VIC METRO came up trumps in both games as the 2026 Victorian Under 16 trials were held at Preston City Oval on Friday. A few famous names featured across both Metro squads as intermittent rain hit PCO. It didn’t stop Metro from saluting by 34 and 10 points respectively. We took note of some of the top prospects and performers from both games.

VIC COUNTRY:

#1 Isaac Brown (Gippsland Power)
Small Forward/Midfielder | 174cm | 19/02/2010

An evasive small forward with some tricks, Brown provided a threat both up the ground and closer to goal. While he could have been a little cleaner below his knees, he was agile enough to evade danger or clever enough to draw free kicks. Brown’s ability to connect as a high forward earned him a run in midfield, where his productiveness on the attack continued to hold up. He had a couple of chances on goal in the first half but couldn’t quite convert in the tough early conditions.

#5 Harry Lindsay (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder/Wing | 180cm | 07/04/2010

Lindsay caught the eye with his movement from inside to outside of the contest, often cracking in to extract the ball before accelerating into space. His work rate also shone through, able to either drop back and accumulate or sneak into pockets of space forward of the ball. That factor helped when utilised on the wing, where Lindsay’s direct style and foot skills came to the fore. He blended that style well with his toughness at stoppage.

#6 Paddy Connelly (Bendigo Pioneers)
Wing/Forward | 174cm | 15/06/2010

A relatively lightly built wingman, Connelly got into good positions to receive out of the packs before looking forward. Such play allowed him to launch inside 50 and pose questions to the Vic Metro defence. Connelly also fared well as a high forward and was able to recover the ground level spills, while applying better tackle pressure later in the day. He also got a run on-ball.

#13 Chase Whelan (GWV Rebels/Sandringham Dragons)
Tall Forward/Midfielder | 192cm | 06/01/2010

A Horsham native now plying his trade with Sandringham, Whelan provided a focal point for Vic Country. His presentation at the kicker came with genuine presence, as the 192cm prospect either took the ball cleanly overhead or swept it up at ground level. He showed great mobility to wheel around and shoot on goal, as he did successfully in the third term, but also held his ground solidly in one-on-one duels. Whelan also showed his wares in midfield where his size and handling stood out.

#15 Charlie Sutton (Bendigo Pioneers)
Defender/Forward | 185cm | 03/02/2010

An aggressive high back with great attacking instincts, Sutton immediately caught the eye with a booming goal on the run to open Vic Country’s account. He cut off several errant Metro kicks in the middle third and was prolific on the overlap, driving forward with speed and confidence. Sutton also set himself under the ball to reel in a couple of intercept marks. He found his way forward in the second half and even spent time on-ball, showing a similar ability to connect or break the lines.

#20 Daniel May (Geelong Falcons)
Midfielder | 188cm | 06/11/2010

Skipper for the day, May was a cool head in the Country midfield. At 188cm, his tall frame stood out and while not necessarily bless with raw pace, he showed great composure with ball in hand. May was never rushed and distributed the ball efficiently, allowing others to do the more flashy work. May’s clean hands and ability to take the ball overhead were key features of his game.

VIC METRO:

#3 Nevon Eshwara (Sandringham Dragons)
Wing/Forward | 177cm | 25/05/2010

Rotating between the wing and forwardline, Eshwara ensured the Country defenders were kept on their toes. He was menacing when able to find space over the back, using his speed and agility to cut through traffic before making the final kick heading inside 50. Eshwara’s creativeness as the final link in the chain also saw him bag two goals in the first half. His ball use under pressure wavered a little thereafter, but it was overall an exciting performance.

#5 Will Clancy (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder/Forward | 181cm | 09/02/2010

A ball hunter capable of picking up possessions in all parts of the ground, Clancy made his mark on the midfield battle. He charged in and out of stoppages, attacking the ball hard and coming away with a sharp turn of foot. His aggression and hunt on the inside complimented his work rate on the outside, where he directed traffic and stayed busy. He spent more time forward after half time.

