A SEVEN-GOAL haul from the potential top pick in next year’s AFLW Draft spearheaded Vic Metro to a dominant 50-point victory over Vic Country. The win ensured the reigning champions have a shot at taking out the title if Queensland loses one of its last games in the AFLW Under 18 Championships.

In an unstoppable performance from full-forward, Bailee Martin found the form that had her breaking Coates Talent League records midway through the season with 7.2 from 15 disposals and seven marks in the 12.8 (80) to 4.6 (30) victory at RSEA Park today. Martin’s performance – which saw her cycle through no less than three different defenders – could have been even greater with the one knock on her game – set shot goalkicking – denying her a few more majors too.

Martin’s speed on the lead was the issue in the opening term prompting an early change, then her aerial ability stood out, clunking grab after grab and looking threatening throughout the game. While she finished off in front of the big stick, it was the work of Metro MVP Chloe Bown (33 disposals, three marks, four tackles, eight clearances, seven inside 50s, four rebound 50s and a goal) and Tayla McMillan (21 disposals, three marks, three tackles, six clearances and nine inside 50s) who tore the game apart out of the middle.

The National Academy duo – who could well be the first two Victorians off the board at this year’s AFLW Draft – were sensational from the stoppage, while Josephine Bamford (17 disposals, four marks and 24 hitouts) for the opportunity to solo ruck and won the battle in an impressive performance against two opponents. Her Eastern Ranges teammate Jordyn Allen (15 disposals, three tackles, four inside 50s and two rebound 50s) was able to get her run and gun game going, while wing-defender Scarlett Johnson continued her fine form with 17 disposals and six marks.

In terms of the match itself, the first term was neck-and-neck with Martin’s two first quarter majors in the opening seven minutes countered by goals to Jovie Skewes-Clinton and Alice Cunnington. Those two would add another major each, but it would ultimately not be enough as Metro piled on 10 goals to two after quarter time.

The danger signs were there early in the third as Metro kicked three goals from centre clearances going forward, and by the time Skewes-Clinton kicked her second at the 17-minute mark of the quarter, the deficit stood at 24 points. Any hope of a comeback for Country was dashed when Martin goaled in the first two minutes, then peppered the scoreboard with a series of behinds. Seeing that, Bown launched with a classy finish to end the run of misses, and then Martin slotted two more, the last coming with a nice specky, quick turn and goal just seconds before the full-time siren.

While Metro had no shortage of stars on the day, Country had plenty of willing contributors. Murray’s Rain Dodd (18 disposals, four marks, three tackles, two clearances, two inside 50s and four rebound 50s) ran all day, while Geelong Falcons pair Georgia Tyrrell and Stella Huxtable combined for nine of their side’s clearances.

Beaten at the coalface throughout the day, it was the defenders who found plenty of the ball, with Mizuki Brothwell arguably her side’s best, while Ella Jeffrey and Ella Stoddart worked hard although felt the wrath of Martin at either end of the game. Charlotte Gilmore looked lively off a wing, while Greea McKeegan – a bottom-ager out of the Geelong Falcons – provided safe hands around the ground with seven marks. Cunnington and Skewes-Clinton slotted their team’s score while combining for 25 touches up forward.

The win marked the end of Vic Metro’s national carnival and Bown was named MVP of her side thanks to her incredibly consistent performances across the four games. For Vic Country, they still have South Australia to contend with on August 10 in what will be the last game of the championships.

VIC COUNTRY 2.3 | 3.4 | 4.5 | 4.6 (30)
VIC METRO 2.2 | 5.4 | 8.5 | 12.8 (80)

GOALS:
Vic Country: J. Skewes-Clinton 2, A.Cunnington 2
Vic Metro: B. Martin 7, B. Anderson 2, C. Bown, O. Jesser, Z. Vozzo

RMC BEST:
Vic Country: M. Brothwell, R. Dodd, C. Gilmore, A. Cunnington, G. Tyrrell
Vic Metro: B. Martin, C. Bown. T. McMillan, S. Johnson, J. Allen