The Gold Coast Suns Academy Metro (Gold Coast based players) put themselves in a strong position to dominate selection in the final Gold Coast Academy U18 team when they defeated the Gold Coast Academy Country team in Townsville on Saturday night.
With plenty at stake, the game started at a frantic pace with neither side able to take control, the ball continually rebounding from backline to backline. Metro took a narrow 1 goal lead into the first break.
From quarter time the slick ball use and quicker spread from the contest of the Metro team saw them gradually pull away quarter by quarter to finally run out 44 point victors.
For Country, Jack Goodall impressed in defence and a brief stint up forward. Jak Williams, Cam Duffy and Jesse Ritchie worked hard through the midfield, and James Farley-Smith ended up with a 3 goal haul. Rhys Bridge who looked impressive early at half back unfortunately succumbed to a hamstring injury early in the game which saw his night end early.
Despite the result the game will act as a valuable development tool for the players with the majority of the country team being made up of bottom age players who will get another opportunity next year to make the final team.
The boys will now have to wait for the announcement from Gold Coast Academy Coach Jason Torney in the next day or two to see who goes through to the next stage.
The final Gold Coast Academy team will play the Brisbane Lions Academy team in Brisbane on the 16th March as a selection game for the Queensland State team
Final Score:
GC Academy Metro 13.6.84 def GC Academy Country 6.4.40
Goals: James Farley-Smith 3,Tom Michael 1, Jack Goodall 1, Mitch Koch 1
Best: Jack Goodall, Todd Carbone, Jak Williams, Cameron Duffy, James Farley-Smith, Stephen Mills, Jesse Ritchie
Last Modified on 04/04/2013 17:38