Star cricketer headlines Vic Metro U18 squad

DUAL-SPORTS athlete Will Sutherland headlines a strong Vic Metro U18 squad hunting for back-to-back titles at next month’s NAB AFL Under 18 Championships.

The Australian Under 19 cricket captain has trained with Metro on a handful of occasions and will be fast-tracked into the squad without playing TAC Cup football.

With nearly a dozen clubs watching on at Scotch College on Saturday, Sutherland clunked nine marks (five contested) and booted three goals in a strong first half performance. A number of scouts believe Sutherland is a potential top-five prospect at November’s NAB AFL Draft.

TOUGH DECISION LOOMS FOR SUTHERLAND

The Metro squad is chock full of tall timber including Eastern Ranges’ 2016 All-Australian Sam Hayes who will hold down the number one ruck spot whilst spending time deep up forward. Calder Cannons athletic tall Noah Balta was impressive as a key defender in Sunday’s Metro trial and is expected to play as a tall defender in the Championships.

U18 Trial: Vic Metro Scouting Notes

Sandringham Dragons bottom-age twins Max and Ben King will be two names to keep an eye on and the pair should excite as key posts at either ends of the ground.

Adam Cerra (Eastern Ranges) may be the first midfielder picked in the draft and will do the bulk of the work load through the midfield alongside Joel Garner. Teammate Jaidyn Stephenson has shown off his exceptional overhead marking this season and will be a tough match up for opposition defenders.

Western Jets dynamic duo Lachlan Fogarty and Cameron Rayner are two first round prospects that will run out for Metro, likely to spend time at the centre bounces and up forward.

Jack Higgins might be an early favourite for the Vic Metro MVP and could contend for the Larke Medal for the best player in Division One, able to play in the midfield and up forward using his good goal sense.

Jack Petruccelle’s elite speed should catch the eye and strong performances in the championships will continue to push his name up the rankings.

The squad will be coached by Martin Allison, who is taking over the reigns from David Flood. Allison is the new AFL Victoria Metro Talent Pathways Manager and previously coached the Vic Metro Academy back in 2013.

He will be joined by former Western Bulldogs player Steve Wallis and current Director of Coaching at Eastern Michael Rizio – who were part of last year’s assistant coaching set up, while Carlton AFL Women’s and Sandringham Dragons midfield coach Jackson Kornberg and Uni Blues (VAFA) senior coach Quinton Gleeson will join as Metro assistants.

Vic Metro have the bye in the opening round of the Under 18 Championships, before travelling to Western Australia for their first game at Domain Stadium on Sunday 18th June.

Northern Knights pair Marcus Lentini and Alex Federico have been named as emergencies.

SQUAD:

1 Dylan Moore 4/8/1999 175 66 Eastern Ranges/Rowville/Caulfield Grammar
2 Jack Higgins 19/3/1999 178 76 Oakleigh Chargers/ East Malvern
3 Ethan Penrith 24/10/1999 179 76 Northern Knights/West Preston
4 Lachlan Fogarty 1/4/1999 179 75 Western Jets/Spotswood/St Kevins
5 Patrick Naish 15/1/1999 180 69 Northern Knights/ Ivanhoe Grammar
6 Dylan Landt 18/11/1999 180 74 Calder Cannons/Sunbury
7 Rhylee West 12/7/2000 180 80 Calder Cannons/Strathmore/St Kevins
8 Joel Garner 21/5/1999 183 81 Eastern Ranges/Wandin/ Scotch College
9 Andrew Brayshaw 8/11/1999 183 80 Sandringham Dragons/ Haileybury College
10 Max Dreher 12/4/1999 183 75 Northern Knights/Ivanhoe Grammar
11 Ryley Stoddart 15/10/1999 183 73 Eastern Ranges/Blackburn/Yarra Valley
12 Callum Searle 12/10/1998 185 81 Oakleigh Chargers/Waverley Blues
13 Trent Mynott 4/10/1999 185 73 Eastern Ranges/Caulfield Grammar
14 Jack Petruccelle 12/4/1999 184 73 Northern Knights/Epping
15 Angus Styles 3/5/1999 185 76 Sandringham Dragons/Caulfield Grammar
16 Thomas North 14/2/1999 186 87 Eastern Ranges/Heathmont FC
17 Adam Cerra 7/10/1999 186 85 Eastern Ranges/Wesley Grammar
18 Curtis Taylor 6/4/2000 186 74 Calder Cannons/Keilor FC/ PEGS
19 Cameron Rayner 21/10/1999 187 88 Western Jets/Essendon Doutta Stars/ PEGS
20 Jack Bytel 14/3/2000 188 79 Calder Cannons/Aberfeldie FC
21 Buku Khamis 24/3/2000 188 81 Western Jets/St Albans
22 Riley Jones 5/4/1999 191 79 Oakleigh Chargers/Beverley Hills FC
23 Jaidyn Stephenson 15/1/1999 189 76 Eastern Ranges/Ferntree Gully FC
24 Charlie Constable 18/5/1999 190 83 Sandringham Dragons/ Haileybury College
25 Nicholas Coffield 23/10/1999 190 83 Northern Knights/Eltham FC
26 Mitchell Podhajski 4/1/1999 190 82 Calder Cannons/Aberfeldie FC
27 Toby Wooller 16/3/1999 193 90 Oakleigh Chargers/Old Scotch
28 Noah Balta 23/10/1999 194 92 Calder Cannons/Essendon/Doutta Stars/ St Bernards
29 Harrison Nolan 11/6/1999 195 93 Eastern Ranges/Mt Evelyn FC
30 Hayden McLean 20/1/1999 197 93 Sandringham Dragons/Beaumaris/St Bedes
31 Will Sutherland 27/10/1999 195 90 Scotch College / East Malvern
32 Joel Grace 23/6/1999 199 90 Northern Knights/Sth Morang
33 Ben King 7/7/2000 201 79 Sandringham Dragons/ Haileybury College
34 Max King 7/7/2000 201 82 Sandringham Dragons/Haileybury College
35 Matthew Harman 2/6/1998 200 87 Northern Knights/Marcellin O.C.
36 Tristan Xerri 15/3/1999 201 93 Western Jets/ Caroline Springs FC
37 Sam Hayes 9/6/1999 203 93 Eastern Ranges/Ferntree Gully FC
38 Alex Federico 26/9/1999 184 77 Northern Knights/Marcellin College
39 Marcus Lentini 5/6/1999 183 74 Northern Knights
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