WESTERN Australia is poised to play its final game of the Under 18 National Championships, as the Black Ducks host Vic Country at Claremont Oval on Saturday morning. The Victorians will turn out for just their second game, and both sides have made four changes for the clash. We preview how it may unfold.

NEED TO KNOW

Who: Western Australia vs. Vic Country
When: Saturday June 29, 10:30am AWST
Where: Claremont Oval
How to watch: via AFL website & app

RECORDS

Western Australia: 1-2 | LWL
def. by Allies 7.8 (50) to 10.10 (70)
def. South Australia 17.7 (109) to 6.12 (48)
def. by Vic Metro 10.13 (73) to 15.16 (106)

Vic Country: 1-0 | W
def. South Australia 13.9 (87) to 11.13 (79)

PREDICTED LINEUPS

WESTERN AUSTRALIA:

B: #18 C. Dennis – #38 T. Bell – #30 J. Douglas
HB: #10 A. van der Struyf – #20 C. Curtin – #16 L. Mactaggart
C: #13 J. Artemis – #12 B. Allan – #23 C. Burke
HF: #5 W. Hayes – #26 K. Gerreyn – #11 H. Davis
F: #1 C. Angove – #17 M. Rohr – #3 M. Champion
FOL: #29 A. Riddle – #2 L. Urquhart – #24 F. Rodriguez

INT: #7 W. Walley, #8 C. Banfield, #22 T. Whan, #28 H. Boxshall, #36 A. Gulluni

EMG: #6 B. Kelly, #27 T. Hiscock, #37 H. Pivac

IN: T. Bell, A. Gulluni, W. Walley, T. Whan
OUT: K. Evans, B. Kelly, T. Hiscock, D. Petersen (injured)

Western Australia has made four changes to the team which lost to Vic Metro last week, with only key defender Darcy Petersen missing out through injury. South Fremantle’s Tom Bell comes in as a like-for-like replacement, while East Perth accumulator Andre Gulluni also gets his chance down back.

Debuting alongside Bell and Gulluni are bottom-agers Wesley Walley (Subiaco) and Toby Whan (South Fremantle). The former has enormous talent and flair as an opportunist forward, while the latter is a strong runner and state Under 16 representative whose last WAFL Colts outing yielded 24 disposals.

VIC COUNTRY:

B: #31 A. Tauru – #19 M. Lloyd – #16 L. Jaques
HB: #12 H. Charleson – #24 M. Whitlock – #13 T. Travaglia
C: #3 X. Lindsay – #14 S. Lalor – #26 J. Ough
HF: #30 C. Hynes – #38 J. Faull – #7 O. Hannaford
F: #1 J. Alger – #20 J. Whitlock – #9 J. Berry
FOL: #37 F. Burmeister – #15 I. Ivisic – #22 H. Langford

INT: #2 A. Day-Wicks, #4 O. Warburton, #6 R. Stevens, #21 N. Hibbins-Hargreaves, #23 W. Duursma

EMG: #25 R. Onley

IN: J. Faull, N. Hibbins-Hargreaves, S. Lalor, A. Tauru
OUT: J. Barrat, R. Onley, C. Paul, F. Penry

Vic Country will be buoyed by the inclusion of midfield bull Sam Lalor and key forward Jonty Faull, both out of the GWV Rebels. Emerging Gippsland Power defender earns a berth after not being named in the initial Vic Country squad, while bottom-ager Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves also forced his way in.

There promises to be serious power in the Vic Country midfield with Lalor slotting in alongside the prime movers from game one. Faull is essentially a straight swap for Barrat in attack, while Tauru adds height and aerial ability in defence, and Hibbins-Hargreaves will be a handy wing or high forward rotation.

ONES TO WATCH

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Jaxon Artemis

Somewhat of a surprise packet in the West Australian lineup, yet one who has gone under the radar, is Artemis. The South Fremantle prospect provides terrific run and ball use off half-back or the wing, making him a versatile and reliable piece of the Black Ducks’ puzzle. His best game came last week with 20 disposals (16 kicks) and over 500 metres gained in a loss to Vic Metro.

Aiden Riddle

Vic Country has rotated its key position division and arguably comes in without a genuine specialist ruck. Cue a big game from Riddle, who is physically strong and has held up against some of the draft’s most highly touted talls in Alex Dodson and Logan Smith. His hit craft is fantastic and should serve Western Australia’s midfielders well against a powerful opposition midfield.

Wesley Walley

Perhaps one out of the box, Walley gets his chance in state colours at the final time of asking and could produce some highlight reel moments with the right supply. A typically fast starter, the enigmatic bottom-age forward is capable of kicking goals from anywhere and has eye-catching athleticism. Whether burning an opponent on the lead or sitting on heads, he’s a threat inside 50.

VIC COUNTRY

Jonty Faull

After missing game one with just a single Coates Talent League outing under his belt to that point, Faull earns a state berth having logged two more games at the level. The key forward’s 11 goals in those three games, on top of his outstanding bottom-age campaign make him one of the most highly touted inclusions. He’ll be a viable marking target inside 50 and is sure to hit the scoreboard.

Sam Lalor

After missing the first block of the season through injury, Lalor hit the ground running at APS level before another setback ruled him out of Vic Country’s opening game. The powerful midfielder made his first appearance for GWV over the weekend for a return of 34 disposals, and looks to be in ominous touch. His bullocking style at the contest and ability to roll forward adds serious quality to the lineup.

Alix Tauru

A bolt from the blue, Tauru proved impossible to deny for higher honours after sparkling Coates Talent League form over the last fortnight. His manic attack on the aerial ball is complimented by terrific athleticism which sees him intercept with proficiency. After Vic Country’s key defensive stocks were exposed last time out, the addition of Tauru should ease a bit of the pressure.

WHERE IT’S WON

Once again, it’s all about the midfield battle. Vic Country will have somewhat of a makeshift ruck setup with Floyd Burmeister and Jack Whitlock, meaning Western Australia’s Aiden Riddle should back himself to consistently give his midfielders first sight of the footy.

The Victorians are still without Finn O’Sullivan, but boast three powerful midfielders in Sam Lalor, Harvey Langford, and Cooper Hynes – all of whom can also hit the scoreboard. WA skipper Bo Allan is the most likely response, while Luke Urquhart has the explosive pace and toughness to match it with them.

After seeing their Metro counterparts dominate WA in the clearance battle last week, Country has the quality to do the same. An area where the Sandgropers may fancy themselves is up forward, where Vic Country only has one defender over 193cm, but four above 190cm.

It means the likes of genuine key position targets Kayle Gerreyn and Max Rohr can exploit defenders who are capable interceptors, but typically play above their height – like Mitchell Lloyd and Alix Tauru. The 190cm Hamish Davis will also play a key role in giving WA’s talls a chop-out aerially.

PREDICTION

Coming into the National Championships with a point to prove, Western Australia has certainly defied expectations. In reality, the Sandgropers still have a negative record (1-2) and are up against it to overcome a Vic Country side stacked with top-end prospects.

Working in favour of WA is its home ground advantage and superior amount of time together. The hosts had a good block of training in preseason and after numerous trial games, have two more champs matches under their belts against the 1-0 Victorians.

Vic Country has shuffled the magnets and despite arguably not quite getting it right against South Australia, managed to win. With that experience in tow and some genuine difference makers coming into the side, the Big V can only improve. Country by 10 points.

REMAINING AFL U18s FIXTURE

DATE	MATCH	VENUE	TIME
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