#10 Will Thornton (Oakleigh Chargers)
Defender | 185cm | 25/06/2010

One of Metro’s many accumulators in defence, Thornton took charge with a hold on the distributive duties. He moved the ball around when his side opted to control possession, but broke the shackles of that kick-mark play by gradually becoming more expansive. That meant running hard to get the ball back after his initial disposal, and mopping up plenty of spills inside defensive 50. He had help, but everything seemed to go through Thornton as Metro restarted from the back.

#16 Louis Grinter (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder | 187cm | 04/12/2010

Grinter teamed up with Clancy to control the engine room, proving dominant on the inside and outside. His ability to spread from the contest was impressive, providing an outlet as Metro exited defensive 50 and doing so with smooth movement. Grinter’s tall frame stood out, but he was mobile enough to step around would-be tacklers in addition to just shrugging them off.

#17 Lukas Koutoufides (Northern Knights)
Utility | 189cm | 16/07/2010

A famous name poised to provide another beacon of hope for Carlton fans, Koutoufides showed glimpses of his famous fathers’ qualities. He started forward before a move into midfield, and finished the game down back. Wherever he went, Koutoufides’ size and power were evident. He handled the ball cleanly and distributed it with as equal polish, while also proving his wears in aerial contests. There’s plenty of versatility and upside to work with.

#18 Diing Mayen (Western Jets)
Wing/Defender | 189cm | 04/08/2010

Having started out on the wing, Mayen well and truly came into his own with a second half switch to defence. There, he found more opportunities to showcase his speed in transition, hitting top gear more often and breaking the lines with confidence. Mayen’s power running helped Metro move from end-to-end, as he recovered the ball before driving it forward in eye-catching spurts.

#24 Brock Fletcher (Calder Cannons)
Key Forward | 194cm | 08/12/2010

Another prospect with family ties to the top level, Fletcher is the nephew of Essendon great Dustin. He captained Metro on Friday and was also a spearhead in attack, booting three goals. With a typically rangy frame and good athleticism, Fletcher extended at the ball nicely overhead and was mobile enough to provide connection up the ground. He was just as nimble in open play and began to dominate closer to goal in the second half, where he made all of his scoreboard impact.

#26 Henry Woods (Eastern Ranges)
Ruck/Key Forward | 197cm | 07/02/2010

Another mobile tall at Metro’s disposal, Woods took on the primary rucking duties. His coverage of the ground was exceptional, sitting in great positions behind the ball while also getting involved in open play. Woods chased and joined in as Metro chained the ball forward, proving quite skilful with ball in hand. He also spent time forward but was most impactful as a pure roaming ruck.

VIC COUNTRY 2.3 | 4.4 | 6.8 | 7.9 (51)
VIC METRO 2.1 | 5.4 | 9.7 | 12.13 (85)

GOALS:
Vic Country: Z. Martin 2, H. Greene 2, H. Watson, C. Whelan, C. Sutton
Vic Metro: D. Moreland 3, B. Fletcher 3, N. Eshwara 2, J. Auber 2, M. Wilcox, T. Borg

VIC COUNTRY:

#3 Hudson Brown (Dandenong Stingrays)
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 31/07/2010

Brown showed he was up for the battle from the get-go, providing intensity and speed in the midfield battle. His core strength saw him not only stand up in tackles, but then drive through them and escape to the outside. Brown was also willing to apply pressure of his own and worked hard once he shifted forward in the second half. There, the Dandenong prospect got involved in useful combination work up the ground and was a key avenue towards forward 50. He got reward for his hard work with a set shot goal in the final quarter to tidy up the scoreboard.

