AND SO, after two months under an expanded and revised format, Vic Metro emerged victorious in this year's NAB AFL under 18 championships after it overcame the impressive Western Australia by 29 points in the decider at Telstra Dome on Wednesday.
It capped off yet another outstanding series for Vic Metro, which has now won 13 titles since the state split into two teams in 1989.
It was coach David Dickson's eighth championship victory in his final outing after he announced he was stepping down from the role.
Metro's undefeated campaign began when it eclipsed Vic Country by three points in a thriller at the MCG.
Potential No.1 draftee Jack Watts, who won the Larke Medal for the best player in division one, nailed the match-winner and booted four goals.
The Vics then held Tasmania to just one goal in a 67-point victory, with comprehensive wins following against South Australia (53 points) and New South Wales/ACT (51 points).
It was all set up for a showdown against Western Australia, but in the end Metro prevailed.
Western Australia (three wins, two losses) finished runner-up, with South Australia (three wins, two losses), Vic Country (two wins, three losses), NSW/ACT (two wins, three losses) and Tasmania (no wins, five losses) following.
NAB most valuable player awards were announced at the conclusion of the championships, with Michael Hurley (Vic Metro), Clancee Pearce (Western Australia), Rhys O'Keefe (South Australia), Andrew Hooper (Vic Country), Kade Klemke (NSW/ACT) and Mitch Robinson (Tasmania) taking the honours.
The inaugural qualifying series started back in May when NSW/ACT defeated Northern Territory and Tasmania eclipsed Queensland at Casey Fields.
And after six matches, Tasmania emerged as second division winner.
This elevated the Apple Isle and the runner-up NSW/ACT Rams into the division one series, taking on South Australia, Vic Country, Vic Metro and Western Australia – the first time division two teams had the opportunity to take on the best.
Robinson was the stand out in division two and he was rewarded with the Hunter Harrison Medal. He continued to flourish when his side was elevated to the next level.
Although Metro's first-round opener over arch-rival Country was a great match, the standout game in many respects was NSW/ACT's five-point win over Vic Country at Henson Park – the first win by a division-two side over a division-one team.
Ranga Ediriwickrama, a Geelong scholarship holder, was outstanding early for NSW/ACT, until he suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Tasmania at Aurora Stadium. This forced him out for his team's last two matches.
Vic Country's Jack Ziebell, Steele Sidebottom and Nick Suban were among their side's most impressive players, while John Butcher, who is too young for this year's NAB AFL Draft, also impressed with hauls of four and five goals in two matches.
Hamish Hartlett, one of this year's leading draft prospects, finished the carnival off in great style, with 47 disposals in his last two appearances for South Australia.
Croweater teammate Lewis Johnston shone as a key in attack and small forward Luke Tapscott managed bags of five and four goals respectively in South Australia's last two matches.
The much-talked about Nicholas Naitanui showed his remarkable athleticism in the ruck for Western Australia, and midfield teammate Daniel Rich shone with his penetrating left-foot kick.
Ruckman Shaun McKernan showed some traits of the traits of his brother, dual North Melbourne premiership player Corey, and Vic Metro teammates Michael Hurley (the best key defender of the tournament), Tom Lynch, David Zaharakis, Sam Blease, Tyrone Vickery and Jordan Lisle also stood out in a great series.
