VIC METRO took out the first of two trial games against their Country counterparts, saluting by 26 points at Avalon Airport Oval today. The navy blue side kicked six goals in either half and steadied after a Tairon Ah-Mu-inspired Country slammed on five consecutive majors in term three. He finished with six overall.

Plenty of club-tied talent impressed, including Collingwood father-son gun Thomas McGuane who had a prolific first half. Carlton and Richmond aligned Cody Walker, and Melbourne NGA member Toby Sinnema were also prominent for Country, while speedy Metro midfielder Sam Grlj was arguably best afield.

VIC COUNTRY 1.1 | 2.3 | 7.3 | 9.10 (64)
VIC METRO 3.6 | 6.11 | 8.14 | 12.18 (90)

GOALS:
Vic Country: T. Ah-Mu 6, M. Prasad, W. Malady, C. Walker
Vic Metro: M. Hansen 2, A. Butler 2, M. Clark 2, T. Gresham, H. El Achkar, B. Chambers, H. Bird, J. Ison, C. Herbert

BEST:
Vic Country: T. Ah-Mu, C. Smith, C. Walker, C. Templeton, T. Sinnema, J. Mellor
Vic Metro: S. Grlj, B. Chambers, A. Sharkie, T. McGuane, Z. McCarthy, M. Hansen

Stay tuned, we’ll publish a wrap up of game two tomorrow (Saturday).

VIC COUNTRY:

#5 Jesse Mellor (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder/Forward | 185cm | 04/01/2007

Geelong NGA

Having made a strong start to the Coates Talent League campaign with Geelong, Mellor featured in the starting centre bounce mix in Vic Country’s unconventional green guernsey. He showcased his clean set of hands with some good stoppage sharks and a strong overhead mark in term two, holding his own in contested situations. The Geelong NGA prospect also nabbed a goal in term four as his long forward 50 entry snuck over the back of a contest at the goalmouth.

#7 Marcus Prasad (Dandenong Stingrays)
Small Forward | 167cm | 23/03/2008

Energetic is usually an apt descriptor of Prasad, and it proved as much again as he darted his way around Country’s forward half. The diminutive bottom-ager was most often sighted hitting up outside attacking 50, proving a key link in the chain en route to goal. He swooped on ground balls and looked to be creative by foot, also snapping a classic crumbing goal during the third quarter.

#10 Cody Templeton (Gippsland Power)
Midfielder | 179cm | 01/01/2008

Providing plenty of impetus in midfield, Templeton was scrappy at times but made things happen forward of centre. He constantly looked to use his speed to take the game on, driving the ball into attack with bursts of run and penetrative kicking. Often launching the ball long inside 50, the bottom-ager also refused to be tackled without a fight, even after being caught in possession early on. One of his more audacious moments was a take-on in the centre square off only a few steps.

#11 Toby Sinnema (Dandenong Stingrays)
Wing | 180cm | 11/12/2007

Melbourne NGA

Sinnema put his running game on show, playing the wing role expertly to rack up plenty of outside possessions. He utilised the expanses of Avalon Airport Oval to hold his width and provide an outlet from the contest or in transitional kick-mark play. He often looked to move the ball on quickly and wasn’t afraid to go long on his favoured left foot. In a particularly productive first half, the Melbourne NGA hopeful dropped back to help bring fluency to his side’s forays forward.

#18 Cody Walker (Bendigo Pioneers)
Forward/Midfielder | 184cm | 26/01/2008

Carlton F/S & Richmond NGA

Initially listed to play in game two wearing his father’s famous number one guernsey, Walker was instantly recognisable out there. He was difficult to stop once he gathered a full head of steam, providing powerful running spurts when given more time on-ball. Walker had no trouble getting his hands on the pill and even found the goals in a massive second quarter. His ball use by hand was exceptional, often releasing teammates into space with terrific weight and vision, while also showing explosiveness as he burst through tackles on the way forward. He has some serious star factor.

