VIC Metro has maintained its unbeaten run in the 2022 AFLW Under 18 National Championships, defeating Queensland by 31 points at Metricon Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. In what was a tense and low-scoring battle with a hot footy to be won, it was the visitors who pulled away after half time despite inaccurate goalkicking.

Queensland brought the heat early, adding to the harshness of the sun to scorch Metro’s usually prolific prime movers. In a tense opening 10 minutes, both the scoreboard looked resembled a soccer match at 3-2 Metro’s way, with the visitors unable to capitalise on two set shots.

Soon enough, ruck Jacinta Hose made good on her chance to convert the first goal of the day, helping boost the Victorians to an eight-point quarter time lead. A couple of relieving marks from Laura Elliott in the defensive goalsquare also helped, as Queensland continued to surge the ball forward.

The second term saw the scoring open up a touch as both sides got on the board. Flying winger Rylie Wilcox was tearing up the outside for Metro, carrying the ball into attack at pace. She got so far forward, that an opportunity on goal presented inside 50 and she took full toll.

That was when Queensland’s first term pressure returned, and the Maroons began to enjoy some forward half possession. It was Caitlin Miller who snared the hosts’ maiden major, and the two sides went goal-for-goal to see out the first half with Charlotte Taylor (Metro) and Havana Harris (Queensland) snaring six-pointers. It was Metro ahead by nine at the main break.

It was Wilcox again who did the damage for Metro early in term three. She notched back-to-back shots on goal, with the second sailing through the big sticks. Queensland replied through a wide-smiling Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap, before Montana Ham extended Metro’s buffer once more.

The goal-for-goal trend was snapped late in the quarter, credit to Taylor and her second major. Add Mia Austin’s post-siren conversion, and Metro headed into the final break with a very handy lead of 31 points.

The scoring gates well and truly shut in the final 20 minutes, in a flip of the first quarter proceedings. Queensland star Alana Gee capped a magnificent game with the lone goal of the term, but it was far from enough for the Maroons as they fell short despite a valiant effort.

A couple of injuries soured the Maroons’ outing, with Josie McCabe and Litonya Cockatoo-Motlap struck down in the second and third terms respectively. Nonetheless, they were lead brilliantly by the likes of Gee (27 disposals, five marks, one goal) and Jasmyn Smith (19 disposals, five clearances).

Ham’s ominous form roared on as she clunked five marks and kicked 1.4 among her 25 touches for Metro, in a best afield performance. She swapped through the midfield-forward rotation with Western teammate Charlotte Baskaran, while fellow ball winners Jasmine Fleming and Sofia Hurley were also terrific among a slew of others.

Metro will return home to play their final Under 18 Championships match against South Australia in a fixture shuffle, while Queensland is set to take on Vic Country and the Allies to round out their carnival.

QUEENSLAND 0.2 | 2.4 | 3.4 | 4.4 (28)
VIC METRO 1.4 | 3.7 | 7.11 | 7.17 (59)

GOALS:

Queensland: C. Miller, H. Harris, La. Cockatoo-Motlap, A. Gee
Vic Metro: R. Wilcox 2, C. Taylor 2, J. Hose, M. Austin, M. Ham

RMC BEST:

Queensland: A. Gee, J. Smith, C. Mullins, T. Harrington, F. Davies
Vic Metro: M. Ham, R. Wilcox, J. Fleming, S. Hurley, C. Baskaran