U18 Championships 2008

[one-eyed]

WA too good for SA
Sun 08 June, 2008
 
Western Australia 5.2   6.4   11.9   15.12 (102)
South Australia     1.3   3.7     4.9     4.13   (37)
 
GOALS
Western Australia: Olds 4, Yarran 2, Bennell, Naitanui, Daly, Pearce, Jetta, Marsh, Warner, Hill, Ross
South Australia: Hartlett, Mardling, Cahill, Redden
 
BEST
Western Australia: Hill, Pearce, Laurie, Jetta, Naitanui
South Australia: Johnston, Schoenmakers, Cahill, O’Keefe
 
Western Australia remain undefeated after two comfortable victories in the opening rounds. Round Two matches of the 2008 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships will conclude tomorrow, Monday June 9 with Tasmania to play Vic Metro at Bellerive Oval, Tasmania.
 
http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=61064

[Ramps]

Michael Walters is one I was hoping wouldnt do so good in the carnival. Hes gonna be a good player that lad.

[one-eyed]

Tasmania upstaged by Vic Metro at home
afl.com.au
By Matt Burgan
5:08 PM Tue 10 June, 2008

VICTORIA Metropolitan thrashed this year's NAB AFL Under-18 second division championship winners Tasmania by 67 points at Bellerive Oval on Monday.

Vic Metro 12.8 (80) defeated Tasmania 1.7 (13) on the final day of the Queen's Birthday weekend triple-header, which saw elite under-18 matches staged in New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania.

Metro never looked in doubt after leading by 33 points at quarter time. It was during this term when the Apple Isle registered its only goal, courtesy of Tyson Mihocek.

The Vics had several standout players including forward Tom Lynch, who bagged four goals. Lynch was also Metro's leading ball-winner with 21 touches. He also gained nine hard-ball gets and impressed with his contested marking.

The only other multiple goalkickers for the match were Aaron Purves (three) and Jack Watts (two), while at the other end of the ground, key defender Michael Hurley again impressed. Luke Shuey also gained 18 touches and was among Metro's best.

For Tassie, Tom Salter continued his excellent carnival with a game-high 26 disposals, as did Hunter Harrison Medallist Mitch Robinson and teammate Jesse Crichton, who both collected 21 touches each. 

Tasmania           1.0  1.1   1.5    1.7 (13)
Vic Metropolitan  6.3  7.4  12.5  12.8 (80)

GOALS
Tasmania: Mihocek
Vic Metro: Lynch 4, Purves 3, Watts 2, Joyce, Gilchrist, Stanton
 
BEST
Tasmania: Robinson, Salter, Crichton, Davies, Hislop, Milverton, Allwright
Vic Metro: Lynch, Banner, Shuey, Sloane, Hurley, Strauss


Upcoming Matches - Round 3

Saturday June 14
Tasmania v NSW/ACT at Aurora Stadium, 12.30pm
 
Saturday June 21
Western Australia v Vic Country at Subiaco, 2.30pm
 
Sunday June 22
South Australia v Vic Metro at Adelaide Oval, 1pm

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=61101

[one-eyed]

NSW/ACT continues winning way
Sat 14 June, 2008

NSW/ACT  2.2   5.4    8.7   11.8  (74)
Tasmania    2.2   5.3    7.4    9.8   (62)

GOALS
NSW/ACT: Foster 3, Gordon 2, Clisby, Spiteri, Ruffles, Klemke, Duryea, McNeil
Tasmania: Robinson 2, McCulloch 2, Harwood 2, Cox, Archer, Milne

BEST
NSW/ACT:  Bryce, McNeil, Frail, Reed, Foster,  Kirkwood, Klemke
Tasmania:  Salter, Williams, Allwright, Crichton, Symmons, O’Brien


Reports:
http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=61472

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=61512

[one-eyed]

Ricky Nixon reckons Cordy (Dogs Father/Son - tall athletic type - "Naitanui with footy smarts") would be his No.1 in this year's draft. The doggies will get him for pick 27-30.

He said last night Naitanui's stocks may have slipped as others show their footy smarts in the U18 champs.

[one-eyed]

UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAP
Champion Data e-Newsletter

There was just the one game in the Under-18 Championships last week, at Aurora Stadium between NSW-ACT and Tasmania.

Here were some of the key players in last week’s game.

NSW-ACT

79 – Scott Reed: The Magpies would be rapt with his progress. Another 17 disposals and five marks in the win.

