A BRODIE Kemp goal in the dying seconds has helped Vic Country remain alive in the AFL Under 18 National Championships competition, defeating South Australia by a solitary point and ending their opponent’s dream of back-to-back national titles. While Country went into the match undefeated and South Australia at 1-1 after dropping a game to Vic Metro, Country needed to win otherwise there was danger of losing the title under the head-to-head rule. It was a see-sawing contest that looked to be in South Australia’s clutches at one stage, particularly when Croweaters’ captain Will Gould had enough of the arm-wrestle and burst off half-back, charged down the middle to half-forward and launched a ripping goal in the dying minutes to put the visitors in front. It took an equally special play from the Country side – starting with Harrison Pepper at half-back winning a crucial contest, to the slick Lachlan Ash in the midfield, pin-pointing an elite kick forward which saw Kemp lunge in from the side and hold it. Taking time off the clock with the set shot, the fate of Vic Country’s title hopes effectively rested on the kick, which Kemp duly delivered from about 50m and saw the home side get up 9.9 (63) to 9.8 (62).

Earlier, South Australia’s top-10 hopeful Dylan Stephens got his side off to the perfect start with a terrific running goal to get the visiting fans up and about in the opening term. The red-hot form of Cody Weightman continued with the exciting Dandenong Stingrays’ forward looking dangerous every time he went near it, combining well with fellow Stingray, Ned Cahill inside 50, and capitalising with two majors. The Gippsland Power brigade of Caleb Serong, Sam Flanders and Brock Smith were superb in the opening term, combining for 24 disposals, while Ash was already having an impact through his slick kicking. Harry Schoenberg‘s ripping form at the carnival continued, extracting the ball from the inside and getting it out, picking up a game-high 12 disposals in the first quarter, while Gould and Jackson Mead were able to execute well with nine touches a piece.

The second term saw South Australia start with more flair as bottom-age talent Corey Durdin and Josh Morris booted goals to help the Croweaters to a little break. Once again, it was the likes of Flanders and Serong who answered the call, with Flanders picking up 11 disposals in the term, and missing a great chance at goal, while Serong was dominating around the stoppages with six clearances to his name by the main break – three more than any other player on the field. Weightman was again causing headaches when he converted his third, while Cahill and potential top five pick next year, Elijah Hollands got in on the party with majors. Country had all the momentum heading into the break, while Schoenberg (19 disposals, three clearances) was a standout for the South Australians, as was Gould and Will Day.

The third quarter saw South Australia again get back on top before Country reeled them in with a late goal, as Durdin booted his second, and Jordan O’Brien and Daniel Sladojevic also converted majors, with Josh Smith‘s late goal crucial for the one side to remain in touch at the final break, just one point behind. Another 10 disposals to Serong in the term saw the Power midfielder looking towards his biggest numbers, while Kemp and Hayden Young were having impact around the ground, particularly coming off half-back. Sam De Koning‘s defensive work outside the stats sheet – including spoils and blocks – were as important as his intercept marking, while up the other end, South Australian tall duo of Dyson Hilder and Karl Finlay were intercepting everything that came their way. It allowed Gould to run off and create passages of play up the ground, while bottom-ager Luke Edwards showed his class as one of the bigger ball winners on the day, and Lachlan McNeil was crucial with quick hands in congestion, as Josh Shute was caused all sorts of issues along the wing.

The final quarter was a nail-biting contest that looked to be going one way then the other, and after an arm-wrestle for the majority, the last few minutes were electrifying. Both sides found their range with Country booting 3.3 to South Australia’s 3.1 after having kicked a combined 12.13 in the first three quarters. Mead had a huge last quarter in the forward half, converting two goals to keep his side in it. The passage of play that saw Gould launch from 50 had the visiting fans up and about with the captain mobbed by teammates believing that had won with only a couple of minutes left. South Australia were able to do the majority of the attacking for the last couple of minutes, with Pepper’s ability to get it to Ash who had the audacity to sidestep and opponent, buy himself time and deliver under pressure to a perfect position for Kemp being the difference. With the weight of his state on his shoulders, Kemp would have received a big tick from recruiters to take all the time off the clock then go back and nail the set shot to help Country to victory, with the siren going before another meaningful possession could occur.

Serong was best on ground for his 33 disposals, nine marks, nine tackles, 10 clearances, five inside 50s and three rebounds, while Flanders finished with 28 touches, seven marks, four tackles, three clearances, 10 inside 50s and one goal. Kemp’s heroics were far from the only impact he had for the day, racking up 27 disposals, seven marks, five clearances, four inside 50s and that memorable goal, while Ash had 19 disposals, four marks, six inside 50s and three rebounds, working well with Young (18 disposals, three marks, two inside 50s and seven rebounds), and Weightman finished with four goals for the second time this carnival. For South Australia, Schoenberg racked up another 32 disposals, five marks, six clearances, three tackles and three rebounds, while Gould had 26 disposals, five marks, three clearances, four inside 50s, five rebounds and that long range goal. Day helped himself to 24 disposals, five marks and seven rebounds in a promising performance off half-back, while Edwards (23 disposals, five marks, three rebounds), McNeil (23 disposals, three marks, six tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and two rebounds), Mead (22 disposals, three marks, four clearances, four rebounds and his two last quarter goals) and Hilder (15 disposals, seven marks and seven rebounds) were all strong among others in an even contribution for the visitors.

Vic Country now plays Western Australia for the title in the first game at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday, while South Australia wraps up its carnival with the game against the Allies after that.

VIC COUNTRY 2.2 | 5.3 | 6.6 | 9.9 (63)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1.3 | 3.6 | 6.7 | 9.8 (62)

GOALS:

Vic Country: Weightman 4, Flanders, Kemp, Cahill, J. Smith, Hollands.
South Australia: Mead 2, Durdin 2, Gould, Stephens, O’Brien, Sladojevic, Morris.

ADC BEST:

Vic Country: Serong, Flanders, Kemp, Weightman, Ash, De Koning
South Australia: Gould, Schoenberg, Hilder, Day, Mead, McNeil