Vic Metro has produced a stunning comeback to defeat Vic Country by two points at Simonds Stadium on Monday.
Trailing by 20 points at the final change, Metro stormed home with six goals to two in the last quarter to seal a thrilling 14.10 (94) to 14.8 (92) victory.
Daniel Venables was the hero with a goal in the final minute, while Callum Brown – the son of Collingwood premiership star Gavin Brown – was very impressive.
For Country, highly touted prospects Will Brodie (29 possessions), Ben Ainsworth (four goals) and Hugh McCluggage (25 disposals, three goals) all had standout games.
In a game of distinct momentum shifts, Country held a 22-point break at the opening change before Metro hit back to take a three-point lead at quarter-time.
Ainsworth's four-goal haul came in the third term to give Country their break heading into the last quarter, but they squandered their opportunity to win their first game of the carnival.
Metro co-captain Andrew McGrath was the star of the final term, with the athletic half-back shifted to Ainsworth and shutting him out of the game.
McGrath not only did that, but also managed to provide terrific rebound, run and intercept marking to push Metro towards victory.
The thrilling contest would have provided plenty of insight to club recruiters, with a significant number of players showing good glimpses of their talent.
Brown's 27-disposals, eight-clearance and one-goal game proved the father-son prospect to be a legitimate first-round contender, while Dylan Clarke (the brother of North Melbourne's Ryan) collected 26, six clearances and two goals.
Tim Taranto's class in attack was also important for Metro, with the Sandringham Dragon's three-goal bag from 18 disposals proving he can move through the midfield and half-forward.
Venables' last 10 minutes of the game showed why some clubs view him as a possible top-10 pick, with the powerful Western Jets midfielder/forward setting up the second-last goal to Brown before kicking the match-winner.
Country's trio of stars was well supported by Myles Poholke (18 disposals and two goals), and bottom-agers James Worpel (16 disposals, nine tackles) Lochie O'Brien (16 disposals).
Country's defeat follows its 61-point drubbing by Western Australia, leaving last year's championships winners without a victory after two rounds.
They have the bye in round three next weekend, while Vic Metro will travel to Adelaide to take on South Australia on Sunday at AAMI Stadium.
VIC COUNTRY 5.2 6.3 12.4 14.8 (92)
VIC METRO 1.4 6.6 8.8 14.10 (94)
GOALS
Vic Country: Ainsworth 4, McCluggage 3, Drew 2, Poholke 2, Worpel, Battle, Blake
Vic Metro: Taranto 3, Clarke 2, Larkey 2, Brown, Bunker, Gallucci, Duman, Venables, Lynch, Brown
BEST
Vic Country: Brodie, McCluggage, Poholke, Worpel, Ainsworth, O'Brien
Vic Metro: McGrath, Brown, Clarke, Taranto, Gallucci, Higgins
