By Hayley Wildes
The Vic Country team that took to the MCG against Vic Metro on Saturday morning in the opening game of the 2019 AFL Under-18 Championships was littered with local stars hoping to make their mark with AFL recruiters watching on.
Well, they did just that.
Country entered the game as a big underdog, but delivered a stirring performance and was too tough, clean and composed for its Metro rival. Stars from both the Dandenong Stingrays and Gippsland Power stood out in a fantastic day for the two local NAB League teams.
Country trailed by one-point at the first break, but in a game-defining second term kept Metro goalless and in doing so, the group’s confidence grew and ran out the second half impressively.
It was a tremendous performance by Country, which ran out 13-point winners, 9.10 (64) to 7.9 (51). While it was a total team effort, there’s no doubting that Dandenong’s Hayden Young and Ned Cahill (two goals), along with Gippsland’s Caleb Serong and Josh Smith (three goals), were absolutely vital in the win.
Young, who has been touted as a top five pick in November’s AFL draft for some time, absolutely starred off half-back. His ability to make the right decision and use his sublime foot skills under pressure makes him a tantalising prospect. He finished with a game-high 29 disposals in an eye-catching display.
Cahill, who came into his own in the latter stages of Dandenong’s run to the 2018 TAC Cup (NAB League) premiership, hasn’t missed a beat in 2019. His glittering form continued on Saturday as his speed, smarts and natural goal-sense was too much for Metro to handle.
He finished with two classy goals, to go along with 16 disposals and plenty of pressure acts. Cahill’s draft stock is rising and if he is able to continue this form throughout the rest of the championships, he will truly announce himself as a player to watch in the lead-up to the draft.
Warragul’s Serong, who is a Country co-captain, led from the front. His first quarter was dominant (eight disposals and three clearances) and his toughness around the contest set the tone for his team. He finished the game with 22 disposals and seven tackles in a performance that will give his draft stock another boost.
Kooweerup’s Smith was a key to Country’s strong start with his three first half goals ensuring their dominance of play was rewarded on the scoreboard. His strength and ability to out-mark opponents in one-on-one contests are keys to his game and he showed that he’s capable of using those strengths against some great Metro defenders.
While Serong and Smith were the standout Power players, the depth of talent in Gippsland was on show as fellow NAB League teammates Sam Flanders, Ryan Sparkes, Riley Baldi and Charlie Comben all shone bright.
Flanders was simply relentless all day around the contest and his pressure was second to none, highlighted by his game-high nine tackles. He also found plenty of the ball, finishing with 21 disposals.
Sparkes and Baldi were also in terrific form, making their presence known around the contest, while Comben played a key role in the ruck and up forward alongside Smith.
Other Dandenong players in the Country team were Sam De Koning, Cody Weightman and Bigoa Nyuon, while Gippsland’s Brock Smith, Fraser Phillips and Harrison Pepper also took to the field.
With 14 locals making up the 23-man Country team, there’s no doubting that Gippsland Power and Dandenong Stingrays are continuing to produce great young footballers.
In NAB League action over the weekend, Dandenong had a bye, while Gippsland suffered a loss to Sandringham.
With 14 key players missing due mainly to Vic Country commitments, the Power battled manfully and held a two-point half time lead, but the Dragons eventually broke through and a four-goal to one third term had them in the box seat entering the final term.
Despite the best efforts of Tye Hourigan and Thomas Mann, Sandringham ran out 25-point winners, 10.8 (68) to 6.7 (43).
The loss sees Gippsland fall to fourth on the ladder with a 6-2 record, while Dandenong remains on top with six wins and a draw.
Round 10 NAB League action kicks off at Shepley Oval from 10.30am on Saturday with the Stingrays taking on the Northern Knights, while Gippsland faces the Western Jets on Saturday in Morwell from 1pm.
