SA U16 team defeat Victoria Country in Game 2

By ZAC MILBANK

South Australia displayed tremendous spirit to engineer a memorable five-point victory against Victoria Country in Game 2 of the Marsh AFL U16 National Championships on the Gold Coast. 

The Croweaters trailed at every change but a brilliant piece of play from joint vice-captain Taj Garrett and teammate Laurence Andriani willed them across the line late in the final quarter.

With their team having lost the lead it gained early in the fourth quarter, Garrett and Andriani regained it by surging out of the centre clearance before Andriani then kicked a nice inside 50m pass to Garrett who marked on his own.

The hard-running Garrett then calmly slotted his set shot from 35m on a 45C angle to restore the advantage for SA with just two minutes left on the clock.

Determined to rebound from a 12-point loss to Western Australia in Game 1, the Croweaters were on the back foot early as they trailed by 19 points at the first change.

The deficit ballooned to as much as 28 points at the main change but whatever coach Heath Younie’s message was at half-time, it certainly had an impact in the third quarter.

Restricting Vic Country to just 1.2 for the term, SA produced 12 shots on goal for a return of 3.9 with its inaccuracy the only aspect preventing it from leading at three quarter-time.

Athletic SA forward Zemes Pilot bobbed up for two goals in the final quarter before Vic Country’s double-goal response to reclaim the lead.

But SA was far from finished as Garrett and Andriani engineered the match-winning play, ensuring both of them would land on the best players’ list.

Speedy Kai Ivins was rated SA’s best after kicking three goals while ruck Hugo Semmler also had an influence at the centre clearances and around the ground.

Bottom-age talent Zane Rooney and fellow joint vice-captain Charlie Best also made strong contributions for SA.

SA will now prepare for Game 3 against Victoria Metro at Fankhauser Reserve on Friday July 18 from 9am SA time.

South Australia  2.2  4.3  7.12  11.15 (81)

Victoria Country  5.3  8.7  9.9  11.10 (76)

BEST – SA: Kai Ivins, Hugo Semmler, Taj Garrett, Laurence Andriani, Zane Rooney, Charlie Best.

GOALS – SA: Kai Ivins 3, Zemes Pilot, Tate Sampson, Josh Jarrad 2, Percy Burgoyne, Taj Garrett.

At Peoples First Stadium, Gold Coast