South Australia and Vic Metro took the points in cold conditions at Etihad Stadium.
Despite the roof being closed, the temperature struggled to reach double figures with crowd members decked out in beanies and gloves across the stands.
Ben Jarman played his best game of the Under 18 championships with three first half goals in an important effort forward of centre for South Australia.
The son of Adelaide & Hawthorn premiership star Darren stands at 175cm and did his draft chances no harm, where he will likely find himself on either clubs list at the end of the season. Jarman is viewed by many as a late national pick and his saved his best until the final game.
Small forward Tyson Stengle was a spark for SA inside 50 kicking a goal early, but was shut down exceptionally well from Country bottom-ager Tyrone Hayes after half time.
South Australia seemed too quick for the Country boys and often found themselves with players out the back of the play. SA midfielders Jack Graham (25 disposals, nine clearances and seven tackles) and Jonty Scharenberg (25 disposals, six clearances) worked in tandem throughout the afternoon.
Alex Villis was well shut down off the wing but still showed why he could push to be the first South Australian picked, kicking well on both sides of his body and booting a goal.
For Country, inside midfielder Will Brodie was quiet despite 18 disposals and a team high four clearances while Esava Ratugolea, a late call up to the Country team crashed a few packs and missed two kickable chances inside 50.
Hugh McCluggage was the home states best, with 17 disposals and three goals- continuing the sea-saw between Brodie and himself for the first Victorian picked on draft night.
Ben Ainsworth pushed up the ground with more midfield time, collecting 20 disposals but often blazed away shooting for goal rather than passing off to a team mate.
In defence, Oscar Clavarino continued to show that he is a name to keep an eye on for next season, positioning himself well against taller opponents. Reece Piper burst well from defence and hit multiple targets with his strong boot.
Despite kicking the last six goals, Vic Country couldn’t collect their first win and will go into Wednesday wanting a win against the Allies to ensure they don’t have a winless carnival. South Australia finish with a 3-1 record in the championship and mathematically have a chance of remaining on top should Western Australia win over Vic Metro by a narrow margin.
VIC COUNTRY 2.0 3.5 4.10 9.11 (65)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 6.0 9.4 11.8 11.10 (76)
GOALS
VIC COUNTRY: McCluggage 3, Ainsworth, Battle, Atley, Fowler, Battle, Worpel
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Jarman 3, Coleman-Jones, Pitman, Stengle, Ladhams, Villis, Hayward, Scharenberg, Lebois
Matt Balmer’s BEST
VIC COUNTRY: McCluggage, Worpel, Ainsworth, Piper, Atley, Brodie
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Graham, Scharenberg, Pitman, Villis, Jarman, Stengle
Game two went up a tempo where both Collingwood father sons Callum Brown and Josh Daicos had their good individual moments.
The duo both kicked a major in the final quarter, ensuring that Metro would continue their unbeaten run.
Neither prospect is expected to cost anything other than a second or third round pick at this stage and will likely find themselves in black and white in 2017.
Bottom-age ruckman Sam Hayes played his best game for Metro, proving damaging when he pushed forward and kicked two opening quarter goals. Hayes finished with three goals from 13 disposals and will be a name to keep an eye on for Eastern Ranges in the second half of the season.
With Metro resting Sandringham Dragons defender Jack Scrimshaw, Oakleigh Charger Jordan Ridley came in for his first game of the championship, finishing with 18 disposals and seven marks as one of their best.
Melbourne Grammar midfielder Dylan Clarke continued to find the football, with 26 disposals and five clearances. Clarke has strong ball winning capabilities and if he can sharpen up his kicking he could slot into the first round on draft night in November.
The Andy McGrath Fan Club is up and about. #NABAFLU18s pic.twitter.com/NhtHLo082T
— Draft Central (@DraftCentralAus) June 24, 2016
Brighton Grammar school captain and Vic Metro co-captain Andrew McGrath had a hard task, being closely followed by Allies’ Charlie Spargo. The Allies kept McGrath deep inside 50, not allowing for him to use his run and dash out of defence. However, a move into the centre after half time saw him show another string to his bow, finishing the day with 24 disposals and six clearances.
Corey Lyons had 20 disposals but will be ruing his chance missing a simple set shot from 40m out, after a ‘anti-congestion’ infringement cost the Allies.
Luke Bunker had 23 disposals and continues to find the football throughout the Under 18 championships and could be a smokey for the All Australian team.
