VIC METRO has moved to 2-0 after a resounding 83-point win over the Allies in Ballarat on Sunday. The home side piled on eight unanswered goals in the opening term to set the platform for victory, and despite some wayward finishing, flexed their scoring muscle to salute 20.19 (139) to 8.8 (56).

Among a list of 11 Metro goalkickers, potential top five prospect Gus Teixeira led the way with four majors, while small forward and Sandringham teammate George Dimer snared three. Eastern captain Jordan Knapp was everywhere and led all comers with 31 disposals, eight marks and seven inside 50s.

We took note of the top prospects and performers from either side.

VIC METRO 8.4 | 11.8 | 17.15 | 20.19 (139)
ALLIES 0.0 | 3.2 | 4.3 | 8.8 (56)

GOALS:
Vic Metro: G. Teixeira 4, G. Dimer 3, A. Tippett 3, A. Butler 2, S. Gayfer 2, S. Harris, L. Houndsome, B. Justice, T. Krasna, J. Miller, H. Van Hattum
Allies: J. Callinan 2, R. Thompson 2, A. Hill, H. Meaney, S. Smiler, A. Watts

BEST:
Vic Metro: G. Dimer, J. Miller, G. Teixeira, J. Knapp, T. Krasna, A. Butler
Allies: C. French, A. Hill, C. Murray, J. Callinan, A. Devine, S. Smiler

VIC METRO:

#1 George Dimer (Sandringham Dragons)
Small Forward | 173cm | 21/06/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s, 3 goals

It was an electrifying display of sheer smarts, speed and forward craft from Dimer. He was often sighted hitting hard up the ground to provide connection heading inside 50, but also got dangerous with his movement and positioning closer to goal. On seemingly countless occasions, the crafty small planted himself front-and-centre to crumb off packs and used his evasiveness to manufacture clean looks on goal. He hardly fumbled a ball all day and brought great ground level presence, collecting the ball before looking to be creative with it. High class.

#3 Harvie Cooke (Northern Knights)
Midfielder/Forward | 176cm | 04/12/2008

Stats: 22 disposals, 9 marks, 5 inside 50s

An absolute workhorse, Cooke showed a willingness to give his all at the contest while also running hard on the spread. He was effective as a high forward, gaining separation to provide a connective outlet between the arcs and often wheeling around quickly to blast a kick long. Cooke went at 50 per cent efficiency by foot, sometimes blazing away but finding reward with some of his deep forward entries. The combative small also showed his toughness with several dogged tackles.

#6 Jordan Knapp (Eastern Ranges)
Midfielder/Wing | 180cm | 05/01/2008

Stats: 31 disposals, 8 marks, 4 clearances, 7 inside 50s

Knapp seemed to be all over Mars Stadium, where he racked up possessions at will. He ended up with a whopping 24 uncontested possessions and received plenty of ball off teammates, but also showed he was willing to scrap hard and apply pressure at the contest. His running power was immense and went a long way to giving Metro’s transitional ball movement its flow, although some of that fluency broke down with his execution by foot. Like Cooke, Knapp ran at 50 per cent efficiency and registered three behinds in what was otherwise a highly productive outing.

#7 Toby Krasna (Northern Knights)
Midfielder/Wing | 181cm | 28/02/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

One of the biggest risers on the back of his Talent League and representative form, Krasna added touches of class as he relentlessly brought the ball forward. While slightly built, he was able to crash in when required and escaped congestion untouched more often than not. His agility and ability to quickly identify targets meant he pulled off some sharp passes off both feet, along with a terrific goal to end the first half. He was clean and evasive all day, causing headaches for the Allies.

#9 Gus Teixeira (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder/Forward | 181cm | 29/03/2008

Stats: 21 disposals, 7 marks, 4 goals

It was another powerful and high-impact performance from Teixeira, who cut up the Allies at his best. He showed his intent and physicality around the ball but was a major threat inside 50 where he often found separation on the lead. Teixeira’s movement and clean hands made him a reliable target close to goal, registering seven scoring shots both over the mark and in open play. His penetrative bullet kicks heading inside 50 also forged a couple of handy assists to Jake Miller.

#13 Lochie Burrows (Sandringham Dragons)
Defender | 181cm | 11/04/2008

Stats: 18 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s

Although much of the play belonged in Vic Metro’s front half, Burrows found ways to get involved and wasn’t afraid to venture high up the ground. In fact, he was aggressive in doing so and became a threat in transition with such intent. Burrows’ explosive speed and willingness to take the game on were eye-catching, putting the Allies on the back foot by attacking at pace. While erratic at times, that daring style has earmarked Burrows’ successful shift to defence in recent weeks.

