The Australia Post Queensland Scorpions suffered their second heart-breaking one-kick loss in five days at the NAB AFL U18 Championships.
The Scorpions, level with Vic Metro inside the last minute on Wednesday before going down by a goal, were beaten by the Northern Territory by one point at Etihad Stadium.
And that after Matthew Fowler, a dominant figure up forward all day with 23 possessions, 14 marks and a goal, blew a chance to win it with virtually the last kick.
The NT were two points up inside the last minute and were simply looking to run the clock down. A kick across their own goal missed the target and gave Fowler (pictured) a snap from 15m but he hit the post.
So, NT won 9-6 (60) to 8-11 (59) and leave Queensland with an 0-5 championship record.
They opened with a 25-point loss to NSW/ACT in Melbourne, lost by 31 points to SA in Sydney and by 62 points to Tasmania in Launceston before the two nail-biting losses to Vic Metro and NT in Melbourne.
The Scorpions, without a lot of their better players after making 14 changes to the side that had pushed Vic Metro to the limit, had trailed at every change but were always in the contest.
The NT led by four points at quarter-time, nine points at halftime and two points at three-quarter time.
Defender Mitch Harley was judged the Scorpions’ best player by coach Guy McKenna and his brainstrust, and was also named Queensland’s best player for the carnival.
Key defender Tom Holland, a Cape York product playing his first game for Queensland at U18 level, was named second-best today ahead of Nathan Spring, Fowler and Cheyne Hutchinson.
Hutchinson and PNG signing Amua Parika were the Scorpions only multiple goal-kickers, each with two.
Match Details:
Northern Territory 3.2 6.3 8.5 9.6 (60)
Queensland 2.4 4.6 7.9 8.11 (59)
Goals: NT: May 3, Heenan, Taylor, McAdam, Ah Chee, Lawler, Staunton. Queensland: Hutchinson 2, Pirika 2, Magin, Fowler, Moore, Milani.
Best: NT: Ah Chee, Smith, Jones, Gordon, Taylor, Baxter. Queensland: Harley, Holland, Spring, Fowler, Hutchinson
Last Modified on 14/07/2009 10:18