POSSIBLE Top 10 draft talents Nick Blakey and Tarryn Thomas have stood out in the second weekend of the Under 18 Academy Series (Formerly Division Two), with the Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions and Tassie Mariners the winners in this weekend’s games.

SYDNEY ACADEMY VS. GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY ACADEMY

Nick Blakey stamped his authority as the best father-son/academy prospect in the 2018 draft pool, with a big bag of seven goals as the Sydney Swans Academy ran out 22-point winners over the GWS Academy on Saturday. With the match being played on the smaller Blacktown Oval No.2, it made for a contest match – but Blakey was able to find space in the attacking half of the ground, with the 195cm player standing out as the clear best on the ground.

The Swans got out to an early lead with three Blakey goals in five minutes, but the GIANTS came out hard after quarter time. However inaccuracy cost them, booting 3.5 for the quarter. The third quarter was a more even contest though GWS took the upper hand at one stage were within three points with a shot on goal that pushed wide. However, Blakey put the foot down in the final quarter, bagging another set of three goals in a superb burst of five minutes, taking the wind out of the GIANTS.

Blakey has the option of joining North Melbourne or Brisbane Lions as a father-son pick, after father John played 135 games with Fitzroy, before moving to North Melbourne, where he played 224 games. Blakey is also part of the Sydney Swans Academy and is eligible to join them as an Academy selection. Overager Sam Wicks (18 disposals), and Josh Stern (18 disposals) were also in the Swans’ best players, making it back-to-back wins for the red and white.

For GWS, Matthew Walker suffered an unfortunate arm incident during the contest, resulting in him being on ice for the second half. Edward Perryman (the brother of GWS’ Harry) played a very good role as a small forward, booting three goals from his 15 disposals. Perryman’s speed and agility were outstanding, while he was duly supported by 200cm tall forward Kieren Briggs who booted two goals, taking some strong pack marks during the day.

SYDNEY SWANS                                 6.4     8.6     9.8     12.13 (85)
GWS GIANTS                                       1.4     4.9     7.11     8.15 (63) 

GOALS
SYDNEY: Blakey 7, Barkley 2, Stern, Bartholomaeus
GWS GIANTS: Perryman 3, Briggs 2, Budd, Corbett, Kelly 

BEST
SYDNEY: Blakey, Stern, Wicks, McKellar, Reinhard
GWS GIANTS: Perryman, Green, Beaumont, Rowston, Kelly

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BRISBANE ACADEMY VS. GOLD COAST ACADEMY

THE BRISBANE Lions’ outstanding opening quarter led them to their first win of the Under 18 Academy Series for 2018, defeating the Gold Coast Suns Academy by 12 points. A seven goals to nil opening quarter really set the tone at South Pine on Sunday, with the Lions midfield brigade winning the crucial one-one-one battles during the day. However, despite the poor opening quarter, the Suns hit back with the wind in the second quarter and worked hard in the final quarter to outscore the Lions, but their slow start meant that the mountain was too high to climb.

Small midfielder Jesse Quint was outstanding on the outside, kicking the ball inside 50 on multiple occasions and hitting the scoreboard. Quint collected 20 disposals, eight marks, seven inside 50s and booted a goal, while inside midfielder Caleb Franks had a match-high 37 disposals, nine clearances, eight tackles and booted two goals. Franks is eligible for the 2018 AFL Draft and has put in two impressive showings in the opening two games, pushing his case for Allies selection. Thomas Griffiths (25 disposals) rebounded the ball well across half-back.

For the Suns, Bailey Scott again was in the best players, collecting 19 disposals, eight marks and booted two goals. Scott is eligible to be drafted by three clubs (as well as having the option of entering the open draft), as the son of former Cat (132 games) and Kangaroos (111 games) player Robert Scott is eligible for father-son both clubs, as well as being part of the Gold Coast Suns academy. Labrador midfielder Cooper Portelli had a team-high 25 disposals and eight marks, while Matthew Smith kicked three goals up forward.

BRISBANE LIONS           7.1       9.5       10.10   12.11 (83)
GOLD COAST SUNS        0.0       5.3       7.4       11.5 (71)

GOALS
BRISBANE: Franks, McFadyen, Tomkinson 2, Pettigrove, Quint, Matthews, Jeffrey, Smith, Ansell
GOLD COAST: Smith 3, Scott 2, Portelli, Katsiris, Haua, Wingrove, Burke, Miles

BEST
BRISBANE: Quint, Tomkinson, Franks, Stackelberg, Matthews, Pettigrove
GOLD COAST: Portelli, Smith, Scott, Gore, Stone

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TASMANIA VS. NORTHERN TERRITORY 

NORTH Melbourne Next Generation Academy member Tarryn Thomas inspired his Tasmanian team to a thrilling 15-point victory over Northern Territory at Shepley Oval on Sunday. Thomas booted two goals late in the contest when the match was in the balance, finishing the day with three goals after starting the midfield. Thomas’ clean hands were impressive at the stoppages and he booted a classy banana goal right on the boundary which would’ve caught the recruiters eyes out at Dandenong.

Small defender Mitchell Anderton defended well, spoiling well on multiple occasions and competed hard when the ball was on the ground. AFL Academy member Chayce Jones tackled well and had multiple effective kicks in the attacking half of the ground for the Mariners.

The Northern Territory were led by two players who were out on their home deck, with Victorian duo Matt and Stephen Cumming lining up for the NT side. The pair were among the best players, with Stephen rucking well throughout the match.  Stephen was clean and sharp by hand, spreading well to take some good marks during the match. He found a good amount of possessions, showing good second efforts when he lost possession of the ball. Twin brother Matt played at centre half back, taking some nice marks overhead, including a strong passage of play in the second quarter where he executed some slick handballs alongside brother Stephen.

Michael Mummery roved the ball well in the midfield, while Rodney Baird was good in defensive 50.

TASMANIA                             2.4       5.7       6.9       9.13 (67)
NORTHERN TERRITORY      0.3       2.4       5.7       7.10 (52)

GOALS
TASMANIA: Thomas 3, Mundy 2, Rubock, Turner, Auton, Lane
NORTHERN TERRITORY: Stevens, Ferreira 2, Schwarze, Mummery, S Cumming

BEST
TASMANIA: Thomas, Anderton, Baker, Wright, Norton, Mansell
NORTHERN TERRITORY: S Cumming, M Cumming, Baird, Simon

Scouting notes from the games will be available during the week