Vic Metro and Vic Country have both completed undefeated weeks on the Gold Coast at the NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships.
Metro’s win against its local rival Vic Country in June provided them with a Championship clean sweep of all games and the title of best team at the Championships.
Metro were dominant in their final game of the Championships, defeating Eastern Allies by 72 points to close out the Championships with a fourth straight win.
A strong first term setup the win for Metro, with Nicola Xenos, Gabby Newton, Amelia van Oosterwijck and Cleo Saxon Jones showcasing their defensive pressure inside forward 50, producing a four-goal quarter time lead.
Eastern Allies started stornger in the second term, and Metro were unable to produce the same run they had in the first term. Late in the term the game once again broke open, with Nell Morris Dalton kicking back-to-back goals to give Metro a 39-point half-time lead.
With Newton and Patrikios winning the ball through the middle of the ground, Laura McClelland and game-day captain Felicity Theodore finished off their good work up forward, adding to Metro’s lead at three-quarter time, now out to 56 points.
Morris Dalton had joined Knights’ teammate Sarah Sansonetti in defence in the second half, and they teamed with Sarah Hartwig to ensure the Allies remained goalless in the second half. Jess Fitzgerald and Emily Harley goalled in the final term to ensure Metro’s undefeated run was cemented in style by 72 points.
In the second game, Vic Country had to grind out a win against WA, overcoming an early 12-point deficit to produce a two-point win.
WA kept Country goalless in the first term, as inaccuracy hampered Country’s early chances.
Lucy McEvoy added the first goal for Country in the second term, but it was still WA with a 12-point lead at half-time.
A two-goal third term helped sway the game in Country’s favour, with Isabella Simmons kicking the first of the term, followed by a major to Tyanna Smith to draw scores level. Late missed opportunities gave Country the lead at the final change.
Shanara Notman – in an unfamiliar defensive role – and Isabella Shannon worked tirelessly in defence in the final term, and were assisted by the hard work up the ground by acting captain Sophie Molan and McEvoy. While the ball spend the final few minutes on the WA forward 50, Country were able to hang on for a memorable two-point win.
Vic Metro and AFLW Under-18 Championships MVP: Georgia Patrikios (Calder Cannons)
Vic Country MVP: Lucy McEvoy (Geelong Falcons)
Full results:
VM 4.4 6.5 8.9 11.9 75
Allies 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.3 3
Best: Newton (Northern Knights), Denahy Maloney (Sandringham Dragons), Sansonetti (Northern Knights), Lagioia (Oakleigh Chargers), Grant (Western Jets), McClelland (Eastern Ranges)
Goals: McClelland, Morris-Dalton (Northern Knights) 2, Fitzgerald (Northern Knights), Harley (Oakleigh Chargers), Newton, Saxon Jones (Western Jets), Theodore (Calder Cannons), Xenos (Oakleigh Chargers), van Oosterwijck (Oakleigh Chargers) 1
Stats leaders:
Disposals – Newton 22, Patrikios (Calder Cannons) 18, Lagioia 14, Saxon Jones, McClelland 13, Sansonetti, Xenos 12, Fitzgerald (Northern Knights), Horne (Eastern Ranges) 11
Kicks – Newton, Saxon Jones 12
Handballs – Patrikios, Newton 10
Tackles – Patrikios, Newton 6
Marks – McClelland 5
Clearances – Newton 5
I50 – Newton 4
R50 – Lagioia, Sansonetti 3
Hitouts – Denahy Maloney 8
VC 0.3 1.4 3.6 3.7 25
WA 2.3 3.4 3.4 3.5 23
Best: McEvoy (Geelong Falcons), Molan (GWV Rebels), Notman (Gippsland Power), Shannon (Dandenong Stingrays), Wood (GWV Rebels), Moloney (Geelong Falcons)
Goals: McEvoy, Simmons (GWV Rebels), T.Smith (Dandenong Stingrays) 1
Stats leaders:
Disposals – Molan 19, McEvoy, T.Smith 15, Barber (Murray Bushrangers), Shannon 14, Moloney 13, Simmons, Gardiner 10
Kicks – T.Smith 12
Handballs – Molan 15
Tackles – Gardiner 7
Marks – Barber 5
Clearances – Molan, Moloney 4
I50 – T.Smith 6
R50 – Vernon (Dandenong Stingrays), Saultitis (GWV Rebels) 3
Hitouts – Caris (GWV Rebels) 20
