Vic Metro v Vic Country U19s Challenge match: Nick Daicos continues amazing formline

As expected, the big names his risen to challenge to lead Vic Metro to a commanding win in their Under-19s challenge match with Vic Country. Check out all the SuperCoach scores.

Chris Cavanagh

5 min read

July 9, 2021 - 3:56PM

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REPLAY: VIC AFL U19's Rep Trials – VIC Metro vs VIC Country (Game 2)

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Collingwood father-son prospect Nick Daicos has further solidified his spot as a top-three AFL draft pick this year with a blistering display for Vic Metro.

Daicos had the ball on a string in a ‘Challenge’ match against Vic Country at Windy Hill on Friday as he logged 41 disposals and kicked two classy goals to continue a 2021 campaign that has seen him consistently produce first-class performances.

Daicos won the ball at will through the midfield in an outing in which he showed shades of Hawthorn Brownlow Medal winner Tom Mitchell.

The 18-year-old’s day also saw him record six clearances, nine marks and a game-high 159 KFC SuperCoach ranking points to lead Vic Metro to a commanding 56-point win.

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Vic Metro’s Ben De Bolfo takes a strong mark over Vic Country’s Noah Gadsby. Picture: Michael Klein

Vic Metro teammate Josh Ward was the match’s other standout, the Northern Knights midfielder working his way up club draft boards after another stunning display.

Ward gathered 29 disposals and logged an equal game-high eight clearances, drawing comparisons to former Brisbane Lions champion Luke Power with his good decision making in tight.

Melbourne Next Generation Academy member Mac Andrew also stepped up under the watchful eyes of a raft of AFL recruiters, having missed the Vic Country trial matches a fortnight ago under concussion protocols.

The athletic 200cm Dandenong Stingrays ruckman-forward kicked the opening goal of the match and took some big contested marks around the ground throughout the day as well as being handy in the ruck with his enormous leap.

Vic Metro’s Nick Daicos dances his way through traffic. Picture: Michael Klein

With clubs unable to match bids on top-20 NGA players under new draft rules this year, the Demons are increasingly likely to miss out on Andrew, who is shaping as a first-round selection.

Much-hyped Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Sam Darcy had a quieter day out, but still managed to kick two goals from limited opportunities for Vic Metro.

Sandringham Dragons forward Mitch Owens had an impact with 29 disposals and a first-quarter goal after being a late call-up for Vic Metro, while Western Jets forward Paul Curtis was also a surprise packet with a game-high three goals.

Sam Darcy had a quiet day by his standards but still kicked two goals. Picture: Michael Klein

Northern Knights defender Ben De Bolfo was strong across the backline for Vic Metro and took eight marks, while Ben Hobbs (25 disposals, seven clearances, one goal) and Connor MacDonald (25 disposals, six clearances) battled hard through the midfield for Vic Country.

Highly rated Sandringham Dragons midfielder Josh Sinn had to be helped from the ground in the last quarter with a left foot injury and did not return, while Western Jets’ Sam Clifford was taken from the field on a stretcher with a leg injury during the third quarter.

KFC SUPERCOACH RANKING POINTS

VIC METRO

159 Nick Daicos

139 Josh Ward

105 Mitch Owens

99 Josh Sinn

93 Cody Raak

90 Josh Goater

88 Darcy Wilmot

86 Corey Preston

81 Zac Taylor

79 Youseph Dib

73 Luke Cleary

71 Paul Curtis

71 Lachlan Rankin

70 Ben De Bolfo

70 Domenic Akuei

65 Sam Darcy

62 Blake Howes

57 Dante Visentini

54 Liam Podhajski

49 Karl Worner

47 Sam Clifford

44 Sam Paea

38 Marcus Windhager

VIC COUNTRY

124 Ben Hobbs

98 Mac Andrew

91 Josh Rachele

89 Toby Conway

85 Cooper Hamilton

78 Connor MacDonald

73 Mitch Knevitt

66 Josh Gibcus

61 Joshua Rentsch

61 Tom Brown

60 Sam Conforti

57 Charlie Molan

56 Noah Gadsby

53 Oscar Morrison

49 Miller Bergman

47 Judson Clarke

47 Jai Serong

43 Noah Gribble

38 Sam Breuer

35 Jamieson Ballantyne

35 Campbell Chesser

32 Hamish Sinnott

28 Justin Davies

13 Will Bravo

Squads for Vic Metro v Vic Country U19s clash

Victoria’s top AFL draft prospects are set to face off in a battle between city and country on Friday after interstate border restrictions delayed the official start of the under-19 national championships.

Vic Metro’s under-19 squad had been scheduled to travel to the Gold Coast this week for a clash against the Allies on Saturday, which was to be the first match of the NAB AFL Under-19 Championships.

However, those plans were scrapped on Monday as border restrictions continue to wreak havoc on interstate travel.

Vic Metro will instead do battle with Vic Country in a “Challenge” match at Windy Hill on Friday to give recruiters another look at draft prospects in a higher level of competition.

Two squads of 24 players have been selected for the match, representing Victoria’s very best underage players.

Vic Metro’s squad is headlined by Collingwood father-son prospect Nick Daicos and Western Bulldogs father-son prospect Sam Darcy, who are both considered top-three players in this year’s draft pool.

Sam Darcy celebrates a goal during Vic Metro’s trials in June. Picture: Getty Images

Daicos, a 183cm midfielder-forward, missed Vic Metro’s trial matches a fortnight ago with minor hamstring tightness and also sat out Oakleigh’s Round 11 NAB League clash against Greater Western Victoria Rebels last weekend but is fit to return to the field.

Darcy, a 197cm key position player, kicked six goals in one of those trial matches to further solidify his spot as one of the premier big man in this year’s draft.

Collingwood Next Generation Academy member and Oakleigh Chargers midfielder Youseph Dib also features in the Vic Metro squad, along with Western Bulldogs NGA pair Corey Preston (Eastern Ranges) and Cody Raak (Western Jets).

Highly-rated Sandringham Dragons duo Josh Sinn and Blake Howes have also been selected, as well as classy on-ballers Josh Ward (Northern Knights) and Jake Soligo (Eastern Ranges).

Vic Country’s squad includes Murray Bushrangers defender Tom Brown, who is the son of former Geelong backman Paul Brown but is not eligible for father-son selection given his dad managed only 84 AFL games.

Gippsland Power midfielder Jai Serong — the brother of Fremantle onballer Caleb Serong — is also in the squad, as well as silky Sandringham Dragons midfielder Campbell Chesser and emerging Dandenong Stingrays midfielder-forward Judson Clarke.

Athletic Dandenong Stingrays ruckman Mac Andrew, who missed the Vic Country trials under concussion protocols, is also set to make a return to the field.

Other names to watch in the Vic Country squad include GWV Rebels pair Joshua Gibcus and Ben Hobbs and Murray Bushrangers forward Joshua Rachele.