68 – Kade Klemke: Close to BOG with 20 disposals and a goal, he has been starring for Murray in the TAC Cup and can dominate from half-back.

4 – Ranga Ediriwickrama: His average dropped dramatically after he pulled a hammy after only 12 minutes.

TASMANIA

91 – Tom Salter: Another big game from the Tassie midfielder with 20 disposals, six marks and five tackles.

64 – Mitch Robinson: Was once again close to his state’s best player with 15 disposals and seven contested possessions.

34 – Aaron Cornelius: Disappointing, again, and his stocks are plummeting. He desperately needs a strong end to the carnival to be back in contention as an early pick.

[one-eyed]

Vic Country best in west
afl.com.au
Nathan Schmook
Sat 21 June, 2008

Victoria Country   3.3   8.3     8.3   11.4 (70)
Western Australia 0.0   1.1     4.4     6.7 (43)
 
GOALS
Vic Country: Heyne 3, Browne 2, Bucovaz, Christensen, McKenzie, Rockliff, Roughead, Sheahan
Western Australia: Daly 2, Hill, Rich, Walters, Yarran
 
BEST
Vic Country: Heyne, Sheahan, Ziebell, Browne
Western Australia: Naitanui, DeBoer, Jetta, Daly


VICTORIA Country has bounced back from an upset loss to NSW/ACT a fortnight ago to defeat Western Australia by 27 points in the 2008 NAB AFL Under-18 Championships at Subiaco Oval on Saturday.

The visitors dealt WA their first defeat of this year's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, running out 11.4 (70) to 6.7 (43) victors in a curtain raiser to the West Coast v Geelong match.

Country set up its win with an eight goal to three first half and kicked away in the final quarter against a lackluster WA.

WA won the inside 50 count 43-23 but were unable to find the space to deliver cleanly to spearhead Chris Yarran. Country on the other hand refused to cough up the ball and delivered to advantage with Nic Heyne (three goals) and Andrew Browne (two goals) the most productive of their forwards.

But Country were able to find options all over the ground with eight separate goal kickers in a low scoring affair.

For WA, Nick Naitanui was unbreakable around the stoppages doing it all for his team. He had 18 hit-outs and 10 clearances, but struggled to have the same influence around the ground.

Matt DeBoer (23 possessions) was clean for the home side across half-back while highly rated Daniel Rich (eight) struggled to shake the close attention he was given. 

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=61936

[one-eyed]

Vic Metro too good for SA
afl.com.au
By Katrina Gill
Sun 22 June, 2008

Vic Metro           4.1    9.3   12.4    17.5   (107)
South Australia   2.0   3.1    8.3      8.6     (54)

GOALS
Vic Metro: Watts 5, Joyce 2, Shuey 2, Scully 2, Vickery 2, McKernan, Fitzpatrick, Zaharakis, Hunt
South Australia: Boras 3, Cahill 2, Mardling, Shannon, O’Keeffe

BEST
Vic Metro: Watts, Shuey, Zaharkis, Scully, Hunt, Sloane
South Australia: Clarke, Shannon, O’Keeffe, Armstrong, Hall, Broadbent



VIC METRO has continued its unbeaten record in round three of the NAB U18 Championships with a commanding 53-point win over South Australia at Adelaide Oval.

The Victorians led by just 13 points at quarter time, but set up the well deserved win with a five-goal-to-one second term. They ran out winners 17.5 (107) to 8.6 (54).

South Australia responded in the third term with two goals to Johnny Boras helping the home side to draw within 13 points, but the powerhouse Victorian side proved too strong kicking the last seven goals of the game to run out easy winners.

Impressive Vic Metro forward Jack Watts booted five goals in the absence of Tom Lynch (knee) and was well supported by fellow big man Tyson Vickery (two goals) and ball magnets Dylan Joyce, Luke Shuey and Tom Scully, who finished with two-apiece.

Athletic ruckman Shaun McKernan dominated the ruck with 15 hit-outs, 12 disposals, seven marks and a goal and David Zaharakis and Mitchell Banner were standouts in the middle.

Dale Armstrong, Jay Shannon and Matthew Broadbent each finished with 21 touches for South Australia and Boras (three goals) and Paul Cahill (two goals) were the picks up forward.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=61961

[Ramps]

Ive never seen him play but im coming around to the suggestion that if Jack Watts is available at our pick we should take him. Reports suggest hes a good height/weight and has good speed. We need another option up forward just to make sure.