#7 Jaxon Scott (Gippsland Power)
Defender/Forward | 176cm | 19/04/2010

Scott was one of Vic Country’s most viable defensive rebounders in the first half, before getting a late run up forward. He started out by standing tall with a strong intercept mark deep inside defensive 50, but caught the eye more often with his work on the rebound. Scott often looked to move the ball on quickly and preferred to go by foot, gaining quick territory for his side. He had some opportunities at the other end of the ground but wasn’t quite clean enough to snap them up.

#9 Zen Blythe (Dandenong Stingrays)
Defender/Midfielder | 187cm | 30/04/2010

Along with Scott, Blythe was one of Vic Country’s prolific rebound defenders. The pair teamed up to provide plenty of run and drive out of the back 50, showing nice spurts of acceleration in the process. Blythe started term four at the opening centre bounce and again produced moments of speed on the attack, before launching the ball inside 50 with venom – once to assist Brown.

#11 Alex Ingham (Gippsland Power)
Forward/Midfielder | 180cm | 08/02/2010

Ingham had his moments of class up forward and earned a run on-ball in the second half. He got on the board early with a crisp ground ball get, spin and snap for Vic Country’s opening goal. A set shot conversion in the second quarter made it two, forming an effective scoring duo with Arlo Greene before the main break. Ingham’s poise and economical movement translated well to his time on-ball.

#16 Eamon Hyde (Murray Bushrangers)
Defender/Midfielder | 189cm | 21/02/2010

A player with plenty of power and size, Hyde was sure to make his physical presence felt. He started down back where an intercept mark on the last line and fend-off at half-back were among his highlights. He was comfortable behind the ball, especially as an interceptor, but then ventured into midfield where his strong frame stood out. Hyde tended to dump the ball long by foot in a no-nonsense fashion. He even snuck free inside 50 for a set shot goal in the fourth quarter.

#24 Macklan Dalziel (Bendigo Pioneers)
Midfielder/Defender | 187cm | 09/06/2010

Playing the inverse role to Hyde, Dalziel made his mark in midfield before shifting into Vic Country’s defence. He racked up possessions with minimal fuss, drifting into all parts of the ground and seamlessly finding space. He got involved in several passages during the attacking phase, helping his side move the ball in waves and using it efficiently.

VIC METRO:

#3 Billy Brundell (Calder Cannons)
Defender/Midfielder | 177cm | 13/02/2010

Brundell was full of run for Vic Metro, whether surging the ball out of defence or the centre stoppages. His link-up play made for good viewing, often combining with teammates by hand and driving his legs into space. While a little scrappy at times, he made repeat efforts to win the ball and used his pace to get free. Brundell’s work rate and wave running were sensational throughout, but particularly when he got a run on-ball in the second half.

#4 Mac Stewart (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder/Wing | 180cm | 02/12/2010

Stewart was well and truly in the thick of the action, setting a strong tone with his aggressive tackling early on. The hard-at-it midfielder started at the centre bounces but was also employed on the wing, providing bursts of speed and playing at full intensity. He cut through minuscule openings with his wicked side-step and repeatedly looked to take the game on in the front half.

#5 Liam Basil (Sandringham Dragons)
Defender/Midfielder | 181cm | 22/04/2010

The Basil and Brundell combination was a highlight for Vic Metro, with providing plenty of energy as they ran riot throughout the game. Basil had his fingerprints on everything coming out of the back half, linking up in transition and using his speed to take ground on countless ventures. Even when switched into midfield, he couldn’t help but drop back and maintain his style of play, showcasing great running power. Basil hunted the ball and was just about untouchable on the way out of contests. He capped off his performance with two quality goals in the second half.

#6 Tom Tritton (Oakleigh Chargers)
Midfielder/Forward | 182cm | 02/03/2010

Another of Metro’s slick and speedy midfielders, Tritton provided plenty of pop on the way forward. He roved the ball on the move and handled it cleanly, helping break from congestion with ease. Tritton’s ability to overlap and provide drive on the outside saw him become a launch player heading inside 50, and he even slotted a running goal in term two. The second was his most impactful quarter, helping Metro hit the lead before spending more time forward after the main break.

