CHAMPIONSHIPS: Rams take home title

The Under-16 AFL NSW/ACT Rams have sealed the 2019 NAB AFL Under-16 Championships with a win over Tasmania.

Having defeated Queensland in Blacktown and the Northern Territory at Metricon Stadium, the Rams were shooting for the Championship title against the Tasmania in their final match of the series in Brisbane.

The Rams got off to a flying start, keeping the Tasmanian’s goalless in the first half of the match. Sam Stening and Euriah Hollard kicked their first of three and two goals respectively in the opening half, joined by five other goalscorers to half-time.

Despite the 50-point margin at the main break, the Tasmanian’s weren’t finished yet, coming back at the Rams in what was a firey encounter between the two. The Rams were kept scoreless in the third quarter, though the Devils were unable to consolidate a dominate quarter with goals, adding only one major and six behinds to their total.

Again Tasmania would present competitively in the final term, but the Rams had done enough to be named Champions for 2019, ultimately winning the match by 41 points.

Rams Head Coach, Darren Pfeiffer said he was proud of his team’s behaviour both on-and-off the field across the entire Under 16s campaign.

“I was really proud of how the players built relationships with their new teammates and their ability to implement the coaches feedback as a team and as individuals,” said Pfeiffer.

“They showed resilience and competitiveness in all their games, which was a big factor in us being successful.”

Pfeiffer also called out the efforts of a number of players, including Wagga’s Kai Watts, who was named the Rams’ NAB MVP.

“Watts showed a great want to compete for every contest, and this led him to become MVP.

“Josh Fahey’s had a great willingness to learn a new role in the back-line, which provided us with important defensive rebound throughout the Championships.

“Captain, Toby Alker’s leadership and hard contested football set up the likes of Matt McKenzie to use his speed as a weapon, and get it into the hard working Sam Stening up forward, who showed he has real ability around the goals.”

This is the first Under-16 title win for the Rams since 2014.

AFL NSW/ACT congratulates the Under-16 Rams on their title win. 

FINAL SCORE

Rams – 11.9.75

Tasmania – 4.10.34

Rams goals – Stening 3, Hollard 2, Watts, Endemann, Grace, Ball, McKenzie, Edwards

Rams best – Fahey, Watts, Rauter, Hollard, Woodford, Stening

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