SOUTH AUSTRALIA has withstood a late comeback from Vic Country to win by 34 points in the second of three NAB AFL Under-18 Championship matches at Casey Fields on Saturday afternoon.
SA led by 49 points at three-quarter time but was challenged by the Vics in the final stanza when they piled on five majors to get within four goals.
But SA stood firm and managed to run out winners – 14.14 (98) to 9.10 (64).
South Australian midfielder Hamish Hartlett was best for his side with 23 touches and a goal, while Luke Tapscott top-scored with five.
Their teammate Paul Cahill booted three and Chris Hall was good around the stoppages.
Hartlett is the younger brother of current Carlton-listed player Adam.
Jay Shannon was also in good touch for South Australia, while Jarrad Redden had 11 hit-outs and Ben Speight kicked 2.3.
For the Vics, Jack Ziebell had 20 touches and kicked a goal, Jamie Sheehan was hard in the middle with five clearances and Tom Rockliff booted three majors.
Nick Suban, All-Australian last year, continued to impress with 19 touches, five tackles and six inside 50s.
South Australia 5.4 8.7 11.12 14.14 (98)
Vic Country 1.1 3.3 4.5 9.10 (64)
GOALS
South Australia: Tapscott 5, Cahill 3, Speight 2, Hartlett, Hall, Schoenmakers, Johnston
Vic Country: Rockliff 3, Butcher 2, Ziebell, Sheehan, Roughead, Browne
BEST
South Australia: Hartlett, Tapscott, Hall, O'Keeffe, Speight, Cahill, Shannon
Vic Country: Ziebell, Suban, Sidebottom, Sheehan, Rockliff, Roughead
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL.
