AFL Victoria holds out VAFA to win back the Brian Molony Cup

AFL Victoria Country had the edge in key moments as it got over the Ammos in an entertaining interleague battle at Princes Park.

VAFA’s Connor Lappin looks to break free during Saturday’s clash with AFL Victoria Country. Picture: Chris Eastman

AFL Victoria Country regained the Brian Molony Cup when it scrapped its way to a 17-point win over the Victorian Amateur Football Association at Carlton’s Princes Park on Saturday.

While most of Melbourne was battered by winter’s coldest and wettest, the state’s two best rep teams were blessed by sunny, dry conditions for most of the afternoon and delivered a hotly-contested, entertaining display.

There was little in the match from start to finish but it was Country’s dominance in the last few minutes of every quarter that told as it saluted 11.15 (81) to 9.10 (64).

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Tom Paule earned the nod as the VAFA’s best. Picture: Chris Eastman

VAFA coach Stuart Powell said the Ammos had taken the contest up to a very talented Country line-up despite losing a number of players to injury in the lead up to the match.

“I think our boys did really well,” he said. “We were challenged for depth but our boys were equal to that challenge.

“The last five or 10 minutes of every quarter they (Vic Country) were able to control the game.

“There was a very strong breeze down to one end, but I think we played better going into the wind.”

With the breeze at its back in the opening quarter, the Ammos failed to take full advantage and the sides went to the first break all-square at 0.3-apiece.

The match went up a notch in the second with the VAFA edging ahead before a miracle soccer kick off the ground from Mark Whiley narrowed the gap and swung the momentum.

Stuart Powell has stepped down after four years as VAFA coach. Picture: Chris Eastman

Vic Country’s Kayne Pettifer then threatened to tear the game apart, grabbing four marks in the last five minutes of the half, but his 1.2 and one out on the full let the Ammos off the hook and kept the margin to just 11 points at the half

Early in the third, the Ammos began to take charge in the midfield and regained the lead before kicking away to a 21-point advantage.

But, as had been the case in the previous quarter, Vic Country kicked a couple of late goals to narrow the deficit by the final change.

Buoyed by that late rally, Vic Country peppered the goals early the final term and the VAFA desperately clung to a two-point lead with 10 minutes to go.

Again Vic Country mounted a late charge and, kicking three goals in the last five minutes, eventually ended the Ammos’ resistance.

Harry Hill and Sam Critchley kicked two apiece for the VAFA while Tom Paule was best on ground with sterling support from Sam Crocker and Nick Wood.

After four years at the helm, Powell stepped down from the role as VAFA coach citing mounting work commitments and the responsibility of a young family.

“That was my final game,” he said. “I’ve just told the guys. I’m OK with it, the boys played really well because they came up against some pretty tough opposition.

“It’s time for someone else to have a go.”

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Billy Kanakis gathers the ball for the Ammos. Picture: Chris Eastman