VIC METRO has one hand on the Under 18 National Championships title after defeating South Australia by 46 points at Marvel Stadium on Friday afternoon. After being unable to fully capitalise on their opportunities in the first half, the Vics kicked away during a decisive five-goal to one third term.

Tall forwards Sam Gayfer and Jake Miller cashed in with four goals apiece in the win, not to be outdone by a haul of five from South Australian Jack Slattery. Metro’s victory was soured by a broken collarbone to star prospect Arki Butler, who was in scintillating form before going down just before half time.

The result sees Metro move to a perfect 3-0 record, with only one game left to play against Vic Country on July 19. That fixture looms as a makeshift grand final, pending results from Wednesday’s double-header in Ballarat. We took note of the top prospects and performers from either side.

VIC METRO 2.5 | 6.7 | 11.10 | 16.15 (111)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 2.0 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 10.5 (65)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: S. Gayfer 4, J. Miller 4, H. Cooke 3, G. Teixeira 2, A. Butler, M. Downes, T. Krasna
South Australia: J. Slattery 5, A. Long 2, C. Bradford, H. Croker, G. Patterson

BEST:
Vic Metro: T. Bradley, H. Cooke, J. Miller, S. Gayfer, H. Van Hattum, J. Knapp
South Australia: J. Eime, J. Slattery, M. Webb, J. McNicol, K. Edwards, J. Leys

VIC METRO:

#1 George Dimer (Sandringham Dragons)
Small Forward | 173cm | 21/06/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 3 inside 50s

Energetic as always, Dimer provided plenty of connection for Vic Metro with his surging presentation up the field. Boasting wicked pace and smarts, he consistently lost his marker with well-timed leads and showed great skill to craft passes on the move. Dimer’s ground level work and tackle pressure were also typically sound, ensuring he would provide an all-round threat in the front half. The only thing missing this time out was scoreboard impact, but he helped set others up.

#3 Harvie Cooke (Northern Knights)
Small Forward/Midfielder | 176cm | 04/12/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 9 marks, 5 clearances, 3 goals

Working in tandem with Dimer, Cooke showed glimpses of the small forward he could become at the next level. His running power was evident, able to get off the chain when working up the ground and using his speed on the way back. Cooke’s surge style helped connect the lines with direct and long kicks, which were sometimes skewed but gained quick meterage nonetheless. He straightened up with a trio of set shot goals and brought the intensity with his toughness through midfield.

#6 Jordan Knapp (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 05/01/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 5 clearances, 6 inside 50s

There is no questioning Knapp’s ability to accumulate possessions, as he once again topped Vic Metro’s disposal count. The hard-running midfielder spent time on the wing and through the guts, while also rotating forward in the second half. He attacked the ground ball with vigour and was prepared to make repeat efforts at the contest, while also working just as hard to spread and link up in outside transition. His slick clearance work once again caught the eye and he consistently got into good positions to launch inside 50, but can continue to work on his end product.

#9 Gus Teixeira (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder/Forward | 181cm | 29/03/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 5 tackles, 4 inside 50s, 2 goals

Not a massive accumulator at this level, Teixeira again produced moments of intensity in midfield and brilliance up forward. The potential top five prospect was most potent with his power and speed in the front half, able to collect the ball cleanly and create scoring passages. He took his chances to shoot, ending with 2.2, posing a threat on the lead with his pace off that mark and strong hands.

#19 Kai Parker (Northern Knights)
Defender | 189cm | 17/10/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 10 marks, 4 rebound 50s

It was another fine intercepting display from Parker, who doubled up on his output with plenty of work on the rebound. He read the play well to get into position to cut off long opposition kicks, standing strong under high balls and extending well overhead. Parker was also willing to win the ball at ground level and joined the attack seamlessly, providing run in combination with his distributive skills.

#20 Billy Wigmore (Western Jets)
Defender | 189cm | 29/03/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 6 marks, 2 rebound 50s

Wigmore was once again a brick wall across Vic Metro’s back half, intercepting with confidence alongside Parker. Whether competing third up or one-on-one, he split aerial contests at a minimum and backed himself to mark from behind the forward. While he can bite off some interesting kicks at times, Wigmore shows composure and strength in tight spots and wins back the ball at will.

#28 Sam Gayfer (Northern Knights)
Key Forward | 194cm | 21/05/2008

Stats: 14 disposals, 6 marks, 4 goals

Gayfer was among the catalysts of Vic Metro’s breakaway third quarter, booting three goals in that time. Equal parts aggressive and athletic, he combined the two traits to forge outstanding tackle efforts up the ground while also presenting full-chested on the lead inside 50. While not always one-grab overhead, he reeled in some strong marks on the end of spring-heeled leaps. Gayfer ended up with 4.2 on the scoreboard, showing improvement in his set shots to get full reward for effort.

