. Of his 13 possessions, 11 were uncontested and he used his athletic gifts to try and take metres with each of them. Barker showcased his leap and ability overhead to take five marks, also proving fleet-footed to either close in on the ball or dart his way out of tight spots. His array of traits are pretty undeniable as a specialist wingman.

#25 Matthew LeRay (Central District)
Wing | 189cm | 22/02/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 5 inside 50s

LeRay connected the lines for South Australia all day, running hard on the outside and often possessing the ball in dangerous positions to launch inside 50. His work rate was particularly noticeable in attacking phases, as he burnt off his opponent while streaming forward to join the play as one final link in the chain. LeRay’s delivery by foot included a couple of nice inboard passes to set up scoring opportunities, though he can become more consistent in that area.

#26 Mitchell Marsh (West Adelaide)
Tall Forward | 191cm | 15/02/2007

Stats: 7 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal, 3 behinds

Fresh off a four-goal performance, Marsh could well have had as many in this game if not for inaccurate conversion. He was dangerous as usual inside 50, proving hard to contain with his movement and aerial ability. The high-flyer’s best moment came in term two as he rose for a terrific pack mark in the goalsquare, and after pulling up sore, kicked his only goal. Marsh’s ability to read the ball and launch at it are eye-catching traits, though his finishing can be erratic in open play.

#29 Dyson Sharp (Central District)
Midfielder/Forward | 187cm | 23/05/2007

Stats: 32 disposals, 6 clearances, 11 inside 50s, 2 goals

South Australia’s skipper led from the front in a best afield performance. With intermittent rain in Alberton, the conditions suited Sharp’s crash-and-bash style perfectly as he threw himself into every contest and dominated the stoppages. He won four of his six clearances at the centre bounces, helping drive SA’s plus-seven advantage in that area. Sharp was largely one-touch and no-frills in his approach, but that meant he was also prone to hack kicks and turnovers by foot, running at 53 per cent efficiency. Still, Sharp’s outstanding work rate on the spread complimented his contested work, booting two goals to round out a very strong performance.

#31 Noah Daw (Norwood)
Tall Defender | 192cm | 13/07/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 3 inside 50s

South Australia may have owned the field tilt but still required a strong defensive setup, and Daw help sustain it. The Norwood tall was solid as ever on the intercept, holding his own in one-on-one situations and creating turnovers high up the ground. His strength helped SA lock the ball in their attacking half, repelling Vic Metro’s limited attacks with minimal fuss. Reliable.

#37 Aidan Schubert (Central District)
Key Forward/Ruck | 198cm | 21/12/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 7 marks, 9 hitouts, 3 goals

Schubert backed up his four-goal game against the Allies with three this time out, while proving just as dominant in the air. He was difficult to contain both inside 50 and up the ground, plucking the ball cleanly overhead or out in front on the lead. His rangy frame and reach made him hard to spoil in those situations, especially with the wealth of ball which came the way of SA’s forwards. Schubert’s bodywork was also sound and he competed well in the ruck. He generally finished his goalkicking opportunities over the mark but can improve his composure in open play attacks.

#40 Sam Ainsworth (Norwood)
Ruck | 198cm | 12/08/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 3 marks, 14 hitouts

Ainsworth has been a real find for South Australia this year and again impressed with a few nimble moments through the ruck. He seemed comfortable in possession, staying composed as play moved around him and navigating traffic before finding an exit disposal. His size helped break the packs open as the bigman was willing to follow up and compete after initial ruck contests. Ainsworth’s couple of clearances were noted in the stands as good play for a prospect his size.

VIC METRO:

#14 Sam Grlj (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder/Defender | 182cm | 26/07/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 16 handballs, 2 rebound 50s

While unable to venture on countless slaloming runs as he is used to, Grlj showcased some of the explosiveness and speed which has him pegged as a top 10 bolter. The powerful midfielder remained tough to catch in the conditions, using his quick feet to step into space and showing great awareness of where the pressure would come once he took possession. While he slipped a few tackles and attempted to chain forward by hand, South Australia’s pressure and suffocated some of Grlj’s more expansive work through the middle and on his rotation to defence.

#21 Jack Ison (Oakleigh Chargers)
Forward | 190cm | 26/03/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Carlton NGA

While many others struggled to handle and deliver the wet pill on Sunday, Ison showed a high amount of class in both facets. The smooth moving utility directly assisted three of Metro’s five goals, including two in the opening quarter where he perfectly identified and weighted his kicks inside 50. The left-footer’s composure and execution ensured his side would be in position to make the most of limited forward 50 entries, though conversion was a major setback at times.

#23 Xavier Taylor (Eastern Ranges)
Tall Defender | 191cm | 30/01/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

It was a tough day to be a Vic Metro defender, but Taylor tried until the end to spare his side’s blushes. Once he adjusted to the speed and pressure of the contest, he became cleaner in his intercept work and more assured on the rebound. Most of the tall Metro backs had trouble dealing with South Australia’s 48 forward 50 entries, but Taylor could be seen competing bravely in the air and worked hard to rectify any mistakes, including a terrific rundown effort in the third quarter.

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

Stats: 27 disposals, 6 marks, 5 clearances, 1 goal

Greeves was quite comfortably Vic Metro’s best in a tough loss and even lifted while his side was well beaten after half time. He impacted in all thirds of the ground; winning a team-high five clearances through the middle, dropping back to help distribute the ball on counter-attacks, and rotating forward for a first quarter goal over the back. His handling and distribution were generally clean by hand and foot, biting off some risky options and tackling hard to compound his impact.

#34 Cooper Duff-Tytler (Calder Cannons)
Ruck | 200cm | 22/08/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 6 tackles, 21 hitouts, 4 clearances

It was a mixed day for the pick one contender, who showed some of the traits which have him so highly regarded, but also struggled in other facets. He covered the ground well to drop back and impact aerially inside defensive 50, setting himself nicely to intercept without holding all his marks. His ability to stay involved at the contest and evade opponents to move into space was impressive as usual, though Duff-Tytler’s kicking invited pressure and led to some turnovers. He was still comfortably among Vic Metro’s best and did all the right things without always getting reward.