By KRISTEN ALEBAKIS
THE might of Vic Country proved too strong for Vic Metro on Sunday, with the team from the bush claiming the 2016 AFL Victoria Community Cup.
The Western Region Football League had seven players involved in the Vic Metro team.
Werribee Districts star Matt Dean, Sunshine sharp-shooter Daniel Castellano, Albion young gun Josh Bench, Deer Park duo Tim Quick and Jase Perkins and Hoppers Crossing players Braden Ferrari and Harley Weston-Armstrong were all involved in the game.
All seven players were a part of the WRFL’s Interleague win against Ballarat earlier this year.
WRFL senior interleague assistant coach Brett Jacobs was also involved with the Vic Metro program, as an assistant coach.
Coached by Western Bulldogs Hall of Famer Brian Royal, the Vic Metro side suffered a 39-point loss.
Playing at Waterview Reserve in Mernda, Vic Country came out firing from the first bounce.
Using the wind as an advantage in the opening term, Vic Country skipped out to a five goal lead, which ultimately couldn’t be pegged back.
Vic Metro clicked into gear in the second term, with forward Jase Perkins kicking his first goal of the afternoon.
Not long after Perkins scored, Warriors star Braden Ferrari slotted a goal and the margin was cut in half.
In the dying stages of the quarter, Vic Country pair Tom Toma and Campbell Floyd combined to extend the lead back out to 29-points at half-time.
Vic Metro mounted a small come back in the final term, kicking three goals in the opening minutes of the final term.
Perkins kicked his second, while Sunshine’s Daniel Castellano booted one and Greensborough’s Dan McLinden kicked a goal.
However, momentum soon swung in favour of Vic Country, who pulled away from the Metro side.
“They started with the wind and took full advantage of that,” assistant coach Brett Jacobs said.
“They outplayed us, we did look threatening in the last quarter, we got within two or three goals, but they got some late ones. They were the better side on the day.”
Jacobs said all of the WRFL players involved in the game should be proud of their achievements.
“All the players from the west should hold their heads up high, they battled hard,” he said.
“The good thing about the players from the WRFL is that they are all young, they will all be players who represent the league for many years to come.”
The only incident from the match was a neck injury to Albion captain Josh Bench. He was sent to hospital to receive treatment and looks set to have an extended stint on the sidelines.
Jacobs, who was also involved in last year’s Vic Metro campaign, said despite not getting the win on the board, he had a great experience.
“I was fortunate enough to do it last year and had a great time, it was the same this year,” he said.
Vic Country 5.5 6.8 9.13 12.17 (89)
Vic Metro 0.0 2.3 4.9 7.8 (50)
AFL VIC Country
Goals: Brayden O’Hara 3, Tim Bongetti 2, Chris Ryan 2, Ben Monkhorst 1, Sam Martyn 1, Jack Geary 1, Matt McMahon 1, Bob McCullum 1,
Best Players: Jason Cole, Scott Meyer, Jack Geary, Matt McMahon, Brayden O’Hara, Paul Hinkley,
AFL Vic Metro
Goals: Jase Perkins 2, Braden Ferrari 1, Dan McLinden 1, Jesse Donaldson 1, Daniel Castellano 1, Rhett Jordan 1,
Best Players: Ben Fennell, Dan Poynton, Shane Davidson, Dan McLinden, Harley Armstrong -Weston, Ben Giobbi,
Last Modified on 12/07/2016 13:30