My Footy

Vic Country's Shaun Atley. Photo: Ken Irwin

THE national under-18 championships have concluded with clubs still considering the approaching national draft a challenge.

Recruiters surveyed by The Sunday Age during the week expected many clubs to take a minimum number of picks in the compromised November draft, and for “needs” to influence first-round decisions more than they have in past years.

Having already removed 11 players from the draft pool – under the rule that allowed them to pre-sign a dozen 17-year-olds last year – the Gold Coast will make nine of the first 11 choices in the draft, pushing the existing clubs’ first-round choices well down the order.

Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro said while the championships had confirmed to him that each club would still have access to a talented player in the first round, clubs that were taking their first pick in the 20s – rather than at 10 or 11 – would naturally be making a more speculative choice.

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THREE teams finished the under-18 championship yesterday on four wins and one loss, which meant that as the Vic Country players slumped to the ground after a four-point loss to South Australia, they also clinched the side’s first national title in seven years.

After Vic Metro beat Western Australia by 19 points in the opening match, the South Australians needed to beat Country comfortably to overtake its percentage.

Instead, it was a tight, high-quality game, likely top-three draftee Sam Day grabbing the lead after an early set shot in the last term and Adam Treloar, a likely Western Sydney signing, responding with a running goal for Country.

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Devon Smith was one of Vic Country's best against Queensland

A TRIPLE-header at a cold and wet Visy Park on Saturday closed out the penultimate round of the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships and left Vic Country in pole position to take the 2010 title.

Country dominated Queensland to remain the competition’s only undefeated team, running out 108-point winners and restricting its opponent to two goals.

For the Victorians, Tom Lynch played a fine game up forward kicking four goals and gathering 18 possessions while Devon Smith was a consistent threat, picking up numerous touches through the midfield. James Nelis and Liam Rutledge were the shining lights for Queensland.

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