Clever mid-sized forward Tim Taranto displayed his quality as Vic Metro claimed its first Division One title since 2012 with a 23-point victory over Western Australia at Simonds Stadium on Wednesday.
Taranto, who has soared into top-20 draft calculations, was best afield with 24 disposals and a goal as Metro powered away from WA in the final term, running out 12.9 (81) to 8.10 (58) winners.
Vic Metro needed the win to secure the title ahead of South Australia, which had won three of its four games.
Potential Collingwood father-son draft pick Callum Brown had a blazing start, helping set up the win with 15 first-half disposals.
Brown, the son of Magpies great Gavin, was sharp with his hands in close, and he also laid five tackles while finishing the game with 18 touches.
Fellow potential Magpie father-son pick Josh Daicos, the son of Peter, also did his bit with one major and 11 disposals.
Midfielder/forward Daniel Venables, a potential top-10 draft pick, demonstrated his talents with an outstanding running goal breaking out of the centre square in the second term.
A move to half-back seemed to suit Jordan Gallucci, who had his best game of the Championships with 15 disposals, five rebound 50s and two goals.
Mobile forward Patrick Kerr – the grandson of Carlton hall-of-famer Laurie - led Metro's goalkicking with three majors, including two ripping goals from the boundary, one on his right foot in the second quarter and another on his left in the third term.
Possible No.1 draft selection Sam Petrevski-Seton was Western Australia's best with 18 disposals, five inside 50s and a goal, while Josh Rotham turned heads with a towering mark in the first half.
Wingman Quinton Narkle, who has garnered plenty of interest over the Championships, was also excellent for Western Australia with 17 disposals, five marks and two goals.
Shai Bolton and Sam Powell-Pepper, both rated as possible top-20 picks, were also influential for Western Australia.
Luke Strnadica, who stands 199cm, looked dangerous for WA as a key forward with six disposals, four marks and a goal in the first half before fading out of the contest after the main break.
VIC METRO 1.4 5.6 7.8 12.9 (81)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA 0.3 3.6 4.7 8.10 (58)
GOALS
Vic Metro: Kerr 3, Venables 2, Hayes 2, Gallucci 2, Taranto, Daicos, Lyons,
Western Australia: Narkle 2, Fisher, Petevski-Seton, Strnadica, Clarke, Logue, Bolton,
BEST
Vic Metro: Taranto, Gallucci, McGrath, Clarke, Brown, Venables
Western Australia: Petrevski-Seton, Narkle, English, Rotham, Powell-Pepper
The Allies snatched victory awayfrom Vic Country thanks to a fantastic goal from Brad Scheer with just minutesremaining in the final match of the 2016 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships onWednesday.
Scheer, who had 21 disposals and six tackles for the Allies,received a free kick for a high tackle deep inside 50 and was called to play onby the umpire, but not before he slotted a classy goal off the outside of hisboot.
The Allies held on to clinch their first victory of theChampionships as Vic Country pressed hard late in the game, winning 10.10 (70)to 10.6 (66).
Will Brodie, a classy 189cm midfielder, had a team-high 21disposals and seven clearances to lead Country for much of the game, his teamopening up a 27-point three-quarter time lead before the Allies stormed home.
The Murray Bushrangers product also kicked a fantastic goal fromdeep in the right forward pocket to open the scoring early in the game.
Lead-up forward Josh Battle, on the cusp as a possible top-20draft pick, booted four goals to lead the way for Country.
Country's midfield was on top for much of the contest, as JoeAtley – the brother of North Melbourne's Shaun – hit his straps with 21disposals.
James Worpel, who is eligible for next year's draft, showedhimself to be a real talent with 15 disposals and seven inside 50s.
As has been the case for much of the carnival, Koby Mutchcontinued to find plenty of the footy for the Allies, finishing with amatch-high 28 disposals.
Jamie Hampton, the brother of Adelaide's Curtly, excelled intaking the game on, displaying his breakaway speed on the way to 20 touches andseven rebound 50s.
The biggest highlight of the game came in the second term as theAllies' Ben Long cleaned up Country's Myles Poholke with a huge bump on theouter side of Simonds Stadium.
Aside from the big hit, Long did a fantastic defensive job forthe Allies, holding dangerous Country forward Ben Ainsworth (five touches and agoal) in check for much of the game.
VIC COUNTRY 3.1 4.3 10.5 10.6(66)
ALLIES 3.2 4.7 6.8 10.10 (70)
GOALS
Vic Country: Battle 4, Brodie, Piper, O'Brien, McCluggage,Fowler, Ainsworth
Allies: Marshall 3, Maguire 2, Williams,Olango, Sproule
BEST
Vic Country: Brodie, Atley, Battle, Worpel, O'Brien,Fowler, Drew
Allies: Mutch, Hampton, Scheer, Long,Perryman, Maguire, Marshall
