AAMI SA U18 Team defeat Victoria Country in Game 4

By ZAC MILBANK

The AAMI SA U18 Team finished its Marsh AFL National Championships campaign on a high with a pulsating one-point win against Victoria Country in Game 4 at Mars Stadium in Ballarat. 

Trailing by as much as 30 points early in the second quarter, the Croweaters displayed plenty of tenacity as they ensured coach Tony Bamford would finish his final tournament at the helm with a 2-2 win-loss record.

With key forward Jack Slattery again prominent with four goals, coupled with Ethan Herbert, Jacob McNicol and Memphis Webb providing drive from the midfield, South Australia clawed its way back into the contest with a five-goal second term.

SA was wasteful early – 1.8 (14) at the first change – but Slattery provided the spark in the second stanza when he piled on three goals in succession to drag his side back into the match.

Suddenly the visitors found themselves behind by just a goal at the main change as they gave the boys from the bush something to think about at the long break.

Tall SA forward Kai Edwards, included for his first game of the Carnival, booted the next two majors – one a clever soccer from close range before using his body nicely to snap one from a ruck contest early in the fourth term.

McNicol capped off his promising performance – which yielded a team-high 25 disposals – with a snap goal from 30m before that man Slattery drew the Croweaters level when he converted his set shot from 30m in the 15th minute.

The Sherrin proceeded to ping from end to end for the final 10 miuntes of the game before likely top AFL Draft pick Cody Walker appeared to give Country the win when he produced a stunning passage of play which resulted in a mark to Xavier Ladbrook at the top of the goal square.

Fortunately for SA, Ladbrook missed his simple set shot before captain Kodah Edwards booted the go-ahead behind from 50m close to the boundary line with less than two minutes to play.

Slattery, who finished with a healthy 16 goals for the Championships, will be hot favourite to be named at full forward for the All-Australian team, which will be announced after the final game of the campaign on July 19.

Half-back Sam Tassone (22 disposals) was rated by the coaches as SA’s best as hard-working Webb finished with 25 disposals while Herbert showed off his versatility in the ruck with 20 disposals, 14 hit outs and six clearances.

Key defender Mitch Harris showed off his great intercept marking ability when the game was on the line in the fourth term, assisting SA to control the tempo of the contest.

After winning last year’s title, the AAMI SA U18 Team posted wins against the Allies and Victoria Country whilst succumbing to Victoria Metro and Western Australia.

South Australia  1.8  6.8  7.12  10.15 (75)

Victoria Country  3.1  8.2  10.6  11.8 (74) 

BEST – SA: Sam Tassone, Jack Slattery, Memphis Webb, Ethan Herbert, Mitch Harris, Jacob McNicol.

GOALS – SA: Jack Slattery 4, Kai Edwards 2, Jacob McNicol, Kodah Edwards, Taj Garrett, Charlie Bradford.

At Mars Stadium, Ballarat