Reported by Michael Robinson (VFL Footy News)
Western Australia have won their 1st Under 18 National Championship in 8 years after thrashing South Australia by 77 points at Casey Fields today.
This is their 3rd National Championship after winning in 1985 and 1999. They are also the 1st non Victorian side since 1999 to win the title.
In the battle of the Victorian sides, it was even first half with Metro edging out to a 21 point half time lead. The 3rd Quarter was the decisive one as the Metro kicked 7 goals to nil and have a match winning 62 point win at the last change.
The country boys had a good last quarter but Metro boys still ran out comfortable 48 point winners.
Michael Hurley, Scott Simpson and Nick Cattapan were the best for Metro. Ben McEvoy,Nick Suban and Matt Austin best for the Country boys.
VIC METRO 4.3 7.6 14.8 17.8(110)
VIC COUNTRY 2.3 4.3 4.6 9.8(62)
Goals: VIC METRO: Maric 4, Grimes 3, Grant 3, Simpson, Polkinghorne, Kreuzer, Potts, Arrowsmith, Daniher, Cattapan VIC COUNTRY: Gaylor 3, Kay 2, Selwood, Ford, Normington, Hall
Best Players: VIC METRO: Hurley, Simpson, Cattapan, Farmer, Grimes, Kreuzer, Maric VIC COUNTRY: McEvoy, Suban, Austin, Curnow, Kangars, Normington, Selwood
In the 2nd game, WA dominated the game from the start with a bit of help from some undisipined play from SA and ran out comfortable 77 point winners.
Nicolas Naitanui was dominate all over the ground for the Sandgropers. Steven Browne and Cale Morton were also in WA's best.
Levi Greenwood was SA's best player along with Jared Petrenko and Scott Blesing.
A fantastic performance by the WA team they showed why they are national champions.
WEST AUST 5.1 9.4 16.7 20.11(131)
SOUTH AUST 1.2 3.5 4.6 8.6(54)
Goals: WEST AUST: Palmer 3, Notte 3, Gourdis 3, McGinnity 2, Sampey 2, Morton 2, DeBoer, Yarrin, Browne, Ellard, Jacky SOUTH AUST: Staple 3, Hartlett, Wright, Carr, Jesson, Day
Best Players: WEST AUST: Naitanui, Browne, Morton, Palmer, Pears, Rance, Rich SOUTH AUST: Greenwood, Petrenko, Blesing, Day, Thompson, Stable
FINAL LADDER
WEST AUSTRALIA 3-0 223%
VIC METRO 2-1 114%
SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1-2 75%
VIC COUNTRY 0-3 51%
LARKE MEDALLIST (Best Player for Div 1): Cale Morton (West Aust)
NAB MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS
WEST AUST: Rhys Palmer
VIC METRO: Matthew Kruzer
SOUTH AUST: Levi Greenwood
VIC COUNTRY: Nick Suban
ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM MEMBERS (From Div 1 Teams)
WEST AUST: Chris Masten, Rhys Palmer, Daniel Rich, Patrick McGinnity, David Myers, Alex Rance, Cale Morton, Nicholas Naitanui
VIC METRO: Matthew Kreuzer, Addam Maric, Michael Hurley, Jack Grimes
SOUTH AUST: Brad Ebert
VIC COUNTRY: Nick Suban, Scott Selwood, Ben McEvoy
