WESTERN Australia rounds out its Under 18 National Championships campaign as Vic Metro comes to town for a clash at East Fremantle Oval tomorrow. The Black Swans will be hunting their second win in game four, while the Vics have a disappointing first appearance to make up for.

NEED TO KNOW

WHO: Western Australia vs. Vic Metro
WHEN: Sunday July 6, 12:00pm AWST
WHERE: East Fremantle Oval
WATCH: Live stream via AFL website & app

PREDICTED LINEUPS

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

B: 8. R. Rae-Anthonysz – 30. J. Hopkyns – 27. M. Becker
HB: 23. M. Thomas – 34. L. Carpenter – 24. J. Farrow
C: 28. T. Phillips – 7. T. Whan – 26. C. Banfield
HF: 3. T. Williams – 40. C. Curtin – 17. S. Swadling
F: 25. R. Luke – 33. B. Foster – 12. W. Walley
FOL: 38. B. van Rooyen – 6. H. Walker – 9. F. Rodriguez

INT: 1. W. York, 10. B. Kelly, 11. D. Sutherland, 15. L. Hallett, 35. L. Robinson

IN: B. Foster, L. Robinson
OUT: H. Mellody, C. Watson

A pair of South Fremantle prospects enter the equation for Western Australia this week. Both are bottom-age train-ons, namely 195cm ruck-forward Byron Foster and 189cm big-bodied midfielder Lucas Robinson. The latter was WA’s captain and MVP at last year’s Under 16 National Championships. Foster replaces Claremont key forward Charlie Watson, while Robinson comes in for wingman Heath Mellody.

VIC METRO:

B: 16. A. Sharkie – 29. J. Marron – 26. A. Barker
HB: 10. T. Burton – 23 X. Taylor – 18. K. Fincher
C: 7. J. Dalton – 27. O. Greeves – 8. T. McGuane
HF: 11. J. Saxena – 35. L. Emmett – 21. J. Ison
F: 2. H. El Achkar – 32. A. Ludowyke – 5. L. Dovaston
FOL: 34. C. Duff-Tytler – 14. S. Grlj – 17. R. Wright

INT: 3. A. Sweid, 19. X. Bamert, 20. H. Holmes, 22. M. Kondogiannis, 33. Z. McCarthy

IN: J. Dalton, L. Emmett
OUT: A. Butler, T. Gresham

Two big inclusions bolster Vic Metro’s lineup for the trip to WA. Title-winning Under 16 captain and MVP from 2023, Jack Dalton is among them. He’ll either slot into the midfield rotation or provide running power as a wingman and high forward. National Academy ruck Louis Emmett adds support in the tall stock, set to provide chop-outs to mainline ruck Cooper Duff-Tytler and spearhead forward Archie Ludowyke. Mercurial bottom-ager Arki Butler makes way alongside top-age scrapper Tyson Gresham.

ONES TO WATCH

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

Jacob Farrow (West Perth)
Defender/Midfielder | 188cm | 21/09/2007

Rising to become potentially Western Australia’s top prospect, Farrow put together the pieces in a strong performance last week. He was trialled through midfield early in the carnival but has since been much more settled down back, where he can showcase his penetrative kicking and powerful running on the rebound. Also a capable interceptor in the air, expect Farrow to continue his ascent up draft boards.

Lucas Robinson (South Fremantle)
Midfielder | 188cm | 13/02/2008

Robinson is an genuine gun in the bottom-age category and made a name for himself as state MVP at last year’s Under 16 National Championships. The big-bodied ball winner uses his size to advantage and should hardly be overawed at the contest. He’s one for Fremantle fans to keep an eye on as a Next Generation Academy member who has grown up in the same region as Dockers champion Nat Fyfe.

Tylah Williams (Swan Districts)
Small Forward | 175cm | 22/02/2007

Williams is as lively as they come and remains one of Western Australia’s key connection pieces in attack. His ability to work up the ground is complimented by speed and creative ball use on the way back to goal. The West Coast Next Generation Academy prospect may be small but packs a punch and has been able to impact in exciting spurts throughout each game. Expect more of the same in game four.

VIC METRO:

Jack Dalton (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder | 177cm | 05/04/2007

After making an emphatic return from injury in the Coates Talent League, and continuing his form in the APS competition, Dalton was a lock for his Metro Under 18 debut. In 2023 he led the Big V to a national Under 16 title and will be a key player once again with his unmatched running ability. Whether out on the wing, through the middle, or even as a high forward, he runs great patterns and can rack up the ball.

Louis Emmett (Oakleigh Chargers)
Ruck/Key Forward | 199cm | 23/03/2007

Another inclusion to the side after the lacklustre defeat in game one, Emmett offers terrific support in the tall department. Ludowyke was in need of support down back and Duff-Tytler will have a weight off his shoulders with Emmett and Zac McCarthy able to provide a chop-out. He returned in good nick for Oakleigh, showing renewed competitiveness aerially and covering the ground like a fourth midfielder.

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

Greeves was a shining light in midfield during Metro’s heavy game one defeat, and will again be the go-to at stoppages. At 191cm, his presence can be felt in he clinches, but he’s also a dynamic runner during attacking transitions and loves to get free on turnovers. Expect his long, rangy kicking to also be a feature as he leads the Metro midfield, which has class but arguably underperformed last time out.

WHERE IT’S WON

Vic Metro is a side which is well placed to test some of WA’s sore points, though the Sandgropers have had two more competitive games together. Both sides lay claim to dangerous medium and small forwards, though Metro can get the upper hand with its deep ruck-forward rotation. WA has a strong starting midfield core, but will be tested by the Vics’ quality and depth in that department.

PREDICTION

The travel factor will likely see Western Australia make a stronger start, particularly with a couple more games under their belt than the visitors. Although, Vic Metro will be keen to atone for a disappointing first outing and have been bolstered by two quality inclusions. Over four quarters, they may just have the edge. Two of WA’s three games have been decided by under a kick – Vic Metro by 5.