For the Allies, Jack Bowes had his best game of the division one carnival with 20 disposals and seven inside 50s and two quiet games shouldn’t push him down too far on draft boards.
Harry Perryman (18 disposals) continues to improve each week and you could make a case as it stands currently that he’ll be the first GWS Academy prospect picked.
Other academy members Kobe Mutch (GWS) and Jacob Allison (Brisbane Lions) were solid for the Allies in an improved effort from the combined team.
The Allies hit the front midway through the third quarter but a burst of four goals for Vic Metro all but ensured they would remain as favourites to take out the title when the championships come to a close on Wednesday.
Vic Metro will be proclaimed winners of the Division One title if they beat Western Australia on Wednesday at Simonds Stadium, while the Allies will be looking for their first win of the carnival against Vic Country.
VIC METRO 5.1 5.6 6.9 10.14 (74)
ALLIES 0.5 4.7 6.10 8.12 (60)
GOALS
VIC METRO: Hayes 3, Kerr 2, Venables, Lyons, Higgins, Daicos, Brown
ALLIES: Sproule 2, Brown, Hampton, Allison, Rolls, Perryman, Marshall
Matt Balmer’s BEST
VIC METRO: Clarke, Ridley, McGrath, Hayes, Bunker, Lyons
ALLIES: Perryman, Bowes, Allison, Mutch, Spargo, Scheer
2016 AFL Draft order
After a hectic AFL Trade period, with players and picks exchanging between clubs, the dust has settled and the 2016 draft order has been confirmed. Essendon have the corveted Pick 1, with Vic Metro’s Andrew McGrath and Vic Country’s Hugh McCluggage the likely two to come into consideration for their selection. ROUND ONE No. Points […]
AFL Draft Combine 2016 Day 4 results
The 2016 AFL Draft Combine concluded on Sunday with the 3km time trial finishing the four day event. The 3km time trial is an event that many players haven’t run in their careers and it was Vic Country’s Jarrod Berry who won with a time of 9:46 minutes. The state combine was also run at Etihad Stadium […]
AFL Draft Combine 2016 Day 3 results
Day 3 was an action packed day for the 2016 AFL Draft prospects, with plenty of testing to keep the players occupied over the course of the day. Vic Metro co-captain Jordan Gallucci broke the standing vertical jump record, whilst it was Jarrod Berry, Oliver Florent and Griffin Logue who performed extremely well in the […]
AFL Draft Combine 2016 Day 2 results
Day 2 saw players be put under the spotlight with medicals from clubs, as well as interviews with media and AFL clubs. Players also completed testing for hand-eye coordination and reaction time, such as Ben Ainsworth attempting to hit the coloured lights in the image below. Friday night saw players undertake the kicking, clean hands […]
Stars to shine bright at the National AFL Draft Combine
FOR the draft crop of 2016, the National AFL Draft Combine is the first sign that their AFL dreams are a step closer to fruition. An invitation to the AFL Draft Combine means that at least five AFL clubs have expressed interest in the player. The AFL Draft Combine is a way for clubs to […]
Future prospects star in under 15s V/Line Cup
AS the nation’s top under 18s players go head to head in a series of tests at the National AFL Draft Combine, AFL Draft Central has fast forwarded to the 2019 AFL Draft. It might seem a while off yet, but here are 30 players who impressed at the V/Line Cup last week. For those who […]
Matt Balmer’s October Power Rankings
In an AFL Draft Central feature, AFL Draft analyst Matt Balmer will update his Power Rankings on the first Monday of every month. Well, what a season it has been. Games are done and dusted for the season, with Friday’s Under 18 All Stars match showcasing some of the very best draft prospects for 2016. The AFL National Combine runs from Thursday […]
U17 All Stars ultimate review
BACK-TO-BACK wins saw ‘Team Judd’ claim inagularl Kevin Sheehan Trophy after defeating ‘Team O’Loughlin‘ by 13-points at Punt Road Oval on Saturday. After winning comfortably on Friday in the Under 18 All Stars match, ‘Team Judd’ Under 17s were made to work much harder for their win on Grand Final day. The concept saw the ‘Best 46’ 2017 […]
Under 17 All Stars game ultimate preview
AUSTRALIA’S top teenage footballers will take part in a new concept that is aimed to feature the best players for the 2017 draft. Saturday’s Under 17 All Stars match will see players divided up into two teams to play against each other in an event that the AFL hope will be in front of a […]
