U18 RAMS fall short in nail biter

The Under-18 RAMS suffered a heart breaking four point loss to Northern Territory in their final match of the NAB AFL Championships on Thursday.

Leading by two points with only minutes to play, a 50-metre free kick gifted NT’s Jake Neade a goal which put his side back in front after the lead changed hands several times in the frantic last quarter.

The RAMS’ Oliver Tweeddale had a chance to seal a late winner with only seconds to go on the clock but the shot was missed, handing NT a hard fought 10.7 (67) to  9.9  (63) victory.

Despite the result, it was a positive week in Melbourne to round out the championships with players making the most of their time to learn, develop and improve as AFL footballers.

The RAMS started slowly but were eventually able to exploit the Thunder’s lack of height in defence.

A rotation of 207cm Jarrod Witts, who took eight marks (six contested), 194cm Tweeddale (five marks) and 196cm Michael Hartley (four marks) proved a handful for NT’s backmen.

In particular, Witts, who has been signed by Collingwood as a scholarship holder, dominated in the ruck with his deft tap-work and he was able to push forward to stretch the Territory’s defence.

Despite being outsized in the back half, the Thunder fought valiantly, led by Damien Williams who read the ball well in flight, gathering 20 possessions and 10 marks.

Yet the RAMS kept coming and their chances were boosted when forward Ashley Morris kicked a pressure goal on the three-quarter-time siren to give his side a seven point lead.

The first goal of the final term went to NT’s Toshie Kunoth (three goals) who pegged the margin back to a point and then Anderson kicked a splendid running goal to take the margin to four points in favour of the Territory.

Just minutes later, James Breust was in the right place at the right time, in the RAMS’ next foray forward, with a crumbed goal to give his side a two point lead.

When Witts took an unbelievable contested mark against three opponents it looked like curtains for the Territory as their lack of height began to take its toll.

But unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be as classy midfielder Jake Neade put his team in front moments later to give NT their first victory of the championships.

Jarrod Witts was named the RAMS’ Most Valuable Player during the NAB AFL Championships.

NSW/ACT                      2.1    3.4    6.6    9.9  (63)
Northern Territory        3.2    5.4    7.7    10.7 (67)

Goals:
NSW/ACT: Breust 2, Brooks 2, Flagg, Morris, Potter, Tweeddale, Witts
Northern Territory: Kunoth 3, Lawler 2, Anderson, Collinson, Lawton, Miles, Neade

Best:
NSW/ACT: Witts, Breust, Tweeddale, Stevens, Taylor, Cunningham
Northern Territory: Neade, Anderson, Lawler, Wilson, Michell, McLean