U18 National Championships: Vic Country players rated
Cats fans will be salivating at the idea of seeing this midfield bull in the hoops in the near future after a dominant performance against South Australia.
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Geelong fans will be salivating at the idea of seeing under-18s prospect George Stevens don the hoops in the VFL later in the season after a dominant performance in the national championships game at the weekend.
The Greater Western Victoria product, who lives in South Warrnambool, dominated in the first Vic Country game despite losing to South Australia by 19 points.
Stevens has already featured for Geelong in the VFL this season, collecting 16 disposals and three marks, and will feature at the level again later in the season.
The 189cm midfield bull missed the entire 2022 campaign with a torn ACL, but has dominated for the Rebels this season with an average of 25.8 disposals, 3.2 tackles and 2.5 marks per game.
He collected a team-high 25 disposals (at 75 per cent efficiency), 13 contested possessions, nine tackles, six marks, five score involvements and one goal in the loss to South Australia.
Falcons forward Michael Rudd also had a strong game, kicking two goals from 16 disposals, as well as recording a team-high 10 score involvements.
The key forward drew comparisons to Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron, with Rudd moving further up the ground to accumulate the ball and provide a linking target out of defence.
Ruck Joe Pike had a strong day out, recording 16 hit outs, five hit outs to advantage, five disposals, three clearances, three tackles and nine pressure acts.
Pike was constantly up against South Australian’s Taylor Goad, who recorded more hit outs (23 to 16) but just one more hit out to advantage with six.
Angus Hastie was forced to play a more defensive role for Vic Country than he usually has at the Coates Talent League level, but still recorded 13 disposals at 87.5 per cent efficiency, four rebound 50s and 251 metres gained in the back half.
Hastie also did not lose a one-on-one for the game, while fellow defender Hamish Pierson also did not lose a one-on-one.
The Falcons co-captain recorded eight disposals in his Vic Country debut, with six of those possessions contested as well as six intercept possessions.
Pierson also had a game-high five spoils and 12 pressure acts.
Tom Pierce was also solid in defence, recording five disposals and three intercept possessions, with a tough job on South Australia’s Tyler Welsh at times.
Small forward Tom Anastasopolous was quiet, recording just four disposals but racking up 12 pressure acts and two tackles.
Vic Country Ranking Points
179 – George Stevens
127 – Zane Duursma
114 – Harley Reid
100 – Michael Rudd
99 – Harry De Mattia
88 – Darcy Wilson
86 – Kobe Shipp
83 – Kade De La Rue
66 – Billy Wilson
60 – Joe Pike
60 – Joel Freijah
60 – Angus Hastie
56 – Archer Reid
55 – Coby James
52 – Hamish Pierson
52 – Oscar Ryan
50 – Lachlan Charleson
44 – Wil Dawson
44 – Luamon Lual
39 – Tom Pierce
38 – Oskar Smartt
33 – Cooper Simpson
14 – Tom Anastasopolous
Originally published as U18 National Championships: Vic Country players rated
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