#32 Jake Miller (Western Jets)
Key Forward | 197cm | 07/05/2009

Stats: 11 disposals, 7 marks, 4 goals

It’s not outrageous to say Miller would be a top five pick in this year’s draft, if eligible, as proven by yet another starring role on Friday. While he continued to present as a mobile marking target up the ground, the bottom-ager also cashed in closer to goal this time out. Miller’s clever leading patterns and strong hands earned him several scoring chances, finishing with 4.0. He did so in such seamless fashion, it was like he was shelling peas out on Marvel Stadium.

#33 Tyson Bradley (Sandringham Dragons)
Key Defender | 196cm | 16/09/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 12 marks, 7 rebound 50s

An absolute Goliath in Vic Metro’s backline, Bradley wowed the Marvel Stadium crowd with his contested marking masterclass. The robust defender was just about unbeatable in one-on-one situations, holding his ground and even outgunning SA’s rotating rucks. Gaining confidence with each intercept, Bradley’s highlight moment was an outrageously brave mark going back with the flight in term three. He never fumbled, nor lost a battle across a composed outing.

#36 Harry Van Hattum (Northern Knights)
Ruck | 205cm | 07/01/2008

Stats: 7 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 26 hitouts

While he perhaps hasn’t yet taken a champs game by the scruff of the neck, Van Hattum well and truly dominated his domain on Friday. Whether leaping at the centre bounces or outbodying his opponents around the ground, the mobile bigman won clear hits to give his midfielders first use. He showed some of his upside with a couple of strong contested marks and productive follow-up play at stoppages, firmly putting his side on the front foot after half time. Prominent when it mattered.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

#4 Jacob McNicol (Glenelg)
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 28/06/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 5 inside 50s

McNicol relentlessly chewed up space and put himself in positions to receive on the edge of packs. His timing and smarts made it seem as if he was everywhere at times, busily moving the ball into dangerous launch zones. While McNicol’s end product didn’t always produce the desired outcome, his speed and creativity posed questions in the front half. He is usually no stranger to scoring.

#5 Sam Tassone (North Adelaide)
Defender/Midfielder | 180cm | 12/02/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 marks, 2 rebound 50s

Using speed and dare out of defence, Tassone helped spark some of his side’s most effective passages. His running power was evident throughout spurts of combination play, linking up with teammates and continuing to demand the ball back as it surged forward. While his style sometimes invited pressure, Tassone’s attacking instincts were useful in connecting the lines.

#6 Jake Eime (Central District)
Defender | 183cm | 29/07/2008

Stats: 27 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s, 5 rebound 50s

Arguably South Australia’s best on the day, Eime was full of running. The speedy half-back played in one high gear from go to woah, taking the game on with each possession. While he was prone to an error or two with his risks across the last line of defence, Eime also hurt the opposition with his pace and foot skills. He looked like one of the few South Australians capable of effectively generating scores in transition and aggressively took ground far beyond the back 50.

#11 Jack Leys (Woodville-West Torrens)
Wing | 183cm | 11/05/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 marks, 3 tackles

His numbers may not reflect it, but Leys was among South Australia’s most important players – particularly in the first half. The wingman ran intelligent patterns, often dropping back and leading hard to provide an outlet from defensive 50. He tended to hold his marks strongly and showcased sharp foot skills when given the opportunity. Leys’ defensive acts were also solid, chiming in for a couple of gutsy intercepts and applying pressure with his closing speed.

#15 Kodah Edwards (South Australia)
Midfielder/Forward | 184cm | 25/07/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 9 inside 50s

Edwards looked on track for a huge day after picking up 15 disposals in the opening quarter, although was arguably a little less effective than he would have liked. The midfielder worked into pockets of space around the ground, picking up uncontested possessions and going long with nearly half of his 15 kicks. He added five touches after an industrious first half, and can take the next step by translating his improved outside influence to more precise and expansive attacks.

#19 Memphis Webb (North Adelaide)
Midfielder | 184cm | 04/06/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Webb has well and truly found his rhythm at the right time, continuing to show added elements of explosiveness and dynamism in his game. The midfielder was able to side-step opponents and take ground when possible, driving the ball forward in bursts to compliment his inside game. At stoppages, Webb was typically clean and robust to balance out another influential outing.

#34 Jack Slattery (Woodville-West Torrens)
Key Forward | 192cm | 27/09/2007

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 5 goals

He may not have ventured too far out of his side’s attacking 50, if at all, but Slattery was highly effective close to goal. The emerging over-ager made good on gilt edge chances, showing great opportunism and improvisation to quickly take the ball and score. Slattery’s clean hands and crafty positioning around goal ensured SA was not completely blown away, converting in every quarter.

#38 Mitchell Harris (Woodville-West Torrens)
Key Defender | 196cm | 01/07/2008

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 5 rebound 50s

It was another solid performance from Harris, who showcased his aerial prowess and was difficult to beat across the back half. Whether crashing packs to apply a spoil or intercepting at full stretch while running back with the flight, he did all he could to prevent Vic Metro from gaining an even more dominant lead. His athleticism was clear in those several desperate defensive acts, although Harris can continue to work on getting the best out of his ball use on the rebound.