IN the first game of Sunday’s Under 18 National Championships double-header at IKON Park, Vic Metro makes its maiden appearance against the 1-1 title-holding Allies. The hosts are stacked in midfield, but will have to jell quickly against a talented visiting outfit. We preview the big clash.

NEED TO KNOW

Who: Vic Metro vs. Allies
When: Sunday June 9, 10:05am AEST
Where: IKON Park, Carlton North
How to watch: AFL website/app & Fox Footy

SQUADS

VIC METRO:

#1 Isaac Kako
#2 Jayden Nguyen
#3 Jesse Dattoli
#4 Joshua Dolan
#5 Damon Hollow
#7 Harrison Oliver
#8 Murphy Reid
#9 Jagga Smith
#10 Levi Ashcroft
#11 Christian Moraes
#15 Tom Gross
#16 Lucca Grego
#18 Patrick Retschko
#19 Charlie Richardson
#20 Bailey McKenzie
#21 Lennox Hofmann
#24 Josh Smillie
#25 Gabriel Stumpf
#26 Luke Trainor
#27 Harry O’Farrell
#34 Lucas Tovey
#35 Thomas Sims
#37 Lucas Impey
#13 Cody Anderson (emg)
#22 Harry Armstrong (emg)
#32 Adrian Cole (emg)

ALLIES:

#1 Nicholas Andreacchio
#2 Zeke Uwland
#8 Leo Lombard
#9 Joe Harrison
#10 Lachlan Carmichael
#11 Josaia Delana
#13 Oliver Depaoli-Kubank
#16 Samuel Marshall
#20 Daniel Annable
#21 Lenny Douglas
#25 Fergus McFadyen
#26 Zai Millane
#28 Joel Cochran
#30 Noah Chamberlain
#31 Ryan Gilder
#32 Jobe Shanahan
#33 Lachlan Hogan
#34 Nathaniel Sulzberger
#36 Ben Kennedy
#37 Joshua Murphy
#40 Logan Smith
#41 Cooper Bell
#44 Billy Richardson

PREDICTED LINEUPS

VIC METRO:

B: J. Nguyen – L. Tovey – H. O’Farrell
HB: H. Oliver – L. Trainor – L. Hofmann
C: M. Reid – L. Ashcroft – C. Moraes
HF: T. Gross – G. Stumpf – B. McKenzie
F: I. Kako – T. Sims – J. Dattoli
FOL: L. Impey – J. Smith – J. Smillie

INT: J. Dolan, L. Grego, D. Hollow, P. Retschko, C. Richardson

EMG: C. Anderson, H. Armstrong, A. Cole

ALLIES:

B: L. Carmichael – C. Bell – R. Gilder
HB: L. Hogan – J. Cochran – N. Andreacchio
C: S. Marshall – L. Lombard – Z. Uwland
HF: N. Chamberlain – J. Shanahan – J. Delana
F: L. Douglas – B. Richardson – J. Murphy
FOL: L. Smith – D. Annable – N. Sulzberger

INT: O. Depaoli-Kubank, J. Harrison, B. Kennedy, F. McFadyen, Z. Millane

ONES TO WATCH

VIC METRO

The Midfielders

Vic Metro has an absolute embarrassment of riches in midfield. It would be impossible to pick just one out of the many top 10 prospects set to rotate through the centre bounces; from leading pick one contender Josh Smillie, to the incredibly consistent Jagga Smith, ultra competitor Levi Ashcroft, classy ball user Murphy Reid, and Christian Moraes. All are stars, but can they play cohesively in the same side?

Luke Trainor

Trainor has propelled himself into top five contention after dominant displays in National Academy colours. The key defender is a proven big game player and can take control of games in two ways; with his intercept marking, and outstanding foot skills. Hopefully he is freed up to play his natural game and can offer more of the same value as Vic Metro’s main distributor from defence.

Isaac Kako

An Essendon Next Generation Academy member, Kako has lit up the last few Coates Talent League rounds – albeit if his radar is a little off. He booted four goals in a half during one of the Vic Metro trials and has the x-factor to break open tense games. His speed, creativity and eye for goal should all become significant factors if the Vic Metro midfielders can feed him often enough.

Bailey McKenzie

McKenzie’s last Coates Talent League outing was a massive one, yielding 23 disposals, 13 marks and seven goals. The 191cm forward is aerially apt and has a knack for the mercurial, often needing only an inch to take a mile. If the Allies get the matchup wrong on Sunday, look out, as this bolter of a draft prospect can make things happen a split second.

