An eight-goal haul to highly touted key forward Josh Schache has helped Vic Country U18s record a dominant 105-point win over Western Australia at Medibank Stadium in Perth on Sunday.
The 199cm Murray Bushranger – the son of former Sturt, West Torrens, Brisbane and Woodville-West Torrens forward Laurence Schache - finished the match with 8.4 from his seven marks and 24 possessions in his side's 21.18 (144) to 5.9 (39) victory.
Josh is slightly taller than his late father, who was Brisbane’s leading goalkicker with 47 in 1991 and played in the Eagles’ 1993 SANFL premiership side. He passed away suddenly in 2002.
Vic Country midfielder Rhys Mathieson gathered plenty of the ball, accumulating 27 disposals, seven clearances, six inside 50s and a goal.
The Geelong Falcon impressed with his ability to extract the football at the stoppages with 13 contested possessions.
Big men Kieran Collins (15 disposals) and Jacob Weitering (14 disposals) stood tall in defence all game, collecting 17 marks between them.
Attacking midfielder Nash Holmes was also a key figure in the centre with 26 touches (23 kicks, three handballs), nine inside 50s and three goals.
Bottom-age player Jarrod Berry, who stands at 190cm and can perform midfield and half-back roles, also stood out with his 21 disposals (seven kicks, 14 handballs) for Vic Country.
But the win was soured by a left knee injury to Sam Skinner in the second quarter.
The Gippsland Power key position player, who stands at 197cm and weighs 96kg, will have scans in the coming days to determine the severity of the injury.
For Western Australia, 193cm captain Greg Clark was most prominent with 23 touches (12 kicks, 11 handballs) and a goal playing through the midfield.
Small indigenous defender John Shaw showcased his blistering pace and generated run out of defence with 10 disposals (six kicks, four handballs) and one goal at 90 per cent efficiency.
In attack, half-forward Callum Ah Chee, the younger brother of Port Adelaide's Brendon, kicked two goals and had 13 touches in a team that was outclassed by their more fancied opponents.
Left-footed on-baller Clint Hinchliffe, who has turned down a cricket scholarship offer, was among WA's major ball winners with 18 possessions (10 kicks, eight handballs).
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.2 2.2 4.5 5.9 (39)
VIC COUNTRY 5.6 10.9 13.14 21.18 (144)
GOALS
Western Australia: Ah Chee 2, Clark, Rogers, Shaw
Vic Country: Schache 8, Holmes 3, Ainsworth, Poholke, McKay 2, Mathieson, Eades, Simpkin, Skinner
BEST
Western Australia: Shaw, Clark, Ridley, Harrold, Powell-Pepper, Rotham
Vic Country: Schache, Collins, Tucker, Berry, Mathieson, Holmes
