Country kings tilt at crown

By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG Stingrays captains Tom Scully and Ryan Bastinac went head-to-head in the first round of the National Under-18 Championships on Sunday.
The TAC Cup team-mates became direct opponents in the first half of the Division One tournament-opener at Skilled Stadium, with Scully’s Vic Metro side going down by 16 points against a rejuvenated Vic Country.
Bastinac and fellow Stingray Mitch Hallahan lined up for the Country boys under the competition’s new zoning rules, while Scully’s loyalty to the city outfit – he chose to stay after representing Metro last year – was rewarded with the captaincy.
Vic Country led at every change en route to an impressive victory over the reigning Division One champions, prompting coach Rob Hyde to declare that it was the strongest team he has had in his three-year tenure.
The result stamped Vic Country as a legitimate title contender in 2009, while Scully’s performance in a losing side confirmed his status as a likely number-one draft pick.
Scully played across half-back on Bastinac in the first half, but compiled 24 of his 33 disposals after being released into the midfield during the second half.
Bastinac became more influential as the game progressed and Hallahan – still 16 – provided a spark off the bench.
Country skipper Andrew Cooper (North Ballarat) claimed best-on-ground honours for his rebounding role across half-back, while Scully and Sandringham ruckman Dylan Jones were the key contributors for Vic Metro.
Vic Country will now travel to Bellerive to face Tasmania on Sunday, 7 June, while NSW-ACT hosts Vic Metro on the previous Saturday.