State 18s fight to the finish

Western Australia’s State 18s fell short of Victoria Metro by three goals in an entertaining contest at Optus Stadium today, Sunday, June 10.

Vic Metro won the game 14.10 (94) to 12.4 (76) spearheaded by five goals from key forward Ben King and four goals from Noah Anderson.

Dylan O’Reilly lead the way on the scoreboard for WA with three goals, while Ian Hill and Brad Oldfield kicked two each.

Jeremy Sharp was WA’s best with a goal and 26 possessions. He received great support from Luke Foley with 17 possessions, five tackles and six clearances.

Ian Hill (11 disposals, 6 tackles, 2 goals) and Dylan O’Reilly (13 disposals, 9 hit-outs, 3 goals) were also named among WA’s best along with ruckman Luke Jackson who had 25 hit-outs and four tackles.

The teams traded goals in the opening quarter before Vic Metro’s Noah Anderson scored a goal moments before the quarter time siren to give his side a 7-point advantage.

Vic Metro extended their lead to 27 points midway through the second term before WA hit back with three consecutive goals to reduce the margin to nine points.

The arm-wrestle continued in the third term and WA added another two goals before Vic Metro steadied to make it a 22-point difference at three-quarter-time.

Vic Metro extended their lead to 31 points in the fourth quarter but WA continued to fight and outscored Vic Metro five goals to four to finish off a committed contest.

SCOREBOARD

WA        2.1     5.2     7.3     12.4 (76)

VIC M    3.2     7.5     10.7   14.10 (94)

Goals: WA – O’Reilly 3, Hill 2, Oldfield 2, Cameron, English, Foley, Hansen, Sharp 1. VM – King 5, Anderson 4, Mahony 2, West, McKenzie, O’Halloran 1.

Best: WA – Sharp, Foley, Hill, O’Reilly, Jackson. VM – Anderson, Mahony, Quaynor, Answerth, King, Smith.