VIC METRO ensured the Allies would have a losing finish to their National Championships campaign, scoring a comfortable 42-point win at Brighton Homes Arena on Sunday. The visitors conceded a quarter time deficit but were otherwise ruthless in front of goal, running out 20.8 (128) to 13.8 (86) victors.

Six goals to one in the second quarter saw Metro hit the front and they never looked back, piling on another six and eight majors in the following two terms respectively. It was the smalls who did the damage, headlined by Essendon-tied pair Adam Sweid (four goals) and Hussien El Achkar (three).

The Allies’ series comes to a close with one win and three losses, having been battered by injuries pre and during the campaign. Meanwhile, Vic Metro moves to 2-1 after a second win on the bounce, with their clash against Vic Country at RSEA Park on Sunday to officially conclude the competition.

ALLIES 5.2 | 6.4 | 10.5 | 13.8 (86)
VIC METRO 4.2 | 10.4 | 16.4 | 20.8 (128)

GOALS:
Allies: K. McNamara 3, C. Collins 2, T. Prindable 2, D. Annable L. Carmichael, R. Hamilton, B. Kane, H. Kyle, J. Miller
Vic Metro: L. Dovaston 4, A. Sweid 4, H. El Achkar 3, T. Gresham 2, Z. McCarthy 2, O. Ainsworth, C. Duff-Tytler, J. Dalton, O. Greeves, H. Holmes

BEST:
Allies: K. McNamara, T. Prindable, D. Annable, L. Carmichael, D. Patterson, K. Coulson
Vic Metro: A. Sweid, L. Dovaston, O. Greeves, T. Gresham, H. El Achkar, X. Taylor

ALLIES:

#6 Tyan Prindable (Lions Academy/QLD)
Midfielder/Forward | 181cm | 25/01/2007

Stats: 21 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 inside 50s, 2 goals

Prindable was in the thick of the action on Sunday, starting brightly with two first quarter goals. The Lions Academy prospect made a happy knack of getting on the end of his side’s transitional waves, receiving the ball in full flight to carry it into dangerous launch zones. To compliment his work in the attacking phase, Prindable laid more tackles than any Allies player and was a reliable ball winner when his number was called. He was clean and played a balanced game.

#7 Dylan Patterson (Suns Academy/QLD)
Defender | 183cm | 01/09/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 9 rebound 50s

Patterson put more of his patented pace on show with several blistering runs out of defence. While he often invited pressure, he was among the only Allies who consistently took the game to Vic Metro with any sort of urgency. His ability to shift gears on the fly or side-step through traffic made for many incisive passages, though Patterson’s end product proved inconsistent with indifferent ball use by foot. He did the tough stuff too, overcoming a collision with the umpire in term two to go on and create one-percenters, making his physical presence felt.

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

Stats: 18 disposals, 3 clearances, 6 inside 50s

It was another typically hard-working display from Coulson, who generated plenty of forward momentum with his no-nonsense approach. The Suns Academy midfielder proved difficult to contain on the burst with his strong frame and driving legs. While his ball use was scrappy at times, Coulson sent the ball inside 50 a half-dozen times and was persistent in that department, going direct with repeat entries during term three. The performance capped off a consistent campaign.

#10 Lachlan Carmichael (Swans Academy/NSW)
Midfielder | 183cm | 27/08/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Having ran out last week’s game in midfield, Carmichael started at the centre bounces with a forward rotation. While he fumbled a few times at ground level, the Swans Academy star was strong over the ball and clean when moving it in handball chains. Along with Prindable, he was one who proved productive with his link play and running in the attacking phase. Proving as much, Carmichael got on the end of one passage to steady and convert his lone goal in the third quarter.

#11 Kaiden McNamara (Swans Academy/NSW)
Midfielder/Forward | 186cm | 26/04/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 7 marks, 3 goals

An inclusion for the Allies’ final game, McNamara impressed with his best representative performance yet. Usually a defender, he switched between the midfield and forwardline with plenty of success, most notably booting a team-high three goals. After taking advantage of a two-on-one situation for his first goal, McNamara then won a one-on-two for his second with a terrific grabs. It was one of his two contested marks – a game-high. With good spring and a strong set of hands, the Swans Academy prospect was able to impact aerially and on the scoreboard.

#20 Daniel Annable (Lions Academy/QLD)
Midfielder/Forward | 183cm | 04/05/2007

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 clearances, 1 goal

Rounding out a consistent campaign, Annable topped the Allies’ disposal tally and set the tone with the opening centre clearance. He was an effective extractor and distributor by hand around the contest, but looked more dangerous when able to use his running capacity and get on the end of attacking passages. Annable showed great timing and smarts to offer an option when moving forward, often finding space to receive and continue the chain heading inside 50. He converted a snap goal, as he usually does, in the third quarter with plenty of time up forward. Being able to play that second position will be important as he attempts to crack a stacked Lions AFL midfield.

