First Division - Eastern Football League

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Match Report
REPORT NAB/AFL AUSTRALIAN
has the versatility to play on ball and this was
by Russel Ford
UNDER 18 CHAMPIONSHIPS
an attribute well used by Victorian Metro. in
balancing out player workload over the week.
Date 03/07/05 Venue Optus Oval
Daniel Hayes from Montrose brought some blistering
The NAB/AFL Australian Under 18 Championships
speed to the squad and although generally played off
were held over the past week in Victoria with a
the wing, his pace often has him running forward with
gruelling schedule of three games in seven days for all
the ball, which makes him a dangerous goal scoring
teams, so careful selection and rotation of the 25 player
squad can prove to be the difference between winning
midfield player.
and losing.
The Championships are split into two divisions with
Eastern Ranges were well represented in the Victorian Victorian Metro, Victorian Country, South Australia
Metropolitan squad with five of its players having and Western Australian playing in Division 1 and
significant roles through out the three games.
Tasmania, New South Wales/ACT, Queensland and
Mathew Spangher not only played a key role, but he Northern Territory filling out Division 2.
was also appointed vice captain of the side, recruited to Victoria has won nine of the last ten titles and Victorian
the Ranges from Xavier College, the 193cm tall Metro. have accounted for six of those and went in this
Spangher provides great versatility as he can hold
down a key forward or back line position.
Bradley Kelleher from Boronia is another tall player at
188cm who the Ranges normally use in attack or
rucking but in the championships he was used mainly
in defense looking after tall forwards, again proving
the value of versatility.
The Ranges have been well served this year by its on
ball players and David Marcius, a player from
Rowville, came under state selectors notice for his
consistent form and hard in and under style of play
which results in many possessions and clearances from
year as the current title holders in their division.
Keen followers of football at this level felt that their
reign could well be over and there was a ground swell
of thought that Western Australia would prove to be
this years stand out side.
The Victorian Metro. side were having none of this and
in game one they soundly defeated the Western
Australians by 27 points in what many saw as an
excellent game of football, with the Victorian side
starting brilliantly and the West Australians fighting
back in the second half.
the all important stoppages of play.
On the same day Victorian Country went down to a
Another running player selected in the State side was strong South Australian side which many saw as some
Leigh Adams from Woori Yallock, Eastern generally what of an upset win.
use him as a running half back line player but he also In a mid week game it was the two Victorian sides