RAMS show glimpses against Vic Metro

The Under-18 NSW/ACT RAMS can take a lot of positives out of their opening match of the NAB AFL Championships despite going down by 80-points to the favourites Vic Metro on Saturday.

The RAMS started slowly, conceding six of the first seven goals, and couldn’t get their way back into the contest, going down 9.7 (61) to 21.15 (141).

While the RAMS’ two tall ruckmen 207-centimetre Jarrod Witts and 202-centimetre Craig Moller won the hit-outs for the match 42 to 23, the RAMS’ midfielders couldn’t win the clearances.

Despite the result, the RAMS’ ability to tackle and work hard was a highlight of their performance. If a few turnovers and inaccurate kicking, both in general play and at goal, went the other way the margin may have been different.

Individually, Adam Flagg was brilliant with three goals while Jackson Potter (21 disposals, six tackles) and Sam Milne (20 touches) battled hard in the midfield.

Defender Michael Hartley was equally impressive nullifying the influence of Jonathon Patton, who is tipped to be an early selection in this year’s NAB AFL Draft.

The game started well for Vic Metro as their forwards complimented the work of their midfielders putting pressure of the scoreboard early. Four behinds for the term was not good enough for the RAMS as their opponents slipped out to a 29-point lead.

The RAMS came out in the second quarter determined to get their back into the contest. The RAMS kicked four goals to get within reach of their opponents before Vic Metro again kicked out late in the term.

From halftime, Vic Metro’s midfielders continued to link up well as the away side raced out to a 65-point three-quarter-time lead to eventually finish 80-point winners.

The RAMS’ next match is against South Australia in Adelaide on June 11. All of the news, teams and results on the RAMS can be found at www.aflnswact.com.au.

NSW/ACT 1.4 5.6 6.7 9.7 (61)
Vic Metro 6.3 11.5 17.6 21.15 (141)

GOALS
NSW/ACT: Flagg 3, Cummins, Moller, Johns, Moody, Guthrie, Breust
Vic Metro: Gotch 3, Paine 3, Atkins 2, Crozier 2, Frost 2, Tyson 2, Haynes, Greenwood, Wooffindin, Haynes, Tomlinson, Patton, Richards

BEST
NSW/ACT: Potter, Hartley, Witts, Flagg, Breust
Vic Metro: Ellis, Frost, Richards, Tyson, Woodward, Wooffindin