Big midfield battle to start the contest, JAGGA SMITH, LEVI ASHCROFT, and JOSH SMILLIE start for Metro, while Country lineup with Finn O’Sullivan, Harvey Langford and Sam Lalor. 

0-0

HARVEY LANGFORD misses the first shot of the game from 30. LUKE TRAINOR has started on JONTY FAULL and ADRIAN COLE has the job on Jack Whitlock. Up the other end, ALIX TAURU will look to keep HARRY ARMSTRONG quiet and TOM SIMS is on MATT WHITLOCK

0-1

Country are finally rewarded for some dominance in transition, JONTY FAULL the recipient of a hold. He converts Country's first major of the day!

0-7

XAVIER LINDSAY has had a busy start after missing last week, with three disposals and a big holding the ball tackle. Underrated member of this Country outfit.

0-7

TOBIE TRAVAGLIA starts it off half back, dishing it off to HARVEY LANGFORD who set up RHYS UNWIN through the corridor. He got a good run on, with two bounces, setting up ARCHER DAY-WICKS with a long kick inside 50. Country has started on fire. 

0-13

ISAAC KAKO sets up Metro's first real look at goal, finding TOM SIMS 40 metres out from goal. His shot at goal missed to the right. 

2-13

JOSH DOLAN wins a 50m penalty and get METRO'S FIRST from point blank range.

JESSE DATTOLI has been energetic off half forward as Rob Harding's side looks to settle into the match

8-13

JOSH SMILLIE the deepest forward now. ALIX TAURU has the job on him.

8-13

COOPER HYNES finishes what he started inside 50, beginning a chain of kicks and handballs around Country's forward 50, ending in a RILEY ONLEY assist back to HYNES who snapped for Country's third goal. 

8-19

TOBIE TRAVAGLIA has started well, with two intercept marks to his name, hard to get through at the moment. 

8-19

Excitement machine ISAAC KAKO is on the board and Metro is back in it! A trademark crumb and step through traffic from 20.

15-19

TOM GROSS and COOPER HYNES both have shots on goal but neither can convert for their respective side. 

15-19

Country got off to a strong start dominating with the ball early, but as expected, it's going to be an arm wrestle all day with Metro fighting back, neither side hurting on the scoreboard early. 

VIC COUNTRY had the hot start before VIC METRO settled into it and got some ascendancy via their guns in the middle. Smooth-moving Gippslander XAVIER LINDSAY has been huge, Tobie Travaglia has provided dash and Levi Ashcroft and Josh Smillie have been prominent.

STATS: 

XAVIER LINDSAY - 12 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles, 257 metres gained

JAGGA SMITH - 7 disposals, 2 clearances

TOM GROSS - 7 disposals, 3 tackles

JOSH SMILLIE - 6 disposals, 3 clearances

HARVEY LANGFORD - 6 disposals, 3 clearances

15 - 19

JAGGA SMITH has been impressive early, and he continues his strong first quarter form with a lace out kick to TOM SIMS inside 50. SIMS is unable to convert, 0.2 to start the game. 

18-19

HARVEY LANGFORD takes advantage of Metro's loose defense, finding a completely open XAVIER IVISIC 25 metres out, who strolled in for Country's first of the second. 

18-25

WESTERN JETS skipper LUCCA GREGO a couple of nice offensive moments going forward, the second resulting in a JESSE DATTOLI behind. 

TOBIE TRAVAGLIA has provided spark for Vic Country off halfback.

19-26

MUPRHY REID showed some great strength on Cooper Hynes, pushing him away to get off a kick that found SANDRINGHAM teammate HARRY AMRSTRONG, who slotted the goal from just outside 50. 

It's 26-26, but Metro sit 3.8 to Country's 4.2

26-26

TOBIE TRAVAGLIA, JACK WHITLOCK, and RILEY ONLEY combine for an immediate response. ONLEY slots the set shot from 40 metres out, putting Country back in front. 

26-32

MATT WHITLOCK has been impassable in defence with eight disposals, including six intercept marks playing on TOM SIMS. 

26-32

HARRY ARMSTRONG gets hold of another good lead to advantage, lining up to kick his second of the quarter, and Metro's second goal of the quarter. We're all tied up again with seven minutes remaining in this second quarter. 