#19 Callum Smith (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder | 189cm | 12/09/2007

Smith comes from good pedigree as the grandson of Richmond legend Kevin Bartlett, and has made good on a cross from the Oakleigh Chargers this year. Now a Dandenong Stingray, the big-bodied midfielder was undeniably one of Country’s best around the ball. He held his own on the inside with a strong frame and clean set of hands, often winning first possession and blasting the ball forward. While he wasn’t overly efficient by foot as a result, he looked more composed when dropping back to help his side move the ball out of defence.

#30 Tairon Ah-Mu (Dandenong Stingrays)
Key Forward | 198cm | 06/06/2007

Ah-Mu remarkably kicked six of his side’s nine total goals, leading from the front as captain for the day. He inspired a sharp turn in fortunes during the third quarter, kicking four of five consecutive Country goals out of the main break. Ah-mu proved too big and strong for Metro’s lean tall defenders, owning the forward 50 and causing headaches with his physicality. The hulking marking target took contested grabs in packs and on the lead, also converting his chances nicely.

>> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Country summer hub squad

VIC METRO:

#5 Thomas McGuane (Western Jets)
Midfielder/Defender | 178cm | 27/08/2007

Collingwood F/S

Fresh off a 38-disposal outing at the same venue, McGuane was well and truly on track for similar numbers in the first half. He started on-ball and had nothing more to prove by half time, which prompted a move to half-back. While he was on song, McGuane accumulated possessions with hard and intelligent running, often following up his disposals or streaming past teammates to link up in transition. He seemed to be everywhere at times but was quieter in the second half, and generally executed efficient skills in the short-range – so can perhaps look to penetrate more by foot.

#8 Sam Grlj (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 182cm | 26/07/2007

Grlj was best afield in an outing where he proved just about untouchable. The agile and smooth moving midfielder took off with every possession, using his speed to leave opponents in his dust before hitting targets forward of the ball. He did so off a wing in the first half before being shifted on-ball, where he continued to work hard and find space around the ground. Grlj was near-impossible to tackle but wrapped up Country players willingly, proving a real competitor which is rare for players of his mould. He looked dangerous all day.

#11 Blake Chambers (Eastern Ranges)
Wing | 181cm | 31/05/2007

Somewhat of a surprise packet for Metro, Chambers operated off the wing as has become customary in his time with Eastern. His ball delivery inside 50 was sensational, often lowering his eyes or looking inboard to spear passes into leading targets. Chambers also worked both ways, dropping back for a couple of defensive 50 intercepts to compliment his score involvements at the other end. He was composed with ball in hand and bagged a goal right before three-quarter time.

#12 Aaron Sharkie (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder/Defender | 183cm | 20/01/2007

Another terrific runner at Metro’s disposal, Sharkie provided plenty of overlap run out of defence and proved a real competitor. His ability to get involved multiple times in single chains of play made for effective transitional passages, where Sharkie linked up with teammates to drive the ball forward. He got a good run in midfield, though will most likely find a home at half-back in the Metro setup where his work rate and kicking game – off both feet – will help rebound the ball.

#13 Rod Ali (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 186cm | 11/01/2006

Ali is never a big stat-getter but impacts in other ways and is a marvel in the way of defensive effort. The over-ager, who is being talked up as a Mid-Season Draft candidate, competed typically well in the air with good closing speed and the discipline to spoil when necessary. He also had a couple of ventures up the ground but was most often made to get his hands dirty around defensive 50.

#17 Mitchell Hansen (Eastern Ranges)
Forward | 188cm | 10/02/2007

Much like McGuane found success at Avalon Airport Oval last week, Hansen came in off a bag of five goals at the venue. He managed two this time around – both in the first half – but looked dangerous in attack with his movement and power. Generally a decent finisher, Hansen could have ended up with a couple more majors but missed a set shot and gave another chance off.

#30 Zac McCarthy (Oakleigh Chargers)
Ruck | 198cm | 27/10/2007

Collingwood NGA

Few players have grown in stature over the past few weeks like McCarthy. While likely to play more key forward with a call-up to the final Metro squad, he rucked on Friday and proved that’s arguably his best position form-wise. The Collingwood NGA prospect roamed the ground well, taking uncontested marks and getting involved in open play. He also kicked the ball neatly and showcased his aerial nous with a strong mark at the highest point under a skied kick in term three.

>> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Metro summer hub squad