SOUTH Australia broke through for its first win of the Under 16 National Championships with a spirited come-from-behind effort against Vic Country on Tuesday. After trailing by a game-high margin of 28 points at half time, the Croweaters rallied in term three, albeit inaccurately to claw back into the contest.

A 3.9 total in the premiership quarter closed the gap to nine points, and SA had taken the lead just eight minutes into term four. An inspired move forward saw Tom Steinfort momentarily restore the Vics’ ascendancy, only for South Australian vice-captain Taj Garrett to become the hero with two minutes left.

The result sees SA move to a 1-1 record with one match left to play, against Vic Metro on Friday. Meanwhile, the 0-2 Vic Country will hope to get on the board when they face an undefeated West Australian side on the same day, with both games taking place at Fankhauser Reserve in Southport.

VICTORIA COUNTRY 5.3 | 8.7 | 9.9 | 11.10 (76)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.2 | 4.3 | 7.12 | 11.15 (81)

GOALS:
Vic Country: C. Fischer 2, L. Petrie 2, L. Pring 2, M. Thompson 2, C. Ah-Mu, T. Buchanan, T. Steinfort
South Australia: K. Ivins 3, J. Jarrad 2, Z. Pilot 2, T. Sampson 2, P. Burgoyne, T. Garrett

BEST:
Vic Country: T. Steinfort, M. Thompson, L. Salopek, O. Boddenberg, K. Walters, E. Wood
South Australia: K. Ivins, H. Semmler, Z. Pilot, T. Garrett, L. Andriani, Z. Rooney

VIC COUNTRY:

#5 Charlie Montebello (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder | 177cm | 15/04/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s

Montebello’s running power was his strength on Tuesday, with the Geelong Falcons prospect unleashed into the midfield mix. He racked up 13 uncontested possessions, working hard to provide an option in transition and receiving the ball in dangerous launch zones. From there, Montebello looked to pick out targets heading inside 50. As seen in game one, his traits seem best suited to a wing or high forward role, but he had little trouble impacting through the middle.

#7 Max Thompson (Bendigo Pioneers)
Small Forward | 175cm | 06/03/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 2 goals

Few players have showcased better kicking skills than Thompson at this year’s championships, with the deadeye forward consistently hitting targets inside 50. Whether spotting up teammates on the lead or slotting set shots with aplomb, Thompson’s ball use was excellent in the front half. He booted consecutive goals in the first quarter before setting up others with bullet passes and eventually getting a run on-ball. Although, he certainly looks dangerous as a specialist forward.

#8 Oliver Boddenberg (Murray Bushrangers)
Midfielder | 181cm | 28/05/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 3 tackles, 4 clearances

Boddenberg teamed up with Harrison Welsh to form Vic Country’s only real form of resistance around the contest. Both players finished with 12 contested possessions and combined for nine clearances, though Boddenberg was able to balance out his game by connecting with teammates and helping move to the outer. He showed great vision to be able to identify targets by hand and foot, even if his efficiency was slightly down, and proved a clean extractor throughout the day.

#9 Ethan Wood (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 182cm | 19/04/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 14 handballs, 3 tackles

One of Vic Country’s many prolific running defenders, Wood provided plenty of impetus on the overlap. He timed his runs well off the centre square to notch up eight handball receives and help drive the ball forward at full speed. Wood only had three kicks for the day but linked up well by hand to allow others to use the ball. He also won a few key contests to force turnovers before attacking.

#16 Kyan Walters (Geelong Falcons)
Defender | 185cm | 17/05/2009

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

Walters was one of Vic Country’s most eye-catching rebounders, able to take the game on with his run and raking left-foot kick. His ball use was exceptional, going by foot with 18 of his 20 disposals and making just one error throughout the day to highlight just how effective he was. Walters took ground and dictated play on the counterattack, providing plenty of energy in his short spurts of possession. He even showed class on his non-preferred side while taking the game forward.

#18 Louis Salopek (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder | 184cm | 16/02/2009

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s

After a prolific outing in game one, Salopek didn’t quite have the same impact around stoppages but instead showed his class away from contests. The Port Adelaide father-son prospect displayed great poise and awareness with ball in hand, making his steps count to buy more time in possession. He found the ball in dangerous areas on the spread and while he couldn’t quite make his kicks count, had little trouble accumulating in the first half. He added just two touches after the main break, so much like in game one, can work on his four-quarter consistency.

#20 Jayden Gourley (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender | 189cm | 24/03/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Gourley was often tasked with the tough matchup of Zemes Pilot and held his own throughout various stages, while also producing a few highlights of his own. His timing and reading of the play allowed for aggressive intercepts, with the Dandenong Stingrays prospect meeting the ball at speed and carrying on into attack. He was clean overhead and unafraid of oncoming contact, doing what was required to either force a turnover or shut down opportunities both high and deep.