Harrison Oliver

Described by Sandringham Dragons and Vic Metro coach Rob Harding as his side’s heartbeat, Oliver’s foot skills will go a long way to controlling the tempo of the match. He’s a sound distributor and is not afraid to bite off low-percentage kicks to gain high reward. If he can be fed the ball enough, he’ll look to carve up the opposition and help set up play from the back.

ALLIES

Samuel Marshall

A Brisbane Lions Academy product who boards at Melbourne Grammar, Marshall is set to come up against a bunch his Sandringham Dragons teammates on Sunday. The well travelled midfielder has made a terrific start to this year’s Championships having debuted in 2023, posting 30 and 28 disposals over the last fortnight. His hard running and inside-outside balance should shine against stiff opposition.

Leo Lombard

Much like Marshall, Lombard is set to face familiar opposition in the form of his AFL Academy teammates. The Suns Academy star is arguably the Larke Medal frontrunner after two games in Allies colours, having been best afield against both South and Western Australia. The going will be tough against a stacked Metro midfield, but if anyone can stand up to such quality, it’s Lombard.

Jobe Shanahan

Shanahan has been bubbling away for the Allies and looks like being on the verge of a true breakout game. The mobile marking forward may yield an AFL Academy defender in Trainor or Harry O’Farrell, but at his best can get a hold of just about anyone. If the Allies can win enough ball in midfield and give him the opportunities, perhaps he can carry on the momentum from a strong second half last time out.

Lachlan Hogan

After initially being overlooked for the Allies squad, Hogan has proven undeniable after more strong Coates Talent League form. The small defender/midfielder racked up 31 disposals to push his case last week and has averaged a tick under 26 touches across seven games this season. He promises to offer great energy and run out of defence, and has the determination to make good on his chance.

Zai Millane

Fresh off making his VFL debut with the Gold Coast Suns, Millane now comes in for the second half of the Allies’ carnival. The nephew of late Collingwood great Darren, Zai is a 188cm defender capable of intercepting or setting up play on the rebound. He averaged 17.5 disposals and 6.3 marks in four Coates Talent League games this year, and is highly rated within the Suns Academy.

WHERE IT’S WON

Every game, quarter and restart happens in the centre of the ground and that’s inevitably where a heavy emphasis is placed in this match. Vic Metro bats deeper than any side in the tournament and has midfielders leaking out to either end of the field. While their star names are plentiful, getting the balance right in-game and at the selection table will be crucial.

Metro’s balance of attack in its key defensive posts will also be intriguing. Both Trainor and Harry O’Farrell are capable of playing the interceptor, along with Lucas Tovey. Perhaps the 190cm Lennox Hofmann will provide a lockdown role to free up Trainor.

Up the other end of the ground, McKenzie and Charlie Richardson have key parts to not only offer aerial support for Northern Knights duo Thomas Sims and Gabriel Stumpf, but also allow them to bring Vic Metro’s dangerous smalls into the game.

The Allies have a range of threats of their own. Their running power and ability to move the ball in waves makes them both an effective stoppage and transition outfit. The likes of Lombard, Marshall, and Sulzberger will go a long way to equalising the midfield battle, first and foremost.

In transition, smalls like Hogan, Zeke Uwland, and Lachlan Carmichael can make things happen with their pace and foot skills. While the 1-1 Allies cannot be discounted for talent across the board, this could shape up as a clash between a team of champions, and a champion team.

PREDICTION

Having two games under their belt bodes incredibly well for the Allies, especially with the second of them being a win. That is particularly pertinent given many Vic Metro players, who are genuine midfielders at their Coates Talent League or school teams, will be made to adjust quickly in secondary roles. Still, the Vics’ top-end talent counts for plenty and should see them home. Metro by 15 points.

REMAINING AFL U18s FIXTURE

DATE	MATCH	VENUE	TIME
Sun, June 9	Vic Metro vs Allies	IKON Park	10:05am
Sun, June 9	Vic Country vs SA	IKON Park	12:30pm
Sun, June 16	SA vs WA	Alberton Oval	10:05am
Sun, June 23	WA vs Vic Metro	Optus Stadium	10:45am
Sat, June 29	WA vs Vic Country	Revo Fitness Stadium	10:30am
Sun, June 30	SA vs Vic Metro	Alberton Oval	10:05am
Sun, July 7	Allies vs Vic Country	Brighton Homes Arena	10:35am
Sun, July 14	Vic Metro vs Vic Country	IKON Park	10:35am