#17 Arki Butler (Sandringham Dragons)
Forward/Midfielder | 183cm | 23/04/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 10 marks, 2 goals

For all his miraculous skill and talent, it has been pleasing to see Butler’s uptake in pressure and work rate of late. Playing much of the game up forward, he used his speed to make the opposition panic and got stuck in with some robust tackles when required. Otherwise, he pounced on his opportunities inside 50, finding space off turnover to boot both of his goals in the opening term. Butler also provided a link piece up the ground and was difficult to contain with ball in hand. He ended up earning some midfield minutes in the second half but was more impactful beforehand.

#28 Sam Gayfer (Northern Knights)
Key Forward | 194cm | 21/05/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 2 goals

Stats don’t tell the story for Gayfer, who crashed packs and played with the kind of mongrel good key forwards require. His presentation at the kicker and attack on the aerial ball brought smalls like Dimer into play, but Gayfer also proved capable of recovering at ground level himself. He brought strength and aggression to each contest and was hardly beaten, even laying a holding-the-ball tackle for his second goal. A real competitor who impacts and can score in bunches.

#32 Jake Miller (Western Jets)
Key Forward | 197cm | 07/05/2009

Stats: 14 disposals, 9 marks, 1 goal

Despite still being a bottom-ager, Miller was arguably Vic Metro’s focal point in the front half. He gained separation on the lead all day, and even when he didn’t, was strong enough to withstand pressure and pluck the ball out in front. Miller’s work rate and presence up the ground made him a reliable target in transition, and he was rewarded with several scoring chances deeper in attack. Although, he was slightly wayward this time out with 1.3 in an otherwise terrific outing.

ALLIES:

#1 Sonny Smiler (Wanderers/Northern Territory)
Small Forward/Wing | 178cm | 20/10/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 2 marks, 1 goal

On a dour day for his side, Smiler produced some flashy and exciting moments. The lively forward was involved in several chains of play between the arcs, using his speed and ground level nous to help keep the ball moving quickly. While only credited with one tackle, Smiler applied pressure and had a hand in plenty of scores. He kicked a goal of his own and celebrated with some acrobatics, finishing with 1.2 having put a couple more chances wide or short.

#3 Cooper French (Giants Academy/ACT)
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 28/03/2009

Stats: 24 disposals, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s

French was arguably the Allies’ best and most productive player on Sunday. The bottom-ager had a hand in everything, combining well with teammates for 16 uncontested possessions and 12 handball receives, but also prising a team-high five clearances. His turn of speed and surge style made him a constant threat in bringing the ball forward, albeit if his end product was a touch scrappy at times. The drive and meterage he gave his side proved vital in their late fight.

#7 Archie Devine (North Hobart/Tasmania)
Defender | 181cm | 13/02/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

On a day where several players struggled to deliver efficiently by foot, Devine hardly missed a target. There was plenty of easy ball to be found as the play lived in the Allies’ back half, and while Devine did so, he was able to make use of it with safe and precise kicking. The Tasmanian linked up well coming out of defence and sought to run hard to chain his possessions, producing some promising bits of transitional ball movement. That kind of flow was difficult to come by for the Allies.

#9 Caylen Murray (Lions Academy/Queensland)
Defender/Midfielder | 181cm | 16/01/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Albeit on a less prolific scale, Murray was his usual self bounding out of defence. He combined with the likes of Devine to pick up the ball deep and drive it forward aggressively, using his speed to break the lines. Murray was a little off with his foot skills as he looked to force the issue kicking into the wind, but began to find his groove and shift gears to suit the conditions. At his best, he sliced through the corridor and allowed his side to move from end-to-end in a flash. The talented Queenslander ended up spending some time on-ball late in the game.

#10 Archie Hill (Suns Academy/Queensland)
Wing/Defender | 181cm | 04/03/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 9 marks, 7 rebound 50s, 1 goal

Hill got back to his productive best, dipping into his running tank to provide an outlet up and down the line. Starting in defence before a second half swap to the wing, the Queenslander provided an outnumber and was willing to scrap for the loose ball, but also found plenty of space to chalk up uncontested marks. He mixed up his long and short kicks to keep the Allies in possession and even drifted deep forward to claim a strong mark and goal in the third quarter.

#26 Jake Callinan (Suns Academy/Queensland)
Midfielder/Forward | 190cm | 18/08/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 2 goals

An inclusion from outside the initial squad, Callinan produced moments of class in his mid-forward rotation. He started on-ball and showed his intent with a couple of hard early tackles, while also proving able to shift into space with poise. The Suns Academy prospect deliberately picked out his targets by foot and was clean overhead, drifting into space within forward 50 to mark uncontested and kick two goals in the final term. He’s a good watch in top form.