IT IS not often the two teams holding the last three AFLW Under 18 Championships trophies face off in the first round of the following national carnival, but that was exactly the case yesterday when reigning champions Vic Metro narrowly survived a late South Australian fightback to win by four points at RSEA Park.

In a highly-defensive affair where scoring was difficult to come by, both teams – considered title contenders – went head-to-head throughout the contest. The Croweaters finished the game with a couple of sore players including Taya Maxwell who came off in the second term having played a key role through the ruck for the visitors. Instead, it was the even contribution of the Metro team – spearheaded by Chloe Bown who got the job done, 4.11 (35) to 4.7 (31).

Both teams have crafty forwards, but also dour defenders, which made converting easy chances near impossible. It took a miraculous goal from Eloise Mackereth from the pocket to get the scoring underway, though it would be more than 20 minutes before Zoe Vozzo put through her side’s first. The Eastern Ranges wing played permanent forward and kicked two goals with her first two possessions, seemingly the only one who easily found the big sticks.

Over the course of the first 60 minutes, Metro would kick 3.10 despite getting on top of the Croweaters in the inside 50s count and making up for their clearance differential. South Australia’s defence was incredible in forcing mistakes on goal from Metro, as bottom-ager Emily Mableson was a standout all game but particularly the first half, while Tessa Davis became the first player to keep Bailee Martin – who is averaging five goals per game at Coates Talent League Girls level – goalless, albeit with help from her teammates.

The winners just kept having the answers each time it looked like South Australia would claw its way back into the contest, with a controversial deliberate rushed behind – against Davis – called late in the third term which resulted in Vozzo’s second major. The Glenelg defender continued to argue her case after pointing out the pressure within nine metres was there, though the argument was she had time to dispose of the ball prior to the pressure arriving.

Regardless, the goal was paid and when Martin let fly with a brilliant snap on goal the Metro crowd was up and about believing they had gone 17 points up with a quarter to play. Instead the roar blocked out the umpire’s “touched” call coming off the boot despite it bouncing through. When Lucy Moore slammed home the first of the fourth term, the belief was high amongst the Croweaters.

Even when Vozzo kicked her third from a nice snap, South Australia did not give up. A second captain’s goal from Imogen Trengove cut the deficit back to four points with 90 seconds on the clock. Unfortunately for the visitors though, they would run out of time and Vic Metro would cling to the narrowest of wins in a low-scoring tussle.

Bown finished with an incredible 27 disposals, three marks, 11 tackles, five clearances, 10 inside 50s and four rebound 50s in the win, while Trengove (26 disposals, three marks, four tackles, four inside 50s and two goals) was clearly amongst the Croweaters’ best with Mableson (18 disposals, eight tackles, three clearances and six rebound 50s), Emma Charlton (31 disposals, five tackles, eight clearances and three inside 50s) and Lucy Waye (25 disposals, four marks, eight tackles, six clearances and four inside 50s).

Metro had no shortage of contributors, with Vozzo’s three majors from seven disposals a point of difference in attack, while Northern Knights’ Olivia Jesser kicked the other. Tayla McMillan and Olivia Gorman were busy around the ball, while Scarlett Johnson fantastic season as a wing/defender continued in the ‘Big V’. Not often among the highest disposal winners, Chargers’ defender Zara Neuwirth was made to be proactive and finished with 14 disposals, five tackles and five inside 50s.

South Australia has a week to bounce back when it takes on fellow first round losers Western Australia to stay in title contention. Vic Metro also face the Sandgropers, but a week later – also in Perth – on Sunday, July 6.

VIC METRO 0.4 | 2.5 | 3.10 | 4.11 (35)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1.1 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 4.7 (31)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: Z. Vozzo 3, O. Jesser
South Australia: I. Trengove 2, L. Moore, E. Mackereth

RMC BEST:
Vic Metro: C. Bown, S. Johnson, Z. Neuwirth, T. McMillan, A. Fearn-Wannan
South Australia: I. Trengove, E. Charlton, L, Waye, E. Mableson, T. Davis