WA State 18s come up short against Vic CountrySunday, May 31, 2015 - 4:51 PM - by Chris Pike

WESTERN Australia hasn’t been able to back up its stunning start to the 2015 AFL National 18s Championships with Vic Country recording a 105-point victory at Medibank Stadium on Sunday.

The WA State 18s team started off the 2015 championships in style last Saturday with a thrilling one-point win at Lathlain Park over a South Australian side that is shooting for a third straight Division 1 title.

However, the Black Swans came up short this Sunday at Leederville's Medibank Stadium with Vic Country kicking the first five goals of the match and going on to eventually win 21.18 (144) to 5.9 (39).

The day might not have panned out how the WA side hoped but there were still some talented young players who delivered encouraging performances in the losing cause.

Captain Greg Clark never stopped trying all afternoon and he finished the game with a team-high 23 possessions to go with five marks, three rebounds from the defensive 50 and two clearances.

West Perth's Clinton Hinchcliffe didn’t play in the first game for WA against South Australia, but came in to take on Vic Country and contributed well with 18 possessions, four marks, three tackles, three inside 50s, three rebounds from the back 50 and two clearances.

Jordan Snadden was another to find some of the football for WA ending the game with 16 disposals while taking four marks, laying four tackles and driving the ball inside-50 three times.

South Fremantle's Jesse Mirco also gathered 15 touches for the Sandgropers, Levi Ridley 14 disposals and three inside 50s, and Bailey Rogers 14 possessions to go with five clearances.

Jake Florenca also had 14 disposals and four tackles with Sam Powell-Pepper gathering 13 touches and taking four marks.

South Fremantle's Callum Ah Chee kicked two of WA's five goals in the game from 13 possessions with Clark, John Shaw and Rogers the other goal scorers.

Vic Country put in a commanding performance for the whole match, though, and Josh Schache was the star kicking eight goals to go with his 24 possessions and seven marks.

Nash Holmes also kicked three goals for the Victorian team with Ben Ainsworth, Myles Poholke and Harry McKay all booting two apiece while Rhys Mathieson gathered 27 possessions, Holmes 26, Jarrod Berry 21 and Tom Cole 20.

Vic Country kicked the opening five goals in the first quarter before WA got its first major on the board two minutes into the second term courtesy of Ah Chee.

The visitors then answered with the next three majors before WA got its second of the quarter through Rogers but Vic Country still led comfortably by 55 points at half-time.

Vic Country then kicked the first three goals again of the third quarter before Shaw and Clark kicked truly for WA just before three quarter-time to cut the deficit to 63 points at the final change.

However, it was then a procession from Vic Country in the final quarter as they piled on eight goals to one to end up winning by 105 points.

WA's National 18s Championships will now continue against South Australia next Saturday at Adelaide's AAMI Stadium before then playing Vic Metro the following Saturday at Domain Stadium, Vic Metro at Simonds Stadium on Friday June 26 and finally Vic Country at the same venue on Thursday July 2.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA        0.2    2.2    4.5    5.9    (39)
VIC COUNTRY            5.6    10.9    13.14    21.18    (144)

WA – Goals: Ah Chee 2; Clark, Rogers, Shaw.
Best: Clark, Hinchcliffe, Rogers, Florenca, Snadden, Ah Chee.
VIC COUNTRY – Goals: Schache 8; Holmes 3; Ainsworth, Poholke, McKay 2; Mathieson, Eades, Simpkin, Skinner.
Best: Schache, Mathieson, Holmes, Cole, Mutimer, Brodie, Mennen.