CTF Catch-Up: State 18s Boys fall short against powerful Vic Metro

The AAMI WA Football State 18s Boys couldn’t keep their unbeaten start to the AFL National Under-18s Championships going, falling short against a powerhouse Vic Metro outfit at Victor George Kailis Oval in Cockburn on Saturday morning.

After a slow start, Western Australia stormed back into the game with a four-goals-to-none second quarter to snatch a slender lead before half-time.

But the Vics were the better team in the second half to finish 36-point victors – 11.9 (75) to 5.9 (39).

WA had plenty of players step up across the match with Swan Districts gun Leo Steed the most consistent of the day, fellow co-captain George Gale getting better as the game went on playing a mix of inside mid and wing and his Claremont teammate Heath Mellody was busy across half-back.

Claremont defender Tom Brown stood tall in defence, West Perth big man Harvey Spawton-Guy was the focal point in attack, East Perth bottom-ager Axel Walsh had some important moments at either end of the ground and in the ruck, while the mosquito fleet of Lachlan McGlade, Kyan Perera, Finlay Yeo and the returning Jayden Clarke all produced flashes of brilliance.

Both sides were wasteful in front of the sticks early before Vic Metro straightened things up to boot three consecutive goals before quarter-time, making the most of their dominance in the clearance battle and the favourable breeze.

WA finally got on the board early in the second term through East Perth and West Coast Next Generation Academy small forward McGlade, who was looking lively again after his two-goal performance in last week’s win over South Australia.

Spearhead Spawton-Guy provided his second goal assist for the quarter when Subiaco and Eagles NGA livewire Perera soccered one through on the goal line before getting on the scoreboard himself with a brilliant long-range set shot and all of a sudden it was 23 apiece.

Perera then kicked an absolute beauty from the pocket, his second of the opening half, to give WA the lead just before the half-time siren.

After eight goals in a row at the scoring end of the ground, Walsh finally kicked one at the opposite end early in the third term after a brilliant smother followed by a classy snap around the body.

Vic Metro then flexed their muscle with a dominant period, booting three goals on the trot with their accuracy in front of the sticks particularly impressive.

A 12-point three-quarter time lead quickly became more than five goals as the visitors ran away with the match.

WA have next weekend off before a double-header in Victoria with two games in a week against Vic Country (at Marvel Stadium on Friday, July 3) and the Allies (at Mars Stadium in Ballarat on Wednesday, July 8).

SCOREBOARD

Vic Metro 3.4 3.6 7.6 11.9 (75)

West Aus 0.3 4.5 5.6 5.9 (39)

WA goals: K Perera 2, L McGlade, H Spawton-Guy, A Walsh
WA best: L Steed, G Gale, H Mellody, H Spawton-Guy, T Brown, A Walsh, K Perera