DEPPRO WA State 18s win a thriller

The DEPPRO WA State 18s opened their NAB AFL National 18s Championship campaign with a thrilling golden-point win at Domain Stadium on Saturday.

After building a 31-point lead in the first three quarters, WA saw the margin cut back with five consecutive goals to South Australia before East Perth’s Matt Young marked inside 50 and kicked a point to seal the win in extra time.

WA coach Peter Sumich said the pressure applied during the first three quarters and then again in the last 10 minutes was the key to victory.

“The boys were outstanding with the tackling and pressure and that’s really what got them there in the end. They lapsed for 10 or 15 minutes in the last quarter but to their credit they fought back which was really good. It’s about learning from that now and repsonding next time it comes up.”

Photo: Matt Young and Christian Ameduri celebrate the win. By: Daniel Carson / AFL Media

“I now know what these players can do and hopefully they can continue that on. I thought they were very good with their pressure and chasing and tackling.”

West Perth’s Oscar Allen led the way on the scoreboard for WA with three goals, while Taryce Stewart (Swan Districts) added two.

Brayden Ainsworth (Subiaco), Ian Hill (Perth), Sydney Stack (Perth), Matt Young (East Perth) and Brandon Starcevich (East Perth) all kicked one goal each.

Ainsworth was also WA’s leading possession getter with 26, followed by Tom Joyce (East Fremantle) 21, Jake Patmore (Claremont) 19, and Callan England (Claremont) 18.

WA 2.4 6.7 10.12 10.14 (74)

SA 2.2 5.3 6.5 10.13 (73)

WA Goals: Allen 3, Stewart 2, Hill, Stack, Ainsworth, Starcevich, Young 1.

WA Best: Ainsworth, Taylor, Joyce, Naughton, Frampton, Young.

SA Goals: Rankine, Houlahan, Fogarty 2, Rowe, Giro, Rozee, Lukosius 1

SA Best: Rozee, Coleman-Jones, Howson, Edwards, Rankine, McCarthy