VIC COUNTRY has bounced back from its loss against South Australia last Saturday to produce an emphatic 98-point victory over Tasmania, ending its 2008 NAB AFL under-18 championship campaign with two wins from five matches.

Country defeated Tassie 22.6 (138) to 6.4 (40) after piling on 15 goals to three in the second half.

Tasmania, which won the second division qualifying series, ends its first division campaign winless.

Vic Country had several standouts, with John Butcher booting five goals and Jamie Sheehan, Ryan McKenzie and Sam Hughes all contributing three majors each. Sheehan had a team-high 21 touches.

Impressive Country players Nick Suban (18 disposals), Steele Sidebottom (17 possessions) and Nick Heyne (16 touches and 10 inside 50s) were also among their side's best.

Mitch Robinson, who won the Hunter Harrison Medal as the best player in the second division, was Tasmania's best performer with 24 touches, eight inside 50s and five clearances.

The highly rated Aaron Cornelius, who was an All-Australian player at this level last year, also capped off his series with a fine four-goal performance. Youngster Maverick Weller, who is still eligible for the under 16s, showed some promise.

Tasmania        2.3       4.3       6.3       6.4 (40)
Vic Country    4.3       7.4       14.6     22.6 (138)

GOALS
Tasmania: Cornelius 4, Mihocek, Symmons
Vic Country: Butcher 5, Hughes 3, McKenzie 3, Sheehan 3, Blair 2, Browne, Hooper, Jones, Martiniello, Rockliff, Young

BEST
Tasmania: Robinson, Cornelius, Allwright, Williams
Vic Country: Butcher, Sheehan, Sidebottom, McKenzie, Hooper, Suban, Heyne, Hughes, Jones

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.