#24 Tom Steinfort (Geelong Falcons)
Key Defender/Forward | 194cm | 29/08/2009

Stats: 19 disposals, 8 marks, 1 goal

Steinfort was Vic Country’s best in a heartbreaking loss, though very nearly dragged his side over the line with last gasp heroics. Having played the majority of the match in defence, the Geelong NGA member swung forward to momentarily restore his side’s lead with a mark and set shot goal on the angle. While the win wasn’t to be, Steinfort showcased outstanding aerial attributes with his ability to intercept and win one-on-one duels. He made great reads behind the ball and often stuck his marks with a clean set of hands, even in pressure situations deep inside defensive 50.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#1 Laurence Andriani (West Adelaide)
Midfielder | 170cm | 19/08/2009

Stats: 32 disposals, 7 marks, 9 clearances

Few players can rack up possessions like Andriani, who has a unique ball winning balance. He lifted to amass 22 disposals in a monster second half, leaning on his running power to finish with 21 uncontested possessions. He was also clever at the fall of the ball, winning seven centre clearances to spark his side at the source. Andriani often looked to connect and drive his legs on the attack, and while pressure impacted his kicking at times, he dealt Vic Country a death by a thousand cuts. In the end, he helped set up Taj Garrett‘s game-winning goal to round out a mega day.

#12 Taj Garrett (Sturt)
Midfielder | 182cm | 05/01/2009

Stats: 28 disposals, 6 clearances, 1 goal

Another of South Australia’s prolific midfielders, Garrett slotted the game-winning goal with ice running through his veins. Alongside Andriani, he was a force around the contest but also got to work on the outside with 12 handball receives and 15 uncontested possessions. The vice-captain was hit-and-miss with his kicking, going by foot 21 times and booting 1.3, but managed to straighten up when it counted. His clean hands, smart running and timing were all keys to his success.

#16 Kai Ivins (Norwood)
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 14/09/2009

Stats: 26 disposals, 10 inside 50s, 3 goals

Ivins had a case for being best afield with plenty of impact in the forward half. He got a run in midfield but did most of his damage on the attack, including with two goals in the opening quarter. His speed and long-range finishing were on point from the outset, as he went on to slot a third goal on the run in term three. For most of the match, Ivins was South Australia’s main threat up forward but was also productive as a connection piece outside 50, hitting up to breach the arc 10 times.

#19 Zane Rooney (Glenelg)
Defender/Midfielder | 183cm | 07/01/2010

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 4 rebound 50s

Still only a bottom-ager in this category, Rooney continues to prove he is up to the level. He started in defence and was among South Australia’s most important distributors, able to penetrate long by foot and clear his lines with little fuss. That kind of no-nonsense approach translated to strong defensive acts, as Rooney spoiled from behind, brought down opposition talls in tackles, and clunked a couple of terrific intercept marks. His size and power were also handy traits in midfield.

#29 Zemes Pilot (South Adelaide)
Tall Forward | 190cm | 08/06/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

While a Port Adelaide father-son hopeful lined up for Vic Country, the Power also had an NGA member in the South Australian ranks with Pilot. The dynamic tall forward provided bright spots throughout the day but was particularly prominent in the second half where he helped generate several scoring opportunities. He leant on his athleticism to meet the ball at speed and got creative from there, often looking for a way to shoot on goal. He managed to convert two majors in the final quarter; the first with pure pace to beat his opponent out the back, and the second with craft at a forward 50 stoppage. He looms as a dream prospect who can hurt you in the air and at ground level.

#30 Harvey Chapman (Sturt)
Key Defender | 194cm | 10/08/2009

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 4 rebound 50s

It was by no means an easy day for the South Australian skipper, who had a tough matchup in Corey Ah-Mu. Chapman was tested defensively with his ability to shut down leads, and remain accountable, but got to work with his usual rangy kicking from full back. He has the versatility to be a distributor and interceptor at the same time, often faring best as the loose man down back.

#31 Hugo Semmler (Central District)
Ruck | 199cm | 01/09/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 marks, 38 hitouts

It was a Goliathan effort from Semmler on Tuesday, with the South Australian ruck dominating his domain and impacting around the ground. His tap craft was excellent, getting first hand to the ball with big leaps or by out-bodying his opponent. That same strength was observed with a range of one-grab overhead marks, as the 199cm talent offered a reliable option down the line. Semmler was gutsy in the air and willing at ground level, following up his work to provide an extra body at the fall of the ball and often shrugging off would-be tacklers to feed his midfielders a second time.