- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Vic Country<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Vic Metro<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NEED TO KNOW:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When: <\/strong>Thursday September 22, 12:35pm
Where: <\/strong>Marvel Stadium
How to watch: <\/strong>Fox Footy & AFL website<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
JOURNEY SO FAR:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/em> <\/strong>(3-0, 26 ave. margin)<\/strong> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
South Australia 8.12 (60) def. by Vic Country 9.8 (62)<\/strong>
Allies 5.12 (42) def. by Vic Country 10.15 (75)<\/strong>
Vic Country 12.11 (83) <\/strong>def Western Australia 6.4 (40)<\/p>\n\n\n\nMetro (3-0, 39 ave. margin)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Allies 14.6 (90) def by Victoria Metro 16.10 (106)<\/strong>
Victoria Metro 16.5 (101) <\/strong>def Western Australia 10.14 (74)
Victoria Metro 16.15 (111) <\/strong>def South Australia 5.8 (38)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
INCLUSIONS:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Country<\/em> – <\/strong>Harvey Gallagher, Bailey Humphrey<\/em>
Metro –<\/em> <\/strong>Elijah Tsatas, Luke Teal, Cooper Harvey, Bailey Macdonald, Rye Penny, Max Gruzewski<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nTwo in-form NAB League guns headline Country’s inclusions, and offer handy points of difference respectively. Top 10 bolter Bailey Humphrey<\/a> will be hungry for success after leading Gippsland Power to a preliminary finals berth, and balances the Country rotations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Able to play forward or inject some power into midfield, the explosive ball winner is a point of difference to Country’s arguably less versatile on-ballers. His forward craft may also take a load off Aaron Cadman<\/a>, who has spearheaded the side with limited supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the other end of the ground comes Harvey Gallagher<\/a>. The Bendigo Pioneers leader has found a niche as a running half-back, with his running capacity and sharp kicking skills making him a dangerous proposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His inclusion may free up the likes of bottom-ager Harley Reid<\/a> to roll into midfield or the forward line, but his immeasurable class with ball in hand is something Country has certainly been crying out for despite their victories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Bailey](\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2004\/09\/GP-Bailey-Humphrey-1024x683.jpg\")
Bailey Humphrey missed the first three Country games through injury | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n The updated Metro squad features a bunch of potential inclusions, with many hailing from the Oakleigh Chargers region. Max Gruzewski<\/a> is among the most highly touted new squad members, offering a swingman option with his clean marking and punchy kicking at 192cm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Teammate Bailey Macdonald<\/a> promises to inject plenty of outside speed, while athletic phenom Luke Teal<\/a> is a dynamic type who overcame injury to build form down back this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
North Melbourne father-son candidate Cooper Harvey<\/a> got the nod after a strong end to the year, and high-leaping Calder Cannons defender Rye Penny<\/a> also enters the fold for a chance to prove himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, who could forget arguably the biggest addition of them all – Elijah Tsatas<\/a>. Another Charger, the potential top five pick only adds to Metro’s scarily deep midfield but can also play on the outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Elijah-Tsatas-OC-NAB-League-shoot.png\")
Elijah Tsatas is a massive addition to Metro’s midfield | Image Credit: Daniel Pockett\/AFL Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n
OMISSIONS:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Country – <\/strong>Harvey Howe, Will Parkhouse<\/em>
Metro – <\/em><\/strong>Nathan Philactides, Ben Hempel, Nate Caddy, Jaelen Pavlidis, Cameron Kizan, Callum Verrell<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nA few players from either side are set to miss through injury, despite the large gap between games. Top prospect Will Ashcroft<\/a> was very nearly ruled out via suspension, but has been cleared to play this week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sadly, Brayden George<\/a> misses the chance to represent Vic Country after tearing his ACL minutes into his second NAB League return game, while Jack O’Sullivan<\/a> (collarbone) suffered a similar fate for Oakleigh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The likes of Mitch Szybkowski<\/a> (Covid) and Henry Hustwaite<\/a> (ankle) were made to overcome obstacles to play in the NAB League decider, but will be available come Thursday afternoon, perhaps with their roles slightly altered again. Will Parkhouse<\/a> and Harvey Howe<\/a> miss the selection cut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/George-Wardlaw-2022-AFL-Academy.png\")
George Wardlaw is again set to miss | Image Credit: Kelly Defina\/AFL Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n On the Metro side of things, George Wardlaw<\/a> is another star who will miss out on donning the Big V, after sustaining a repeat hamstring injury. Matthew Jefferson<\/a> (leg) played through pain in the NAB League and looks like getting up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Metro’s exclusions make up a list of six straight swaps, namely bottom-agers Nathan Philactides<\/a> and Nate Caddy<\/a>, and top-agers Ben Hempel<\/a>, Jaelen Pavlidis<\/a>, Cameron Kizan<\/a>, and Callum Verrell<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LARKE MEDAL CONTENDERS:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It’s hard to go past Ashcroft here. Fresh off best afield honours in the NAB League Grand Final, the uber consistent midfielder hardly has a bad game and that has been no different during this year’s National Championships. Expect him to stand up once more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course, another bag of goals from Jefferson could put him in contention after his effort of seven against Western Australia, while Country captain Jhye Clark<\/a> could get the nod with another standout performance – especially if he leads his side to title victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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SQUADS:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Country:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Vic-Country-2022-AFL-U18s.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMetro:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Vic-Metro-2022-AFL-U18s.png\")
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Mentions<\/span><\/span><\/div>