WESTERN Australia secured the gold medal in the SSA 15 and Under Boys Championships, taking down Victoria by two goals in a thrilling encounter on Saturday morning.

Both sides engaged in a tussle for the majority of the contest, but it was the scoreboard that made the difference, with Victoria kicking 2.10, unable to register a major in the second half.

Western Australia was clinical in front of goals, making use of the Premiership quarter, kicking two goals straight, which ended up being the final margin.

Western Australia 5.4 (34) def. Victoria 2.10 (22)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA  1.0 | 3.2 | 5.2 | 5.4 (34)
VICTORIA 0.3 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 2.10 (22)

GOALS:

Western Australia: M. Baker, H. Hearn, C. Creyk, J. Kee, G. Mourish
Victoria: A. Brown, G. Barker

FIRST QUARTER

The contest started hot in the middle, with the Vics dominating possession early, but unable to capitalise on their forward pressure. Kade Carthew had some big moments early, positioning well to take a mark on the goalline.

James Artemis produced solid pressure efforts throughout the day for WA and started early with a lot of midfield intensity in his output. Angus Brown provided spark for the Vics in transition but neither side was able to execute the final kick to a loose target inside 50.

The only goal of the quarter came off the back of some neat roving from Hunter Berwick, who kicked deep to a one-on-one in the goalsquare, which was pounced on by Mitchell Baker, who snuck through the major.

Carthew had another goal-saving moment late in the first quarter, applying a strong defensive tackle inside 50 to win a holding-the-ball free kick, restricting a late goal opportunity for the Victorians.

SECOND QUARTER

Western Australia got the second quarter off to a flyer, and the goal scored may have rivalled a nomination for the goal of the tournament.

Campbell Creyk picked up the loose ball close to the boundary line, swiveled his body to face goals, chucked it on the boot, and watched the inside-outside checkside travel with the wind for Western Australia’s second of the game.

Much like the first term, Victoria got the ball forward but weren’t able to make any sort of scoreboard impact. But after a few minutes of repeat effort, the Vics got their first major off the back of Baxter Sruk, who fed the footy off to Brown on the run inside 50, who snapped the goal from 30 metres out.

Axel Walsh was impactful for Western Australia down back, taking a big contested pack mark to ensure the Vics could not get an easy goal. Creyk pushed up the ground well and sparked some dare through the corridor, which helped Western Australia’s forward movement.

But it was Walsh again who started to impose himself around the ground, super productive in the ruck contests, getting big kicks forward, one of which led to Western Australia’s third goal of the day, as Hunter Hearn got one out the back, running into goal.

Down the other end, it was Tevita Rodan who lifted for the Vics in offensive transition, clean out of the stoppage to find Louis Salopek, who burst inside 50, sized up his options well, and found Griffin Barker out in the goalsquare, converting Victoria’s second of the game and quarter.

Western Australia continued to find opportunities inside 50, but their shots at goal fell short on multiple occasions. Walsh gave Western Australia one last chance on the half-time siren, finding Jacob Kee leading out and taking the mark 40 metres out, but his shot sailed just wide, extending their half-time lead to five points.

THIRD QUARTER

Western Australia made the most of the premiership quarter, as it was the Sandgropers who capitalised on their opportunities in front of goal, two straight goals to the Vics’ five behinds.

Forward pressure intensified down both ends, but it was a scrap heap to begin with neither side making the most of their inside 50 opportunities.

After a sling tackle by a Victorian midfielder, tempers flared, which cost Victoria a 50-metre penalty, setting up Jake Oliver 40 metres out, who kicked to the top of the goalsquare, finding the monstrous leap of Kee, who took his best mark of the day over the pack.

Kee’s goal extended the margin out to 11 points, but the Vics were quick to respond, generating scoring shots, but were doomed by the post which was hit on three occasions in the third term.

Gus Mourish crumbed well for Western Australia out of the forward stoppage and quickly got it on his boot to snap the second of the quarter for WA, extending the lead out to 15 points. Rodan and Salopek both had their chances forward of centre for the Vics, but neither could capitalise on their ascendency.

FOURTH QUARTER

The only quarter that saw no goals, Western Australia were holding on for dear life, while the Vics were doing everything to get one goal back to spark some life into them.

Western Australia locked the footy in their forward half early, but the Vics were able to start generating some forward transition, which kept falling flat at the final hurdle.

It was a quarter with a plethora of stoppages between the archs, with no flow or momentum whatsoever for either side.

Walsh shined with his composure through the corridor again, able to find runners on the outside, but the shot at goal was touched through, which would have sewed up the win.

Tom Steinfort nearly made the difference midway through the last, taking a strong intercept mark in the corridor, moving it on quickly to eventually find Berwick, who snapped across his body, narrowly missing.

Saxon Carr had a late shot on goal that missed from 40 metres out when Western Australia got loose in transition, which was ultimately the sealer, a handy point that saw the margin out to 13 points with six minutes remaining.

Victoria’s last shot on goal from Lincoln Brand was aggressive, but his kick went wide, the story of the day for the Vics.

The footy was locked in the Victorian’s forward line for the final minutes, but Western Australia applied the pressure and ran home 12-point winners.