Country 14.8 (92) defeated the Sandgropers 11.14 (80) in the first of the division one matches of this year's tournament. It was the opening match of the double-header at MC Labour Park on Sunday.
In an entertaining and free-flowing contest, the lead changed seven times, while the scores were level on three occasions. But Vic Country gained the ascendancy in the second half and at one point had registered six consecutive goals.
AIS/AFL Academy graduates Shaun Grigg (22 touches and two goals) and Robert Eddy (28 disposals - including 24 kicks) were outstanding. Grant Weeks and Mitchell Brown were also strong performers in front of goal, with the duo booting three majors each.
Scott Gumbleton, a distant relative of 1975 Kangaroos premiership player Frank, showed why he will be a much-sought after player in this year's NAB AFL Draft.
Gumbleton, a 195cm tall forward/defender, took a courageous mark in the first quarter, while he made a brilliant tackle during the second term, when he ran down Ben Ross, who was charging towards goal.
Garry Moss was Western Australia's leading ball-winner with 30 touches, while highly ranked draft prospects, the exciting Leroy Jetta (26 possessions) and penetrating kicker Brock O'Brien shone. Dominic Foster also kicked three goals and impressed with his set-shot kicking.
Ruckman Matthew Leuenberger looms as a beauty long-term and was one that caught the eye, while Clayton Collard, another player to watch, certainly made his mark in the second term with a terrific hanger over the top of Vic Country's Jeff Ryan.
Jetta kicked off proceedings, before Vic Country opened its account with three in a row - including two from Grigg. But Country's 14-point lead was quickly reduced to just the narrowest of margins at the first break, when the Sandgropers hit back with three of the remaining four goals for the term. This included two lovely set-shot goals from Foster.
Western Australia jumped away to an 11-point lead early in the second term, but the Vics hit back with the final three goals of the quarter to claim a four-point advantage at half-time.
The Sandgropers hit the lead early in the second half, when Foster kicked his third and Brad Dick followed up soon after. But Country fought back strongly with four unanswered goals - including two to M.Brown - to claim a 16-point lead at three quarter-time.
Country bounced out to a 28-point lead - the biggest of the match - early in the final term, which in the end was too much for the Sandgropers to peg back, although they booted three of the final four goals.
VICTORIA COUNTRY: 4.2 7.4 11.8 14.8 (92)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: 4.1 6.6 8.10 11.14 (80)
GOALS - Victoria Country: M.Brown 3, Weeks 3, Grigg 2, Eddy, George, Hardy, Reid, Ross, Ryan
Western Australia: Foster 3, Krakouer 2, Collard, Dick, Jetta, McNarmara, Morton, Moss
BEST - Victoria Country: Grigg, Eddy, George, Hansen, M.Brown, Weeks
Western Australia: Moss, Gumbleton, O'Brien, Jetta, Foster, Masten
UMPIRES - Medlin, Walker, Tuckett
VENUE: MC Labour Park, Carlton
