VIC METRO made it two wins from as many games against their Country counterparts yesterday, taking out the second trial by just five points at Avalon Airport Oval. In a fast-paced affair, there was a total of nine multiple goalkickers among the 13 overall, including Mid-Season Draft prospect Floyd Burmeister.

Country midfield pair Brodie Atkins and Sam Lewis were prominent at stoppages, while Metro’s tall defensive stocks held up well along with a couple of Next Generation Academy prospects in Adam Sweid (Essendon) and Kye Fincher (St Kilda). All of the above feature in our Scouting Notes.

>> Scouting Notes: 2025 Victorian Under 18 trials – Game One

VIC COUNTRY 3.1 | 5.6 | 8.7 | 12.12 (84)
VIC METRO 2.2 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 13.11 (89)

GOALS:
Vic Country: F. Burmeister 3, J. Jackson-Leahy 2, B. Atkins 2, L. Tonner 2, J. Marks 2, J. Davis
Vic Metro: R. Theodoropoulos 3, C. Sizer 3, N. Canavan 2, L. Dovaston 2, A. Sweid, F. Kneipp, E. La Motte

BEST:
Vic Country: B. Atkins, S. Lewis, F. Burmeister, N. Williams, F. Marino, J. Jackson-Leahy
Vic Metro: A. Sweid, X. Taylor, K. Fincher, F. Kneipp, M. Kondogiannis, L. Dovaston

VIC COUNTRY:

#3 Noah Williams (Geelong Falcons)
Wing | 176cm | 22/01/2008

One of the smallest players afield, Williams held his own and used his speed to advantage. He proved evasive throughout the day with darting steps and high smarts to navigate traffic, while also making metres on the outside. He created drive off the wing and snuck forward to set up a couple of goals for Jack Marks – one of which came in the final quarter as he was moved into the middle.

#4 Brodie Atkins (Gippsland Power)
Midfielder | 181cm | 25/01/2007

Atkins was arguably best afield in a losing effort, dominating the clearance battle alongside Sam Lewis and proving a relentless competitor. He combined well with Lewis to work out of centre stoppages with clean hands and bursts of power, often blasting the ball inside 50. The combative midfielder was also one of Country’s five multiple goalkickers; first steadying on the run before three-quarter time, and then snaffling up a mark over the back in the final quarter.

#10 Jaidi Jackson-Leahy (Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder/Forward | 183cm | 31/01/2007

Bookending his game with goals in the first and final quarters, Jackson-Leahy made an impact in the front half. He could well have finished with a couple more majors having missed on the half time siren and snapped into the post during term three, but also set up Atkins for a goal in the final quarter. He struck the ball well on his favoured left foot and handled it just as cleanly, looking like an option for Vic Country as a midfielder who can impact inside, outside, or up forward.

#20 Floyd Burmeister (GWV Rebels)
Key Forward | 199cm | 04/05/2006

Booting an equal game-high three goals – all in the first half – Burmeister looked on track for a big day. He was Country’s spearhead tall forward, presenting with unique athleticism up the ground and showing great improvement to clunk his marks overhead. He was dangerous at forward 50 stoppages, grabbing the ball to snap a goal in the opening quarter and going on to assist Jonty Davis with a sensational tap over his head. While the over-ager’s scoring output waned after half time, his marking exploits were impressive and he looks every bit a Mid-Season Draft contender.

#23 Sam Lewis (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder | 186cm | 25/02/2007

A jumper change caused some initial confusion as to exactly who was dominating the midfield battle, Lewis being the player in question. With good size and poise in traffic, he navigated his way out of stoppages expertly and combined well with Atkins to bring the ball forward. While he did some terrific work to find space in the clinches, Lewis’ blaze-away clearing kicks would sometimes blunt his effectiveness. That can be worked on, and he has a nice base of traits already.

#28 Fraser Marino (Dandenong Stingrays)
Ruck | 197cm | 23/05/2007

One of the many Dandenong Stingrays to impress throughout both games, Marino shouldered Country’s primary ruck role. He followed up nicely to help the likes of Atkins and Lewis work out of stoppages, while also providing a marking outlet around the ground with clean grabs and no-fuss disposals. Marino also snuck forward for a set shot in the second quarter but put it wide.

>> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Country summer hub squad

VIC METRO:

#2 Adam Sweid (Calder Cannons)
Midfielder | 175cm | 14/09/2007

Essendon NGA

Sweid sent a scare through the Metro camp when he was helped off the ground by trainers late in the third quarter, but seemed to be okay despite playing no further part in the match. Before that point he had claims on being best afield, standing out with his speed out of stoppages and dangerous ball use on the move. The Essendon NGA prospect burst forward with relentless intent, driving his legs to generate momentum in scoring chains. Sweid’s work rate was high and despite his stature, he was able to shrug off tackles. He got on the board with a goal just before half time.

#5 Felix Kneipp (Calder Cannons)
Defender/Wing | 179cm | 01/01/2007

It was a classic sort of Kneipp performance, playing a dual role in midfield and down back with hard running and plenty of possessions. He accumulated by charging forward on the overlap and generating run from the restarts, carving his way through traffic and backing his turn of speed. Kneipp’s endurance and playmaking ability saw him used on the wing after half time, where he snuck forward to sink a nice running goal from long-range in the third quarter.

#10 Rory Wright (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder | 183cm | 02/06/2007

Coming into the game with high expectations after a sensational start to the season, Wright had his moments without being dominant. He started on-ball but also spent plenty of time out on the wing, as has been customary for him at Sandringham. Amid the pace of the game, his strength in tackles stood out as he slipped out of opponents’ grasps to continue powering forward. He’s not the quickest in a straight line but is poised and agile, able to shift onto his deadly left side and release.

#13 Kye Fincher (Sandringham Dragons)
Defender | 184cm | 18/11/2007

St Kilda NGA

Fincher was among the players who maintained their level in representative gear, playing his usual game across half-back. He backed his foot skills to bite off risky kicks and while Kneipp gained ground through run-and-carry, he did so with aggressive positioning and distribution. Fincher worked well alongside some polished operators in defence and showed serious spring with his speccy in the third quarter, which was among his couple of intercept marks for the day.

#20 Max Kondogiannis (Oakleigh Chargers)
Defender | 190cm | 14/11/2007

Kondogiannis was polished throughout the day, playing a versatile role among Metro’s many tall defenders. He was made to compete slightly above his height at times in terms of matchups and generally held his own aerially with clean intercepts. His reading of the play also translated well with ball in hand, able to scope out targets on the run and hit them with precision. He was solid defensively but also has those kinds of weapons to help rebound the ball effectively.

#22 Lachy Dovaston (Eastern Ranges)
Small Forward | 177cm | 29/05/2007

Another player who had a late jumper change, it’s lucky Dovaston is easily identifiable with his style of play. Playing as a permanent small forward, he booted a pair of goals in the first half with the second seeing him straighten up nicely to convert a drop punt. His energy is infectious, constantly working up the ground to get busy at ground level and hassle the opposition. Dovaston’s speed was a real asset in that sense, and he has played with plenty of confidence so far this year.

#23 Xavier Taylor (Eastern Ranges)
Tall Defender | 191cm | 30/01/2007

Taylor continues to impress as a defensively astute prospect with ample speed and fundamental skills. He positioned well to intercept, latching onto loose balls with a no nonsense approach and using his strength to break free before releasing rebound kicks. He’s the type of player who simply doesn’t do much wrong, proving a reliable backman with a good range of traits.

>> PROFILED: 2025 Vic Metro summer hub squad