SOUTH Australia moved ever closer to wrestling back the AFL Women’s Under 18 Championships title from Vic Metro after defeating the reigning back-to-back champion at Alberton Oval on Saturday afternoon. In a clash between two national carnival heavyweights who have duopolised the title post-global lockdown, it was the home team that kicked clear with a dominant five goals to one third term to win by 20 points.

The Vics were dealt a blow going into the match with pick one contender Bailee Martin withdrawn and replaced by talented running bottom-ager Luella Hall. On paper that left a hole up forward and within eight minute of the match, South Australia had raced out to a 20-0 lead. Madeline Nuss slotted one in the opening minute, then some classy finishes from Woodville-West Torrens mid-forwards Julia Faulkner and Lucy Moore – had the tri-colours in complete control of the match.

Fortunately the Scott Gowans-led Vic side was able to arrest that momentum and Scout McCormack and Hall – who had played a combined one game between them from the carnival thus far – converted important chances. The momentum from the ninth minute of the first term – from when McCormack got her team on the board – until half-time was incredible as Vic Metro dlipped the script, leaving South Australia scoreless heading into the main break.

The three-prong tall attack of Scarlett Bown – fittingly playing in the new home state of her older sister Chloe – Holly Clough and Grace Perrett seemed to be working in the absence of Martin. The latter two both booted goals for Metro to hit the front, while Bown coninually provided an aerial presence and the usually composed South Australian defence was dump kicking or handball hoping which was completely uncharacteristic of one of the best structured teams.

Fortunately the half-time break could not come soon enough with Vic Metro leading 4.3 (27) to 3.2 (20), and from there, the response was evident. Having the breeze at their backs, South Australia broke their 37-minute scoreless drought when Maia Freemantle kicked one in transition. Nuss scored her second to hand South Australia the lead for the first time since early in the second term, before Bown kicked a cracking goal against the tide to return the lead back to the visitors.

The match was at a knife’s edge and could have gone either way, and with the wind and the crowd in their favour, South Australia reversed the result of the past two seasons. Ruby Lynch move from defence to attack proved a masterstroke with her aerial reach and groundlevel speed a headache for Metro and she booted two goals in six minutes – including one after the three quarter time siren – either side of Lani Cocks nailing one as well.

Suddenly it was a 17-point buffer and the game was South Australia’s too lose. They arguably needed one more goal to really seal the deal given Metro had the breeze, and that came in the form of bottom-aged left-footer Lily Whiteman who drove the final nail into the coffin making it 23 points to the home side. From there Metro actually controlled field position for the most part, but missed a few potential chances that would have made the South Australians sweat.

Four straight behinds only cut it down to 19 points, and the home side killed time off the clock every chance they got. The composure was back and the decision making – playing the percentages, forcing repeat stoppages, easy kick-mark touches to burn the clock – was in full force. While the Croweaters didn’t score again within the siren, it didn’t matter. They celebrated Layla Vizgaudis‘ tight angle set shot behind like it was a goal as they knew the importance of the win when it came to their title aspirations.

Cocks was the primary ball-winner in the 9,.3 (57) to 5.7 (37) victory, collecting 27 disposals, four marks, five tackles, two clearances, two rebound 50s and a goal, while the brilliance of Emily Mableson (25 disposals, two marks, four tackles, two clearances, six inside 50s and six rebound 50s) was on show. Vic Metro was well aware of how dangerous Emma Charlton (16 disposals, two marks, three tackles, two clearances and two rebound 50s) could be around the ball, but it opened the door for the likes of Eagles Moore, Faulkner and Maia Freemantle who impressed.

Lynch and Nuss were the multiple goalkickers, with the former still starting in defence, while the latter made the most of her chances with just three kicks for those four goals. Vizgauidis stepped up after a quieter game two, while Whiteman (15 disposals, five clearances and a goal) was superb starting off a wing and pushing into stoppages.

For Vic Metro, Isabella Mazzei was phenomenal from start to finish, racking up a game-high seven clearances and really keeping her side in it when the chips were down. She also had 21 disposals, three tackles and three inside 50s, while being well complemented by the likes of Emily Rankin (22 disposals, three marks, three tackles, two clearances and three rebound 50s) and Addison West (17 disposals, two marks, seven tackles, two clearances and three inside 50s) who were superb.

Bown was terrific clunking six marks from her 13 touches and even rotating into the ruck stoppages at times, while all the ‘M’ surnames were lively as McCormack, Maddison Meagher and Grace McIntyre found plenty of the ball between half-forward and half-back. Kiara Boyd and Maeve Gill did well under tough circumstances at times, while Isabelle Godfrey added some spark in the front half of the ground.

Both these sides have a week off next weekend before all roads lead to Shepley Oval for the thrilling triple-header conclusion in Dandenong. South Australia is in the box seat to win the title, and will do so if they beat Queensland on that day. However if the Allies win against Queensland next weekend, then South Australia will also win given only Vic Metro and the Allies can join the Croweaters on three wins in the scenario the leaders went down to Queensland.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA 3.2 | 3.2 | 8.2 | 9.3 (57)
VIC METRO 2.1 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 5.7 (37)

GOALS:
South Australia: R. Lynch 2, M. Nuss 2, J. Faulkner, L. Moore, L. Cocks, M. Freemantle, L. Whiteman
Vic Metro: S. Bown, H. Clough, L. Hall, G. Perrett, S. McCormack

RMC BEST:
South Australia: E. Mableson, L. Moore, L. Cocks, R. Lynch, L. Whiteman
Vic Metro: I. Mazzei, A. West, E. Rankin, S. Bown, S. McCormack