In great news for the AFL’s under 18 Championships, games will now be streamed on the AFL website. Perviously we’ve had to wait until the final few weeks to see the boys play.
At the conclusion of Week 2 in the Under 18 Championships, we saw some dominant performances, and we also saw some shockers.
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Week 1 of the Championships saw two games go down to the wire, as Western Australia defeated South Australia by a point, and Country Victoria beat Metro Victoria by five points, thanks to a goal after the siren.
Week 2 didn’t see the same thrillers. South Australia took the chocolates against Vic Metro by 25 points, as Vic Country defeated Western Australia by a whopping 105 points.
So which players are behind their team’s success, who’s rising and who’s falling?
Rising
Joshua Schache
Vic Country (Murray Bushrangers)
Tall forward, 199cm, 96kg
Schache had a solid performance without being great in Round 1, with 12 disposals, four marks (three contested) and two goals. However in Round 2 he really announced himself as a serious top-10 selection candidate, with 24 disposals, seven marks (three contested) and 8.4 in front of goal.
Schache is a good kick on goal, runs a 14.1 beep test, and took the game by the scruff of the neck. He looks like the best key forward option so far, and quite a few teams at the bottom of the table wouldn’t mind a key forward this season.
He could go very early if he continues putting in good performances.
Aaron Francis
South Australia (West Adelaide)
Medium defender/utility, 190cm, 86kg
Francis went at 80 per cent efficiency from 10 disposals and five marks (two contested) in Round 1. Round 2 saw him dominate the game as a medium to tall defender in the backline, with 17 hard-earned disposals and 12 marks (five contested) going at 88 per cent efficiency.
He moves the ball on quickly out of the back half and upwards of 10 of his marks were intercepts. His game was so dominant that he was applauded as he came from the field.
He has a little over two months before he turns 18, so still has some scope for improvement and growth.
Luke Partington
South Australia (Norwood)
Midfielder, 182cm, 75kg
Partington has had two very good games to begin the carnival, racking up 28 and 24 disposals, being SA’s leader with both tallies. Is averaging five clearances and seven inside 50s and has been the main man in the midfield so far.
Has taken a couple of risky options on occasion but still goes at just under 70 per cent with his disposal being fairly effective.
Harley Balic
Vic Metro (Sandringham Dragons)
Midfielder/half forward, 186cm, 80kg
So far he has 27 and 26 disposals to his name, going at 77.5 per cent. Vic Metro have a weaker squad this season, but Balic is a chance to go high in the first round.
Has some serious skills, is a real smooth mover, and has been likened by some to Chad Wingard.
Special mentions: Greg Clark, Jade Gresham, Oleg Markov.
Falling
Stephen Tahana
South Australia (North Adelaide)
Half back, 185cm, 77kg
Was projected to do well this season but has started slowly, and hasn’t shown that he can become a big accumulator.
In Round 1 he played a shut-down role in the backline and got just the two disposals. Round 2 was a little better with 12 disposals at 83 per cent.
Will need to have better games and rack up more of the ball to be the top-30 pick many think him to be.
Sam Skinner
Vic Country (Gippsland Power)
Tall defender, 197cm, 96kg
Skinner will be out for a while, after doing his knee following two games of eight and 10 disposals respectively at 50 per cent.
He will fall down the draft order as many with long-term injuries do, but he has at least shown enough promise as a key defender to be given a shot somewhere – whether it’s mid draft or rookie draft, it’s too far out to tell.
This weekend South Australia come against Western Australia, as the Vic teams battle it out.
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