PERSISTENCE paid for Vic Metro as it broke through a dogged Vic Country defensive set-up to win its final AFL under-18 national championships match by 19 points at Etihad Stadium last Wednesday.
On Sunday, the Western Jets continued their march towards TAC Cup finals with a thrilling two-point win against Gippsland Power.
Metro and Country were playing for pride after South Australia had earlier sealed the division 1 title with its 10-point win against Western Australia at the same venue.
Pride and bragging rights were on the line for the Victorian teams as Metro won 9.7 (61) to 6.6 (42).
The Wednesday results meant South Australia’s three-point win against Vic Metro in Geelong the previous Friday was the decisive game on the way to the state’s first division 1 title.
Metro’s Jack Billings (Oakleigh Chargers) was the dominant player in the first half as he kicked three of Metro’s five goals to the long break.
PICTURE GALLERY 1: Vic Metro v Vic Country
PICTURE GALLERY 2: Vic Metro v Vic Country
Country dominated most of the third term, trapping Metro in its defensive 50 metres. But Country would never hit the front, with two goals late in the quarter proving the decisive break for Metro.
Vermont’s Mitchell Honeychurch kicked the first from a stoppage, then a poor kick across half-back by Vic Country was picked off and passed to Western Jet James Sicily, who converted from the set shot.
Sicily and Jake Greiser (Keilor/Western Jets) were the only two Jets to get a run for Vic Metro.
TAC Cup action continued on Sunday with the Western Jets beating Gippsland Power in a thriller by two points at Preston City Oval.
Melton’s Mitch Norton kicked three goals as the Jets won 11.11 (77) to 10.15 (75) to further strengthen the team’s top eight standing.
Melton’s Mark Orr and Darley’s Billy Myers were also named in the Jets’ best.
Western (fifth, 6-1-5) is now six points clear in the eight heading into this Saturday’s match against Calder Cannons (ninth, 5-7).
The Cannons-Jets clash starts at 11.30am on Saturday at Highgate Reserve in Craigieburn.