VIC METRO:

#1 Tyson Gresham (Northern Knights)
Small Forward | 169cm | 21/06/2007

Stats: 20 disposals, 9 marks, 8 inside 50s, 2 goals

Carlton NGA

All the pieces came together for Gresham upon his return to the Vic Metro lineup, repaying selectors’ faith. The Carlton Next Generation Academy (NGA) prospect ran terrific patterns and was hard to contain as a high forward, leading the game for marks (nine) and inside 50s (eight). His modus operandi was to hit up to half-forward and help connect the lines, most pertinently with the final kick going forward. Gresham nabbed two goals in the third quarter to compound his impact, providing great energy throughout the day and playing his role to a t.

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

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals

Essendon NGA

Most of El Achkar’s possessions tend to end in scores, and seven of his 10 helped impact the scoreboard on Sunday. His creativity made for a few sharp inboard kicks to set up others, along with a loud call of “tap, tap” which saw his teammate to hit the loose ball to him for a snap goal. The Essendon NGA prospect generally operates within the confines of forward 50 but extended his impact to pressure acts, most notably for a free kick goal right on the three-quarter time siren.

#4 Adam Sweid (Calder Cannons)
Midfielder/Forward | 175cm | 14/09/2007

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 4 goals

Essendon NGA

Helping deal serious damage with nine score involvements and four goals – both game-highs – Sweid found top form in the Big V guernsey. His back-to-back majors in the second quarter were phenomenal, loading up from long range to help drive home his side’s advantage and gain a great deal of momentum. He would often be seen wheeling around to kick long, but was also quite effective by hand in short and sharp possessions. Sweid was clever at the fall of contests and defied his size with toughness, prising five clearances to compound his attacking impact.

#5 Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges)
Small Forward | 177cm | 29/05/2007

Stats: 18 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 inside 50s, 4 goals

Another member of Vic Metro’s mosquito fleet, Dovaston joined Sweid in the four-goal club and impressed with his running power. Seemingly playing in constant motion, he worked hard up the ground but was also able to impact inside 50 on the end of his transitional contributions. Whether drawing free kicks, stealing loose balls, or finishing under pressure, Dovaston looked every bit the type of dynamic small forward clubs have been clamouring for recently. He’s full of energy.

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

Stats: 16 disposals, 2 marks, 2 inside 50s

Having impressed as an explosive midfielder this year, Grlj went back to his roots with a switch to defence on Sunday. He was typically aggressive with his run-and-carry, consistently backing himself to step around opponents and take metres on the attack. Such aggressive forays and use of the corridor caught the eye as Grlj proved near-impossible to tackle. He also showed his ability to be a team player with shepherds and vocal instructions which benefitted others.

#18 Kye Fincher (Sandringham Dragons)
Defender | 185cm | 18/11/2007

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

St Kilda NGA

Along with Grlj, Fincher provided plenty of dash and dare out of defence, using his athletic traits to do so. He carved his way forward on the rebound, using a sharp lateral step to wrong-foot opponents and continue taking ground. Perhaps his best foray was a run of three bounces in the third quarter which led to one of Sweid’s second quarter goals. Fincher also helped restart from the last line with switch kicks and overlap run which posed questions of the Allies.

#22 Max Kondogiannis (Oakleigh Chargers)
Tall Defender | 190cm | 14/11/2007

Stats: 14 disposals, 5 marks, 7 rebound 50s

Kondogiannis didn’t lose too many contests on Sunday, proving a capable interceptor and versatile defensive asset. His reading of the play led to several intercepts among his five marks, attacking the ball with vigour and taking it strongly overhead. Kondogiannis would then flick the switch, utilising his punchy distributive skills to spread the play and spark Vic Metro’s transitions.

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

Stats: 17 disposals, 9 intercept possessions, 5 rebound 50s

Kondogiannis’ partner-in-crime, Taylor racked up a game-high nine intercept possessions and doubled as a counterattacking threat. He was simply everywhere in the defensive half, able to cut off Allies attacks both high and deep by meeting the ball at speed and continuing his momentum on the rebound. The rising defensive prospect was difficult to beat in the air and at ground level, though can continue to sharpen up his ball use under pressure. Still, without him, the Vics would not have been able to absorb so much early pressure and showcase their transitional prowess.

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

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 6 clearances, 1 goal

Greeves was again a standout both around the contest and in attacking phases, leading all-comers with 23 disposals and 12 contested possessions. He was particularly prevalent at the centre bounces, winning four of his game-high six clearances there to set his side on the right foot. Greeves was classy in open play, cruising around the ground to hit up short kicks and dictate the tempo heading forward. He also clunked a strong contested mark to slot his only goal in term one and has only enhances his stocks throughout the National Championships.