By JARROD POTTER
AFL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUND 2
PUNCHING the Swans into oblivion, Vic Country flexed its muscles with a 105-point shellacking of a lacklustre Western Australia.
Leederville Oval was home to a state-wide lesson as the country lads eviscerated any hope of Western Australia winning the championship.
Vic Country’s kicking may have eased Western Australia’s battering as the visitors snagged 18 behinds to its 21 majors, but it was more than enough to dispatch the lacklustre Swans.
Seven Dandenong Stingrays – Tom Glenn, Kurt Mutimer, Bailey Rice, Gach Nyuon, Jacob Weitering, Keiran Collins and debuting 17-year-old Myles Poholke – were part of the thumping as Vic Country showered the Swans in goals from everywhere.
Murray’s star forward Josh Schache (8 goals) was unstoppable in the forward arc for Vic Country and had plenty of help from a Gippsland duo Nash Holmes (3 goals) and Ben Ainsworth (2 goals). Finishing his Vic Country debut on a high note, Poholke managed to jag two goals and hopefully retain his spot ahead of the third round of the championships.
Dandenong Stingrays’ defender Tommy Glenn, 18, who lives in Pakenham, said it was a shock to see how quickly Western Australia fell away, especially with home field advantage against the travelling Victorians.
“It was really surprising – definitely expected a bit more from them,” Glenn said.
“The midfield got on top early and the forwards took their chances – big Schache booted eight.”
Part of the swathe of Stingrays featuring in the rampaging triumph, Glenn was pleased with his efforts roaming the defensive end before getting his chance on the wing in the second half.
“It was an awesome feeling for all us boys and a big honour to represent the state with my Dandy team mates,” Glenn said.
“They had me playing half back, back pocket in the first half before they put me out onto the wing.
“It was a massive ground so plenty of space and big opportunity to run – was good to show I’m not just a one-dimensional player in the big game.”
Vic Country will return to Geelong again on Sunday to repeat its Round-1 match against Vic Metro from 12pm.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.2 2.2 4.5 5.9 (39)
VIC COUNTRY 5.6 10.9 13.14 21.18 (144)
Western Australia Goals: Ah Chee 2, Clark, Rogers, Shaw. Best: Shaw, Clark, Ridley, Harrold, Powell-Pepper, Rotham.
Vic Country Goals: Schache 8, Holmes 3, Ainsworth 2, Poholke 2, McKay 2, Mathieson, Eades, Simpkin, Skinner. Best: Schache, Collins, Tucker, Berry, Mathieson, Holmes.
