Vic Metro

#1 Callum Brown– Brown had a good game for Metro without being dominant. He found lots of the football but he lacked damage with his disposal. In midfield he won the footy and supplied it to his teammates well and brought the wingman into the game. His decision making needs some work as he put his teammates under pressure and his disposal at times was shaky. Solid game for the son of Collingwood’s Gavin.

#3 Jack Higgins– The Oakleigh Chargers midfielder played a very different role than he is used to and he did play it well. On a wing he was a real force early creating lots of play and sending it into the inside 50 for his forwards. At times he was selfish with the footy and tried to do things himself but that will change with more experience at the champs level. Another thing that stood out is that his kicking over short distances can be quite loopy often slowing the play down and putting his teammates under pressure.

#5 Andrew McGrath– A captain’s performance for the Brighton Grammar School boy. At half back he was a real driving force gathering mass amounts of the football and running with it. His athletics background was on full display with many eye catching runs including a 100 meter sprint from the kick-out to the centre circle where he disposed of the ball leading to a Dylan Clarke goal. The other thing that stood out from McGrath is his kicking which is really strong for a player of his type. Over all distances his kicking was really strong and cut the game open at times. This performance puts him into first round contention as an outside midfielder/halfback.

#6 Hayden Blythe– Even though the stats don’t flatter him his impact was felt throughout the game. Starring as a small defender Blythe showed how effect he is at stopping and providing some rebound. His kicking was superb the whole day  and won many one-on-one contests as a small defender. In the third quarter he was particularly damaging as he sent the ball inside 50 twice and hit targets. He was running at elite efficiency the whole day and showed he didn’t need much of the footy to do some damage.

#18 Dylan Clarke– The Metro contested beast started his Division 1 championships with a bang by gathering tonnes of the football and also going forward. Dylan’s TAC Cup form was taken into this carnival and he showed his talent on the big stage. He was in and under the contests the whole day and spread really well from stoppages. He also was marking really well around the ground, going forward and kicked a couple of goals. His disposal does need work going at a poor efficiency but that might be attributed to him playing inside the whole game.

#24 Tim Taranto– One of the better games I’ve seen from Taranto and he has given a lot of promise as a half forward. Against country he was great playing as that half forward link man. He had quite a bit of the football and he supplied his teammates well inside 50. He was a marking threat up forward and played a role not dissimilar to Adelaide’s Tom Lynch. He also hit the scoreboard by kicking three goals. His disposal was a weakness today with his efficiency being average. Tim’s carnival has started extremely well and if he performs he could rise up draft boards rapidly over the year.

Vic Country

#6 Lochie O’Brien– Exciting wingman Lochie O’Brien was extremely impressive on a wing for the Vic Country side. He created lots of drive through the midfield and used his elite speed to cut games open. His running patterns were extremely impressive for a wingman and gave glimpses of his ability running forward by delivering the ball inside 50 on many occasions. His disposal was really good going at great efficiency. He could improve his uncontested marking numbers by working harder around the ground but otherwise it was a strong game for the Bendigo Pioneer.

#7 Will Brodie- Despite carrying a knee injury from the Western Australian game, Brodie put it all together in a dominant performance. From the get go Brodie was in and under at stoppages. He did his best work in close giving his runners the ability to attack forward. On the the outside he was running really well and that has allowed him to become more balanced getting his disposals inside and out. He is also surprisingly fast as he lopes around the ground with his legs carrying at a good pace around the ground. Going forward he was dominant with most of his inside 50’s leading to goals which is good to see. His disposal was average for Country but that knock is one he has carried the whole year as a mid.

#9 Ben Ainsworth– One hell of a comeback for the potential number one pick. In his comeback game he was really good as he kicked four goals as a small forward. He marked extremely well above his head and at times looked likely to break the game open. His third quarter was electric where he was clunking everything inside 50 and was lively as ever. I was disappointed he didn’t go into the midfield but I would expect him to in later weeks.

#17 Hugh McCluggage– A great game for McCluggage as he was one of the better players for Country. In the midfield he was on fire early in the game creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. He weaved around traffic in the midfield and left recruiters in awe of his talent. Up forward he showed his skill as well by kicking three goals. Although he did slow down, he was close to the best player on the ground for Country. McCluggage does need to learn how to win more of the contested football but that may be attributed to his small frame. He also need to improve his consistency as he went in and out of the game.

