WESTERN Australia has burst out of the blocks to open its NAB AFL Under-18 Championships campaign, dominating South Australia in a 47-point win.
Held as the curtain raiser to Fremantle's clash with Richmond at Subiaco Oval, WA opened up a 35-point lead early in the second quarter to set up the 19.12 (126) to 12.7 (79) victory.
Though SA showed plenty of determination to get back to within eight points early in the third, WA kicked eight of the next 10 goals.
David Swallow (27 possessions) was the star for WA in the middle, while small forward Brandon Matera was a livewire in attack finishing with 4.4.
Matera, the son of former West Coast and Fitzroy player Wally, showcased a booming left-foot kick and also worked up the ground for 19 possessions.
AIS/AFL academy member Jack Darling also finished with four goals for WA, while Anthony Morabito booted two and provided plenty of run and carry for the Sandgropers with his 19 touches.
For SA, Jack Trengove fought hard and finished with a game-high 31 disposals, while Alex Carey (21) and Matthew Panos (thee goals and eight marks) put in eye-catching displays.
Carey's first half was particularly impressive – the mature-bodied midfielder displaying courage and an uncompromising attack on the ball – but he faded in the second.
WA's Mitchell Duncan provided the highlight of the one-sided match, taking a super pack mark late in the fourth and converting the set shot from hard up on the boundary line.
There were a number of famous football blood-lines involved, with SA's Wanganeen and WA's Kane Lucas, Nicholas Winmar, Anthony Collica, Clinton Garlett the other familiar names.
Western Australia 5.1 8.2 14.6 19.12 (126)
South Australia 1.2 5.6 7.6 12.7 (79)
GOALS
WA: Matera 4, Darling 4, Duncan 2, Houghton 2, Lucas 2, Morabito 2, Collica, Foster, Garlett
SA: Panos 3, Giddings 2, Lycett 2, Tapscott 2, Carey, Silverlock, Sumner
BEST
WA: Swallow, Matera, Morabito, Darling, Lucas, Collica
SA: Trengove, Carey, Jolly, Panos, Wanganeen
Match three played at Subiaco Oval
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