32-32

HARVEY LANGFORD came from the contest to get a kick off to the high-flying SAM LALOR who took an imposing contested mark, slotting the set shot to get Country back in front. 

32-38

Things are getting heated here at Marvel! A scuffle breaks out in the middle as MURPHY REID takes a shot at goal which falls short. 

HARRY ARMSTRONG wins a free kick close to goal, converted yet again, scores level at the main break!

38-38

Metro have certainly got a hold of this contest, inaccurate where it matters, whereas Country have been able to convert from limited chances. 

HARRY ARMSTRONG has been on fire for Metro, kicking three in the quarter, 3.0 compared to the rest of Metro who are collectively 2.8. 

This grand final has lived up to the HYPE, with scores level at halftime and plenty of players showcasing their weapons.

The second quarter belonged to Sandringham's HARRY ARMSTRONG, who kicked three goals, continuing his statement championships.

It was mostly goal for goal through the quarter, in a free-flowing, fast-paced affair. Metro weren't able to capitalise on periods of dominance, with Vic Country's cohesive forward line punishing them from limited opportunitiess.

XAVIER LINDSAY was everywhere in the first quarter, before TOBIE TRAVAGLIA's dare from the back half came to the fore in the second quarter. Harvey Langford has been the best of Country's inside mids, with his trademark clean hands and work rate decisive.

Vic Metro have had a more even spread, with top 10 prospects JOSH SMILLIE, LEVI ASHCROFT, JAGGA SMITH, MURPHY REID and CHRISTIAN MORAES all showing why there is so much hype about them.

One to watch in the second half is Northern Knights bolter TOM SIMS, who has threatened with three shots on goal, but is yet to nail one yet. TOM GROSS has also had a noteworthy and courageous first half, putting his head over the footy at every opportunity.

STATS: 

XAVIER LINDSAY - 19 disposals, 8 marks, 4 tackles, 5 intercept disposals

TOBIE TRAVAGLIA - 16 disposals, 6 marks, 88% disposal efficiency

JESSE DATTOLI - 11 disposals, 4 marks

MATT WHITLOCK - 10 disposals, 6 intercepts

JOSH SMILLIE - 10 disposals, 4 clearances, 231 metres gained

JAGGA SMITH - 10 disposals, 3 clearances

HARRY ARMSTRONG - 3 goals, 4 disposals, 2 marks

38-38

Underway to start the third quarter!

38-38

JOE BERRY gets things going off halfback, eventuating in a loose ball crumb inside 50 by JONTY FAULL, swiftly giving the handball over the top to JACK WHITLOCK, snapping Country's first goal on the run from 20 metres out. 

38-44

JOE BERRY is involved again, this time the goalscorer, assisted by JASPER ALGER, who gave off the handball in similar fashion to the last Country goal. A small buffer building for Country. 

38-50

JOE BERRY, yes, again, wins himself a holding the ball free kick close to goal, and kicks his second in a row, extending the lead to 18 points early in the third. 

38-56

TOM GROSS reads JONTY FAULL's inside kick 60 metres from goal, quickly pivoting to find HARRY ARMSTRONG inside 50 for his FOURTH goal of the game. Metro keeping in it. 

44-56

LUCAS IMPEY has been the best of the rucks so far, 16 hitouts, two clearances and even a running bounce. 

44-56

JOSH DOLAN takes a courageous mark inside 50 under pressure, and converted his set shot to reduce the margin back to six points. 

50-56

XAVIER IVISIC has come into it this third quarter with some important disposals in the context of the game, showcasing his speed. 14 disposals and five marks in the game thus far. 

50-56

CHRISTIAN MORAES has been prominent with his overlap run as Vic Metro looks to come back. 13 disposals and 262 metres gained. 

52-57

METRO have a few chances at goal, but unable to convert as this contest moves end to end. 

53-57

TOM GROSS takes the risk with an inside kick to LUCCA GREGO, who took a few bounces through the corridor, calmy setting up ISAAC KAKO with a strong lead. KAKO made good use of it, slotting the set shot, putting Metro back in front. 

59-57

LUKE TRANIOR takes a BIG bump from XAVIER LINDSAY but looks to be playing on as play continues to remain tense. 

59-57

Finishing the quarter how it started, all tied up with 25 minutes left of football in the Grand Final!