#18 Jarrod Korewha– One of the best performances I’ve seen from Korewha. This game Korewha was slotted at Centre Half Back where he created rebound for the Country team by intercepting the ball as it came in. His disposal was superb as he rarely made a mistake. Korewha also took some nice intercept marks left, right and centre as a tall. Although defensively he needs work, his running up forward is elite for a tall defender. A high quality performance by a quality player.

#29 James Worpel– Worpel is one I haven’t seen a lot of. He was a star at Under 16 level and has been on fire for the Falcons. Worpel against Metro played as a inside midfielder among the likes of McCluggage and Brodie. He was an absolute beast in the middle, tackling everyone with footy in hand and clearing the ball nearly every time for country. He laid out players and showed toughness unlike I’ve seen from a bottom age midfielder. One to watch next year.

Match report:

Vic Metro claimed their first win over cross state rivals Vic Country for the first time since 2013, with a thrilling come from behind victory at Simonds Stadium on Monday.

Trailing by 20-points at three-quarter time, Metro kicked the first four goals to hit the front, before a late fightback from Country gave them the lead with two minutes to play.

Western Jets midfielder Daniel Venables stepped up marking inside 50, converting the chance to steal the dramatic victory in front of a strong crowd at Geelong that saw Metro finish winners 14.10 (94) to 14.8 (92).

The match ebbed and flowed throughout the day with 22 out of the 28 goals kicked towards the southern end of Simonds Stadium, despite no apparent breeze.

Bushrangers midfielder Will Brodie (29 disposals, seven clearances) stood out, despite visibly being hampered by a knee issue which he suffered last weekend against Western Australia. Brodie didn’t cover the ground as well as he has in the past, but the soreness didn’t stop him from throwing his body around at the contest and was Country’s best.

Rebel Hugh McCluggage kicked two opening quarter goals, finishing the match with 25 disposals and three goals backing up Brodie’s work in the middle.

Trailing at half time by three-points, Country small forward Ben Ainsworth returned from suspension kicking four goals in the third term but it was Metro co-captain Andrew McGrath who shut him down, keeping him to a single handball for the remainder of the contest.

Not only did Sandringham Dragons flanker McGrath keep Ainsworth quiet, his rebound and run & carry off half back was excellent setting up two pivotal Metro goals in the last quarter.

One passage saw McGrath run the ball from deep in defence, 100m forward with the ball ending with Dylan Clarke kicking Metro’s third for the final term.

McGrath finished with 23 disposals, whilst Collingwood Father/Son prospect Callum Brown (27 disposals, eight clearances and one goal) was also solid in the midfield for Metro.

Dylan Clarke (26 disposals, six clearances and two goals) was one of Metro’s best for the contest, with a consistent effort across all four quarters. Clarke is the brother of North Melbourne’s Ryan, and is averaging 28 disposals so far in the TAC Cup this season.

Half forward Tim Taranto was also another Dragon who performed well, kicking three goals from his 18 disposals.

Earlier, Chargers forward Nick Larkey kicked the opening goal for the contest, much to the enjoyment of his Trinity Grammar mates who had ventured down to Geelong to support. Many of the strong crowd was full of voice as the sides traded goals late in the last term.

Metro midfielder Oliver Florent begun the game at a fast pace with a strong half, before a shin issue left him on crutches for the remainder of the contest and he will be in doubt for their game on Sunday against South Australia. Country themselves were one down on the bench, with Tom Jok suffering a collarbone injury.

Despite the loss, Country bottom agers James Worpel and Lochie O’Brien each had 16 disposals neither looking out of place running through the midfield.

The result leaves Country with a winless start to the championship, which will make it tough for them to claim back-to-back Under 18 titles.

They will have a week to collect their thoughts, before they meet the currently undefeated South Australian outfit while Metro have their only interstate game with a travel to South Australia on Sunday at AAMI Stadium.

VIC COUNTRY 5.2   6.3   12.4   14.8 (92)
VIC METRO      1.4   6.6     8.8   14.10 (94)

GOALS:
Vic Country: Ainsworth 4, McCluggage 3, Drew 2, Poholke 2, Worpel, Battle, Blake
Vic Metro: Taranto 3, Clarke 2, Larkey 2, Brown, Bunker, Gallucci, Duman, Venables, Lynch, Brown

Matt Balmer’s BEST:
Vic Country: Brodie, McCluggage, Worpel, Ainsworth, Poholke
Vic Metro: McGrath, Clarke, Brown, Taranto, Gallucci