THE ALLIES will complete their Under 18 National Championships campaign on Sunday when they host Vic Metro at Brighton Homes Arena. Both sides went down to South Australia but boast wins against Western Australia, so will be keen to add to their tallies in the dead rubber tie in Brisbane.

NEED TO KNOW

WHO: Allies vs. Vic Metro
WHEN: Sunday July 13, 10:30am AEST
WHERE: Brighton Homes Arena
WATCH: Live stream via AFL website & app

PREDICTED LINEUPS

ALLIES:

B: 19. H. Wilson – 38. K. White – 33. A. Thomas
HB: 10. L. Carmichael – 21. C. Nancarrow – 14. C. Murray
C: 7. D. Patterson – 8. K. Coulson – 32. H. Kyle
HF: 26. C. Collins – 41. T. Murray – 30. N. Chamberlain
F: 4. J. Miller – 40. I. Waller – 28. R. Hamilton
FOL: 43. J. Harris – 6. T. Prindable – 20. D. Annable

INT: 11. K. McNamara, 12. B. Kane, 25. G. Turner, 27. T. Callow, 29. R. Corrigan

IN: T. Callow, J. Harris, K. McNamara, C. Murray, G. Turner
OUT: M. King (illness), J. Houston, E. Matthews, T. McMillan, L. Wootton (all rotated)

The Allies have made only one forced change among five overall, with star prospect Max King out through illness. Tall depth has been called upon in the form of Suns Academy ruck Jonah Harris, who boasts VFL experience. His inclusion will likely force a shuffle in the key position department. Usual defenders Toby Callow, Kaiden McNamara, and Grady Turner will also earn another shot in the Allies guernsey, while Lions Academy bottom-ager Caylen Murray will make his debut.

VIC METRO:

B: 24. F. Davis – 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: 1. T. Gresham – 35. L. Emmett – 30. O. Ainsworth
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: O. Ainsworth, F. Davis, T. Gresham
OUT: J. Ison, J. Saxena, A. Sharkie (all rotated)

Three Oakleigh Chargers – two tied to AFL clubs – make way for Vic Metro’s third match. A pair of Western Jets debutants will look to impress at either end of the ground, with Finn Davis and Oskar Ainsworth rewarded for their Coates Talent League form. Similarly, Northern Knights co-captain Tyson Gresham has been recalled after a three-goal game. He’s part of Carlton’s Next Generation Academy.

KEEP AN EYE ON…

ALLIES:

Lachlan Carmichael (Swans Academy)
Defender | 183cm | 27/08/2007

Carmichael is well on track for All-Australian selection having hit top form throughout the Championships, and was simply outstanding last time out. He will look to cap off a strong campaign with more of the same prolific rebounding and assured ball use across the Allies’ defensive half. Having earned midfield minutes against Vic Country, perhaps more of the same is also in the offing.

Koby Coulson (Suns Academy)
Midfielder | 180cm | 31/07/2007

Another of the Allies’ most reliable performers, Coulson’s work rate and hardness at the contest are integral traits through the middle of the ground. He is often sighted emerging from the bottom of packs or surging forward in bustling fashion, finishing off with a long kick into attack. The Suns Academy member also applies himself defensively and will have to do so against some classy Metro opponents.

Caylen Murray (Lions Academy)
Defender/Midfielder | 183cm | 03/01/2008

Murray will become just the second bottom-ager used by the Allies this year, essentially as a straight swap for the first – Ethan Matthews. The Lions Academy member recently made his VFL debut and is a classy operator, able to carve up the opposition with his speed and precise ball use. Expect to see the 2026 prospect employed either across half-back or up on the wing, easing into representative football.

VIC METRO:

Oskar Ainsworth (Western Jets)
Forward/Midfielder | 186cm | 26/04/2007

Ainsworth was added to the Vic Metro squad before last week’s game and earns his chance after a second five-goal haul in three Western Jets appearances. The powerful prospect has the makings of a natural forward, but can also pinch-hit in midfield with his clean hands and booming left boot. Ainsworth has family ties to the top level, with his late grandfather Geoff a 135-game player and captain at Geelong.

Finn Davis (Western Jets)
Defender | 188cm | 21/01/2007

Along with Ainsworth, Davis has been banging down the door of representative selection at Coates Talent League level. He has averaged 27.7 disposals and 6.4 marks across seven games this season and finally makes the step off the back of 30 touches, nine marks and a goal. He plays above his 188cm standing with impressive overhead marking, and carries the ball aggressively on counterattacks.

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

Grlj is a prospect who shot into top 10 calculations earlier this year on the back of promising form, but has just been bubbling away at representative level. His sheer speed and explosiveness threaten to blow any game apart, and after a steady start in the ‘Big V’ guernsey, perhaps now is when he truly does so. Along with frontline midfielder Oliver Greeves, expect him to make some daring plays on the attack.

WHERE IT’S WON

Vic Metro boasts a great blend of speed and running power throughout the squad, particularly from defence and on both sides of midfield. Their key forward/ruck rotation promises to take advantage of that, with Metro capable of quick end-to-end transitions. The Allies have countered that threat with a top-up of taller defenders capable of strong intercepts. They also have great versatility around the square and dogged midfielders who are perhaps more willing to defend across four quarters.

PREDICTION

The travel factor was quashed by Vic Metro last week as they conquered Western Australia in East Fremantle, so the trip up to Queensland is tough but doable. In their final game, the Allies will be hungry for team and individual success before bowing out of the spotlight, and tend to come together nicely towards the end of the series. After a strong bounceback game, Metro by 10.