Victoria Country claims first AFL Under 18 National Championships title since 2010
IN the lead up to this year’s national championships Victoria Country talent manager Leon Harris wasn’t sure what he was going to get.
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IN the lead up to this year’s national championships Victoria Country talent manager Leon Harris wasn’t sure what he was going to get.
He knew the group had ability, but it was also carrying injuries and history told him that a team of potential champions didn’t always make a champion team.
Country stumbled over the line in their first match, but since Jy Simpkin kicked that goal after the siren to deliver a Round 1 win over Metro, things have gone like a dream.
“Every championship is different, I remember taking away a really talented group with Jonathan Brown, Leigh Brown and Brent Guerra to national championships and we didn’t win a game,” Harris said back in May.
Six weeks on, as Country prepares to play Western Australia, it remains undefeated and the national championships title is in the bag.
CROCKER’S BUZZER BEATER SINKS SOUTH AUSTRALIA
The 11-point win over South Australia at Simonds Stadium last Friday secured Country’s first title since 2010.
“That’s what we wanted from the start of the championships. Each week we just analysed the team and broke it down. We knew that if we won the game today (Friday) we’d win the championships, so we’d be in for a fight,” midfielder Rhys Mathieson said.
Country defender Jacob Weitering was the name on everyone’s lips heading into the carnival, but it’s another big man at the other end of the ground that has stolen the headlines.
Josh Schache looks certain to claim the Larke Medal for the best player in division one after slotting 23 goals in five games so far.
The 199cm and 96kg power forward slotted six against SA, including two in quick succession opposed to the highly-rated Aaron Francis.
“The boys moved the ball quick, which our forwards like so it’s good to get another win,” he said after the game.
“With the academy we (Francis) have definitely played on each other a little bit … He’s very good athletically so I just tried to keep off him a little bit because he can jump a lot higher than me and he’s a bit quicker,” Schache said of his battle with Francis.
Schache’s carnival — he now holds the record for most goals in a championship — has seen him leap into contention for the No. 1 pick.
But, its not individual brilliance that has set Country apart from their rival states, there are stars across every line.
Weitering and Dandenong teammate Kieran Collins have proved a defensive wall, while Mathieson has backed up his All-Australian 2014 year in the midfield.
“When you’ve got Gach Nyuon hitting it down my throat, he’s probably been the best ruckman in the carnival — you’re going to get first use. I’ve been consistent,” Mathieson said.
Nyuon, who arrived in Australia at 8 years old via two refugee camps, is now a genuine draft prospect.
The last time the two sides met it was Country by 105 points at Medibank Stadium.
Originally published as Victoria Country claims first AFL Under 18 National Championships title since 2010
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