SOUTH Australia has won back-to-back Division One NAB AFL Under 16 Championships with a hard fought 20-point win in the final game against Western Australia.
Captain Luke Dunstan accepted the Championship cup after the gritty 10.12 (72) to 7.10 (52) victory.
South Australian youngster James Aish added personal glory to his team success, being awarded the Division One Kevin Sheehan Medal.
He was also named SA's Most Valuable Player, with Dom Sheed (Western Australia), Luke McDonald (Vic Metro) and James Tsitas (Vic Country) winning that honour for their states.
Meanwhile, Essendon star turned coach, Scott Lucas, was unable to prevent his team from narrowly losing to Vic Metro in round three of the championships.
With nine goal scorers for its 12 goals, Vic Metro was able to scrape in by seven points, 12.6 (78) to 9.11 (65).
William Considine, Lachlan Howes, Jack Billings, Joshua Kelly and Thomas Boyd were among the best for Metro, while the best for Lucas' team were James Tsitas, Aaron Heppell, Darcy Gardiner, Lewis Taylor and Lachlan Channing.
South Australia 10.12 (72) d Western Australia 7.10 (52)
Goals
South Australia: Aish 2, Northeast 2, Evans, Dijksman, Reynolds, Wilkie, Scharenberg, Simister. Western Australia: Humphries 2, Sokol 2, Martin, Hodgson, Abbott
Best
South Australia: Aish, Davidson, Neal-Bullen, Combe, Northeast, Scharenberg. Western Australia: Sheed, Loo, Hogan, Martin
Vic Metro 12.6 (78) d Vic Country 9.11 (65)
Goals
Vic Metro: Boyd 2, Franetic 2, Christensen 2, Billings, Kennedy-Harris, Conlon, McDonald, Greiser, Bewley. Vic Country: Willsmore 3, McCartney 2, Thomas, Sharp, Taylor, Gardiner.
Best
Vic Metro: Considine, Howes, Billings, Kelly, Boyd, McDonald, Cooke, Franetic Vic Country: Tsitas, Heppell, Gardiner, Taylor, Channing, Willsmore.