[mightytiges]

Watts is 194cm, 85kg. If he has a few bag of tricks other than just a mark and goal forward then he'd be a nice addition for us. No go home factor to worry about and a true sized KPP once he develops and builds up his 17 year old body on an AFL list. It'll all depend on where we finish. Watts may go before our pick.

[mightytiges]

Ive never seen him play but im coming around to the suggestion that if Jack Watts is available at our pick we should take him. Reports suggest hes a good height/weight and has good speed. We need another option up forward just to make sure.

The way Vic Metro coach Dickson was pumping Watts up this morning he'll go top 5  .

[one-eyed]

Ive never seen him play but im coming around to the suggestion that if Jack Watts is available at our pick we should take him. Reports suggest hes a good height/weight and has good speed. We need another option up forward just to make sure.

The way Vic Metro coach Dickson was pumping Watts up this morning he'll go top 5  .

Healy on 3aw said tonight that the word around is that Watts may go No.1 but Russell said Rich is being tagged although tagging isn't allowed at U18s.

[one-eyed]

Jason McCartney and Kevin Sheehan pick out their U18 standouts so far:
 
Big wrap for Jack Watts. Calling him a star and up with the best WA kids.

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=62141

http://www.afl.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=61985

[one-eyed]

UNDER-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS WRAP
Champion Data Newsletter

It was a big weekend for the Under-18 Championships last weekend with two games between the four big sides. Vic Country upset a disappointing Western Australia on Saturday and then the gun Vic Metro side was too good for a gallant South Australia on Sunday.

There are no games this weekend but expect a full wrap of the carnival in a fortnight when it comes to an end.

If you are still sceptical of the importance of this data, remember that the second-leading DT player in the 2006 Championships was Bryce Gibbs and the leading players last year were Rhys Palmer and Cyril Rioli – all who turned
out to be DT stars in their debut season.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

83 – Matt DeBoer: Here’s a player who will be a good cash cow for 2008. Is a ball magnet who currently leads
the carnival in disposals with 69 in three games.

72 – Nicholas Naitanui: Another encouraging performance from the big man who will excite crowds for the next decade. Won 18 hitouts and had 13 disposals but failed to take a mark which is why I still see him as having questionable DT potential.

70 – Neville Jetta: Exciting indigenous player who picked up 15 disposals and provided plenty of run. Needs to win a bit more of the ball to be a serious DT prospect though.

58 – Stephen Hill: Expect this star to be a bolter in this year’s draft ala Scott Pendlebury in 2005. Has clean hands, is a super kick and has genuine pace. One of my favourites at the minute.

50 – Daniel Rich: Another disappointing effort from the highly touted midfielder. Had only eight disposals and will need to pull his finger out in the last two games to remain in top-five calculations for the draft.

VIC COUNTRY

87 – Jack Ziebell: Looms as a possible top six pick after a superb performance on Saturday where he picked up 22 disposals. Has poise and is a gun at the stoppages. May play AFL next year.

49 – Steele Sidebottom: Has now played three good games in a row and dominates at TAC Cup level for flag favourites Murray. I’m a big fan and expect him to be a handy DT player as early as 2009.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

80 – Jay Shannon: In his first appearance for the carnival Shannon picked up 21 disposals and laid three tackles to be one of his state’s best.

68 – Rhys O’Keefe: Has been the Croweaters’ best player throughout the carnival, averaging 17 disposals and three rebound 50s as a running defender.

46 – Hamish Hartlett: Started off well with eight disposals in the opening term but struggled after that. Still yet to have over 14 disposals in a game in the carnival.

VIC METRO

101 – Jack Watts: Put his hand up to be the No.1 selection of this year’s draft – in front of Naitanui – with a sensational display both in the air and on the deck. Took seven marks, won 17 disposals and booted five goals in the best individual game of the Championships to date.

94 – David Zaharakis: Has now put in three solid performances on the wing. He’s a running machine who finds plenty of the ball and is a good chance to play AFL in 2009.

79 – Shaun McKernan: Corey’s brother put in another impressive display, taking seven marks and winning 15
hitouts.

[Ramps]

I just saw some highlights of Watts, um lets just say hes a gonna be a good player  pity he fired up this well in the carnival, If I was Melbourne Id pick him infront of the fijian. Watts - good run and good speed for his height, excellent contested mark. A top young player based on these things alone.