By Jonty Ralphsmith
The region’s best under-18s boys talent mounted a strong case for selection in the Vic Country squad for the national championships later this year in a pair of trial matches on Good Friday.
A strong number of 12 Dandenong Stingrays and 10 Gippslanders were involved in the action at Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval.
Strong Stingrays forward Tairon Ah-Mu had a day out, kicking six of his team’s nine goals as he crashed packs and controlled the airways, following a promising first month at Coates League level.
Devon Meadows’ Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect Toby Sinnema was another Stingray whose performance earned praise, with the winger’s classy ball use on show.
Diminutive bottom-aged forward Marcus Prasad also did some impressive things, while Beaconsfield speedster Jay-De Varlet and key-position player Fraser Marino did everything they could to earn selection from outside the summer squad.
Midfielder Sam Lewis is another likely to be considered for selection, given his strength in the engine room, while Josh Granger, Callum Smith, Darcy Szerszyn, Gus Kennedy, Quinn Harvey and Louis Hodder were also in action.
It’s an unbelievable haul for the Stingrays, given there were also a trio of touted players on the sidelines.
AFL Academy half forward Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves was missing due to a shoulder injury, Vic Country summer hub member Max Lee was out with concussion, and impressive forward Archie Le Clerc is still on the comeback trail from a pre-season toe injury.
For Gippsland, Drouin inside midfielder Brodie Atkins was the standout, kicking two goals, and showing his polish, franking an excellent pre-season.
Warragul Industrials local Cody Templeton also stepped up seamlessly and matched it with the best junior midfielders in the state in tight, while bottom-aged tall Xavier Ladbrook was impressive.
Tom Matthews started rapidly before getting a heavy knock and playing through significant soreness.
Mid-season draft prospect Zac Walker further enhanced his standing with another strong intercepting game, while defender Mitch Stevens, forward Marlon Neocleous, and tall forwards Wil Malady and Jonah Walker also pressed their cases.
Zac Walker is expected to be selected for the Young Guns, a squad of the best 19-year-old talent across the state, who will face Vic Country and Vic Metro across the next fortnight in another pair of showcase matches.
Utilities Jobe Scapin and Zach O’Keefe were named but missed with rib and foot injuries respectively.
Top pick contender Willem Duursma was rested ahead of the AFL Academy’s clash with Coburg this weekend.
