THE ANNUAL Young Guns series kicked off on Sunday, with Vic Metro taking out game one to the tune of 20 points at Trevor Barker Beach Oval. In less than ideal conditions under foot, the Big V held a steady lead at every break against their elder opponents and ran out 13.14 (92) to 10.12 (72) victors.

While the Young Guns take on Vic Country at Ikon Park next week, Metro essentially underwent its final trial ahead of the Under 18 National Championships squads being finalised. There were plenty of mid-season draft hopefuls afield, some of which we highlighted in the latest edition of Scouting Notes.

YOUNG GUNS 2.0 | 5.7 | 8.9 | 10.12 (72) 
VIC METRO 3.1 | 6.4 | 10.9 | 13.14 (92)

GOALS:

Young Guns: B. Tedcastle 3, Z. Toledo 3, A. Sinnott, A. May, W. Elliott, R. Maric
Vic Metro: J. Croft 4, W. Brown 3, J. Smith 2, C. Dear, C. Harrop, T. Hotton, M. Taha

SCOUTING NOTES

Young Guns:

#1 Beau Tedcastle (Richmond VFL)
20/03/2004 | 177cm | Small Forward

Tedcastle made a hot start on Sunday, booting two goals in the opening quarter en route to a haul of three. He converted nicely over the mark for his first two majors, but a dribbled finish in the third term was his best of the lot. The Northern Territory native got to good spots and was lively at ground level inside 50, but could perhaps have shown equal intent defensively given his role as a specialist small forward.

#8 Rye Penny (Calder Cannons)
01/03/2004 | 186cm | Defender

Reverting back to the role which he thrived in as a top-ager, Penny made an impact in defence with his intercept marking and speed on the rebound. The one element that let the over-ager down, albeit in tough conditions, was his kicking. Otherwise, Penny showcased the athleticism which had him firmly in the draft frame last year, also accumulating a good amount of possessions to carry on from his Talent League form.

#10 Jedd Longmire (Collingwood VFL)
14/06/2004 | 188cm | Midfielder

A member of the Collingwood VFL leadership group in his first season at the level, Longmire unsurprisingly took the reigns as Young Guns skipper on Sunday. The reliable midfielder was a mainstay in the engine room, proving clean at the coalface and having little trouble getting his hands on the ball. The nephew of Sydney Swans coach John Longmire, Jedd’s strong frame and imposing inside game were among his standout traits.

#18 Ryan Maric (Gippsland Power)
06/09/2004 | 193cm | Tall Forward

Billed as the top mid-season draft prospect and perhaps a candidate to move West, Maric showed promising signs on the big stage. He was stationed up forward and booted a goal from several chances, which could have yielded a bag of three or four in better conditions. The Gippsland Power talent covered Trevor Barker Oval nicely and looks a dynamic type at 193cm.

#20 Ziggy Toledo (Dandenong Stingrays)
15/04/2004 | 192cm | Tall Forward

Toledo was one of two Young Guns to boot three goals on Sunday, playing up forward where he has arguably looked best overall. All three of his majors came in the second half with two kicks over the mark and one in the goalsquare, but Toledo also assisted his side’s first goal and judged marks nicely in the attacking half.

#25 Archer May (Sandringham Dragons/Richmond VFL)
27/08/2004 | 199cm | Tall Forward

Perhaps one of the finds of game one, May is tied to the Sandringham Dragons but has been plying his trade with Richmond VFL. He owned his space up forward for the Young Guns, clunking a series of clean grabs and providing presence which exceeded his one-goal haul. The over-ager’s six-pointer came from a free kick, but May’s conversion rate left him wanting in a game which could have easily yielded a big bag of goals.

#29 Clay Tucker (Eastern Ranges)
09/08/2004 | 204cm | Ruck

Another of the leading mid-season draft candidates, Tucker did some impressive things through the ruck and continues to develop his ability to impact around the ground. The puddly centre circle hardly halted Tucker, as he rose high to feed his midfielders first use. That’s his one-wood, but Tucker also followed up nicely and was sighted taking an intercept mark in defensive 50, before assisting Tedcastle’s third goal at the other end.

Vic Metro:

#3 Tarkyn O’Leary (Sandringham Dragons)
01/07/2005 | 178cm | Wing

O’Leary is pushing hard to make the final Metro squad and was again lively in the outer expanses of Trevor Barker Oval. Typically a winger, he featured there but did much of his best work forward of centre, showcasing a sharp turn of speed and nice evasive technique. He was creative and clean going forward, providing the kind of energy any good small should.

#4 Joshua Docking (Sandringham Dragons)
14/10/2005 | 178cm | Wing

Another small Sandringham Dragons wingman, Docking did things similarly well to O’Leary on the outside. In tough conditions, he was super clean when scooping the ball off the deck and used his speed to consistently find ways out of traffic. He was busy on the attack and nearly hit the scoreboard himself, hitting the post with a set shot in the final quarter.

#8 Nathan Philactides (Oakleigh Chargers)
10/01/2005 | 180cm | Defender

One of just three National Academy members afield, Philactides took charge as Metro’s captain on Sunday. The run-and-gun defender looked to defy the soggy conditions with his typical speed on the rebound, though invited pressure on his disposal at times. Still, he constantly worked hard to redeemed himself immediately and hit some sharp passes in transition. He’ll be a key piece off half-back for Metro.

#12 Archie Roberts (Sandringham Dragons)
18/11/2005 | 183cm | Defender

Another of Metro’s mainstays at half-back, Roberts had little trouble finding the ball but struggled a touch more in being fully effective by foot. He brought his usual strengths in intercepting on the last line and driving forward for rebounds, working hard throughout the match. His running even yielded a few hand-offs on the attacking 50 arc and a crafty goal assist for Jake Smith in term four.

#15 Charlie Harrop (Sandringham Dragons)
13/07/2005 | 186cm | Forward

Somewhat like a targetman, Harrop did well to absorb contact and dish off to others streaming past on fast Metro attacks. The top-ager assisted Sandringham teammate Will Brown for the game’s opening goal and bustled his way through plenty of tackles in attempts to make things happen inside 50. He also marked strongly overhead and hit the scoreboard with a fantastic left-foot finish from the pocket in term two.

#19 Will Brown (Sandringham Dragons)
16/06/2005 | 193cm | Midfielder/Forward

Having had his previous Metro trials cut short, Brown made sure to impact early on Sunday by booting his side’s first two goals. The 193cm midfielder added another in the third term and finished with class on each occasion, on a day where others simply could not. Otherwise, Brown continued his clearance dominance and often pumped the ball forward off one step, staying upright under physical pressure and proving hard to tie down.

#24 Jordan Croft (Calder Cannons)
12/05/2005 | 200cm | Tall Forward/Ruck

Croft had a case for being best afield after booting a game-high four goals and making it very clear that the Western Bulldogs have another prodigious club-tied tall in the offing. He looked best up forward despite stints in the ruck, converting three set shots and a goal on the run, with two of his kicks over the mark being sublime finishes on tough angles. Perhaps Croft’s biggest point of difference is his athleticism though, and he carries the ball nicely for a 200cm player.

#25 Logan Morris (Western Jets)
10/05/2005 | 191cm | Tall Forward

Much like in his Vic Metro trial against Country, Morris started up forward before being swung to defence. The late inclusion was not favoured by a wet ball but offered a good amount of aerial presence and consistently managed to at least split contests at either end. Though slightly undersized at 191cm, Morris genuinely plays like a key position prospect at this level.