LOCAL footballers Wilhem Bennett and Patrick Blake have started their under-16 AFL National Development Championships in the best possible fashion.
Both played key roles in Victoria Country’s three-point win over Victoria Metro at Sandringham’s Trevor Barker Beach Oval at the weekend.
After trailing by 20 points with a quarter to play, Country kicked four unanswered goals to overrun their more-fancied opponents 10.8 (68) to 8.17 (65).
After controlling much of the play for the opening quarter, Metro’s inaccuracy in front of goal – kicking just two goals from nine scoring shots – later came back to haunt them.
Country worked their way back into the match, before their final-quarter onslaught gave them a well-earned victory.
Swan Hill’s Bennett was the standout performer for the Country side and was named his team’s best player for the game, while Tyntynder’s Blake kicked a crucial goal in the last quarter to continue the charge to victory.
Victoria Country’s next match will be against South Australia on Tuesday, July 4, at Gold Coast Suns home ground Heritage Bank Stadium, before they finish their campaign against Western Australia three days later.