#7 Mason Agnew (Eastern Ranges)
Defender | 182cm | 24/03/2010

A real goer in defence, Agnew rode the hits and kept on popping back up. He consistently got into good spots to intercept and wasn’t afraid to put his body on the line in doing so. Agnew also hunted the ball at ground level and showcased his competitiveness with a number of admirable chases and hard tackles. He was a little scrappy at times, but integral to the defence nonetheless.

#9 Benjamin Richardson (Northern Knights)
Forward/Midfielder | 183cm | 22/09/2010

Another famous name out there for Metro, Richardson is the son of 114-game former Magpie, Alan. He started up forward and clearly has a keen eye for goal, as he blasted away with shots at the big sticks from all angles. Richardson showed good power and spring inside 50, crashing through packs and floating home a flukey goal in the third term. He spent some time on-ball and out on the wing, but looked most at home in attack. Tidying up his ball use will be an area for improvement.

#10 Lual Deng (Western Jets)
Defender | 184cm | 08/05/2010

Deng was among the coolest customers afield on Friday, showing a high level of composure in defence. While almost casual in his approach, he intercepted effortlessly with several clean overhead marks before looking to attack on the rebound. Deng’s spring in the air was matched by good speed to get to each contest, while proving he could change gears with ball in hand. Just about everything he did came with a touch of polish and class as a mainstay down back.

#13 Mac Hammerstein (Oakleigh Chargers)
Utility | 185cm | 19/03/2010

Along with Deng, Hammerstein had claims on being the best and most classy player afield. He ran riot as a wingman in the opening half, proving the ultimate connection player with his ability to combine on the outside. He was particularly damaging forward of centre, making poised decisions and showcasing terrific foot skills. Hammerstein booted two of the games opening three goals and spent time on-ball before translating his creative talent to a move down back. While a touch quieter after half time, he continued to use the ball well and manufactured fluent transitional play.

#16 Louis Hooper (Sandringham Dragons)
Defender | 186cm | 11/08/2010

There were shades of Josh Sinn in Hooper’s game, as he provided plenty of dash and dare off half-back. Possessing size and power, he quite often tucked the ball under his arm and charged forward at full speed, breaking the lines effectively. While his kicking was a little erratic at times, Hooper got good penetration and was entrusted with some of the kick-in duties. He also proved he could chime in with solid intercept marks both high and deep in the back half.

#23 Jesse Groenen (Eastern Ranges)
Tall Defender | 192cm | 15/08/2010

Groenen was the standout key defender across the two games, dominating his domain and proving difficult to beat. As a deep-lying tall, he took several intercept marks and was comfortable under the high ball, but also read the play well to reliably mop up at ground level. Groenen’s coverage of the defensive 50 and ability to repel with minimal fuss made scoring difficult for Country’s talls.

#26 Jacob Keech (Sandringham Dragons)
Ruck | 202cm | 08/07/2010

The tallest player afield at 202cm, Keech used his size to advantage. He broke the packs open and was a willing target down the line, competing well both aerially and at ground level. Keech grabbed the ball out of the ruck to clear on a couple of occasions and bagged a goal in the final quarter with a no-fuss turn and snap in open play. His rucking partner, Luca De Crispigny, also showed promise as a more agile type whose leap caught the eye.

VIC COUNTRY 2.0 | 4.3 | 6.4 | 11.6 (72)
VIC METRO 1.2 | 5.7 | 10.10 | 12.10 (82)

GOALS:
Vic Country: A. Ingham 2, A. Greene 2, A. Symons, H. Brown, L. Sims, E. Hyde, W. Hullick, K. Bannister, C. Blake
Vic Metro: L. Basil 2, M. Hammerstein 2, A. Dunstan 2, S. Saccone, T. Tritton, B. Richardson, A. Moretti, L. De Crispigny, J. Keech