Under-18 National Championships: South Australia defeats Vic Metro in Division 1 decider as potential top draft picks shine

A SOUTH Australian side packed with potential top draftees denied Vic Metro a fairytale finish to two years of development which put it in the mix for the Under-18 national title.

A SOUTH Australian side packed with potential top draftees denied Vic Metro a fairytale finish to two years of development which put it in the mix for the Under-18 National Championships title.

Vic Metro was winless at the Under-16 national carnival in 2016, beaten by Western Australia, SA and Vic Country.

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The Big V turned the tables on WA and Vic Country at this year’s championships, but went down 17.14 (116) to 9.7 (61) against South Australia on Wednesday.

“It’s a credit to them and credit to the TAC Cup regions’ development programs,” Vic Metro coach Martin Allison said.

“They have improved that much and the majority of them have improved again the more games they played.”

Top-five draft fancy Izak Rankine ignited the Croweaters with three first-quarter goals and finished with five majors in an eye-catching performance.

The contest appeared over at halftime when South Australia stretched its advantage to 43 points.

Sandringham Dragons Bailey Smith was named Vic Metro’s MVP. Picture: Getty Images.

But led by Oakleigh’s Joseph Ayton-Delaney and Bailey Smith, Vic Metro fought its way back to within 11 points midway through the third term.

SA steadied with three consecutive goals to reassert its superiority and was never threatened from then on.

“In about five minutes all that hard work, we were almost back to where we started,” Allison said.

“That’s what good sides do. They make you pay for your errors and they make you pay dearly. That’s what South Australia did.”

Dejected Vic Metro players watch South Australia accept the trophy. Picture: Getty Images.

The margin was out to 26 points at three-quarter-time and South Australia iced a near-perfect carnival by booting five goals to one in the last quarter.

In a match which shaped as a recruiter’s delight, No. 1 draft prospect Jack Lukosius finished with 1.1 from 10 possessions, while Vic Metro big man Ben King was a standout with four goals.

“I thought our guys at least tried their heart out and tried until the very end,” Allison said. “They might have got a couple of junk goals, but that was because we tried a few things.

“We needed to take some risks to get ourselves back in the game.”

Riley Collier-Dawkins hurdles two players in the middle of the ground. Picture: Getty Images.

Sandringham Dragons on-baller Smith was adjudged Vic Metro’s MVP for the carnival.

Prolific Vic Country midfielder Sam Walsh, another player in contention to be drafted with the first pick, claimed the Larke Medal as Division 1’s best player at the carnival.