<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
Vic Metro<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div>Allies<\/h5>
<\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div>\nALLIES:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#1 <\/strong>Ryley Sanders<\/a> (Sandringham Dragons\/Tasmania)<\/strong>
Midfielder | 186cm | 85kg | 21\/01\/2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA proven accumulator, Sanders continued on his merry way up draft boards with another 33 disposals against many of his Sandringham Dragons teammates. He racked up possessions with ease, proving clean on the inside and resolute when keeping the play moving forward. The Allies dominated in midfield and Sanders was a large part of that once again, capping off his game with a goal in the final quarter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#3 <\/strong>Caiden Cleary<\/a> (Swans Academy\/NSW)<\/strong>
Midfielder | 182cm | 81kg | 05\/03\/2005<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Allies contingency has been high on Cleary’s overall improvement, but the Swans Academy standout leant on his strengths during Sunday\u2019s victory. He was prominent in the opening exchanges, burrowing in at the contest and cleanly extracting the ball before dishing it out with proficiency. Waxing nicely with Jake Rogers at centre bounces, Cleary ended with 29 disposals and five clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#9 <\/strong>Jake Rogers<\/a> (Suns Academy\/Queensland)<\/strong>
Midfielder | 171cm | 68kg | 02\/03\/2005<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nEach cog in the Allies’ midfield works so nicely together, and Rogers was a great beneficiary of his side’s inside bulls on Sunday. He did the hard work himself too, notching seven clearances among his 25 disposals across a busy outing in his home state. Much of the Allies\u2019 midfield drive came through Rogers and his ability to escape to the outside, though he was just as capable in the clinches with strong showings of core strength and clean fundamental skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
#13 <\/strong>Jack Callinan<\/a> (Clarence\/Tasmania Devils)<\/strong>
Small Forward | 179cm | 77kg | 10\/07\/2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA real ‘moments’ kind of player, Callinan produced plenty of them in good variation against Vic Metro. The Tasmanian\u2019s first big act was a crunching tackle to catch Kynan Brown cold, and he popped up with a classy left-footed finish in the second quarter. Another outstanding feature of Callinan\u2019s game was his overhead marking, which held up incredibly well for a player his size. He was clean, active, and a headache for opposition defenders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#22 <\/strong>Colby McKercher<\/a> (Launceston\/Tasmania Devils)<\/strong>
Midfielder | 181cm | 73kg | 4\/12\/2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA player seemingly in perennial motion, McKercher got after it on Sunday in another prolific performance. He racked up 31 disposals in typical fashion, wheeling away from congestion and weaving his way forward with chains of possessions. His work rate was outstanding in the Allies\u2019 attacking phases as he constantly demanded the ball back while running in waves with teammates. He also spent time forward in term four and snared a goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#25 <\/strong>Jed Walter<\/a> (Suns Academy\/Queensland)<\/strong>
Key Forward | 195cm | 90kg | 08\/06\/2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe talk of the Brighton Homes Arena stands on Sunday was that there may be a new number one prospect in this year’s draft crop. Recruiters could only chuckle at some of Walter’s play, as he hunted opponents with menacing defensive pressure and flew for marks with utter authority. It culminated in a return of 15 disposals, five marks and three goals – all kicked in the opening term. He was a touch overzealous at times and can work on consistency in his set shots and four-quarter impact, but is a pure powerhouse who you can never count out of a contest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#27 <\/strong>Heath Ollington<\/a> (North Launceston\/Tasmania Devils)<\/strong>
Forward | 190cm | 81kg | 12\/10\/2004<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Allies side bats deep and that was again proven on Sunday as Ollington emerged as a surprise packet in his first outing of the carnival. He featured up forward with 21 disposals and seven marks, forming a tough matchup at 190cm with his aerial strength and ability to work over opponents up the ground. There were some classy moments with ball in hand, including a heck of a finish for his lone goal of the game, and a couple of moments where he lowered his eyes going inside 50.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#39 <\/strong>Ethan Read<\/a> (Suns Academy\/Queensland)<\/strong>
Ruck | 202cm | 87kg | 07\/08\/2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIt was another imperious outing from Read in the ruck, collecting 25 disposals, nine marks and 15 hitouts amid an intriguing battle with Will Green. The Suns Academy star spread typically well behind the ball, imposing himself with a serious of strong intercept grabs. He also showcased serious touch around the ground, using the ball with a great deal of composure and combining with his midfielders as if he were their size. He’s a rare breed at 202cm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.central.rookieme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Ethan-Read-Allies-2023-AFL-U18s-1024x683.jpg\")
Ethan Read soars for a mark | Image Credit: Rookie Me Central<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n VIC METRO:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
#10 <\/strong>Levi Ashcroft<\/a> (Sandringham Dragons)<\/strong>
Midfielder | 179cm | 75kg | 18\/12\/2006<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nIndustrious as ever, Ashcroft put in a shift at the facilities he looks set to call home after next year’s draft. He did so with big brother Will watching on, standing tall in the loss with 21 disposals and six inside 50s from midfield. Though he uncharacteristically sent a set shot out on the full, the bottom-ager was generally one of Metro’s better decision makers between the arcs and he even bounced back with a well weighted pass inside 50 during the same term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
#16 <\/strong>Archie Roberts<\/a> (Sandringham Dragons)<\/strong>
Defender | 184cm | 77kg | 18\/11\/2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nAnother Sandringham product who didn’t lower his colours against the irresistible Allies tide, Roberts was productive for his 21 touches and six rebound 50s. He was often sighted streaming past teammates on overlap runs, but also generated momentum with his willingness to snatch metres from the kick-ins. Roberts’ kicking was also sharp as usual on a day where the ball seemed to keep pinging back his way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
#21 <\/strong>Will Lorenz<\/a> (Oakleigh Chargers)<\/strong>
Midfielder | 186cm | 70kg | 19\/02\/2005<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nRecapturing some of the form which had him so highly touted last year, Lorenz was back near his classy and composed best on Sunday. He started out on the wing but it didn\u2019t take long for the top-ager to rotate on-ball after some handy moments. The Oakleigh Chargers talent was most prominent with small showings of evasiveness and a cool head in crises, figuring ways out of trouble in the face of smothering Allies pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n