Country got off to a flying start kicking the first three goals of the quarter within ten minutes, before Metro was able to slowly get things back on their terms with the next three goals of the game. 

Vic Country kicked away early in that quarter before Metro reeled them back with some bravery and stylish execution through the middle of the ground. No massive individual standouts that quarter. Xavier Ivisic is starting to have a say in the midfield, Christian Moraes is looking threatening, while backline pair Lucca Grego and Zak Johnson have had important moments both ways

*A note - if the scores are tied at fulltime, the siren will not be blown and GOLDEN POINT will be played to determine the winner of the CHAMPS!!

STATS: 

JAGGA SMITH - 17 disposals, 6 clearances

JOSH SMILLIE - 13 disposals, 6 clearances, 3 tackles

TOBIE TRAVAGLIA - 21 disposals, 8 marks, 417 metres gained

XAVIER LINDSAY - 21 disposals, 9 marks, 7 tackles

HARRY ARMSTRONG - 5 disposals, 4 goals, 3 marks

OLIVER WARBURTON - 15 disposals, 306 metres gained

59-59

One more quarter, let's go. 

59-59

MURPHY REID take a bow! Sensational work close to the boundary line, handballing under the legs of his opponent, setting up LEVI ASHCROFT ahead of the play, who snapped the first goal of the quarter. 

65-59

Starting midfielders with the game on the line, HARVEY LANGFORD, XAVIER IVISIC and XAVIER LINDSAY against TOM GROSS, LEVI ASHCROFT and JAGGA SMITH. 

65-59

HARVEY LANGFORD RISES for a MASSIVE contested mark in the goalsquare. Big time players, big time moments. Country are back to within a point! That's an aspect he's added to his game in 2024 and it shines through on the massive stage!!

66-65

XAVIER LINDSAY has had a strong start to the fourth after a quieter third quarter, kicking long inside 50 to find JACK WHITLOCK with a strong contested grab. COUNTRY hit the lead!

66-71

XAVIER LINDSAY has his second assist in a row, hitting up JOE BERRY right on 50 metres. BERRY converts a MASSIVE set shot, right on the arc! Country up by 11, can Metro catch them now? 

66-77

ARCHER DAY-WICKS showed real poise outside 50, reeling around the arc to set up JACK WHITLOCK who has put the set shot wide.

XAVIER LINDSAY has also won the last two centre clearances, massive output. 

66-78

ALIX TAURU channels his inner Heath Shaw with an OUTSTANDING goalline tackle on HARRY ARMSTRONG! Has that won Country the Championships?!

66-78

CHRISTIAN MORAES chip kicks over to ISAAC KAKO 25 metres out from goal, and to no surprise, KAKO converts! Margin back to six points!

72-78

JAGGA SMITH wins the centre clearance, PAT RETSCHKO locks it inside 50 and finds CHRISTIAN MORAES who misses the set shot. A handy point? 

73-78

ISAAC KAKO tries to create some magic, but finds CHRISTIAN MORAES close to goal, but the kick is straight into the man on the mark. 

A LUKE TRAINOR shot soon after is also marked on the line by Country!

73-78

PAT RETSCHKO has been intercepting expertly this quarter, setting up HARRY ARMSTRONG with a massive contested mark 20 metres out, making no mistake of it. Metro are up by 1 point with 6 MINUTES!

ARMSTRONG HAS FIVE GOALS!

79-78

COOPER HYNES takes the game on out of the centre stoppage, gaining 30 metres and finding his DANDENONG teammate HARVEY LANGFORD. The shot goes out on the full and Metro hang on to their one point lead!

79-78

THREE MINUTES TO GO, METRO BY ONE POINT

79-78

XAVIER LINDSAY with a MASSIVE holding the ball tackle on HARRISON OLIVER, which he then sets up SAM LALOR deep in the pocket. The shot lands short and ARCHER DAY-WICKS takes a HUGE GRAB, plays on and puts COUNTRY IN FRONT WITH TWO MINUTES!!!!

79-84

LUKE TRAINOR WINS IT FOR METRO AFTER THE SIREN

A 50 METRE PENALTY WAS AWARDED AGAINST TOBIE TRAVAGLIA AND TRANIOR WAS TAKEN TO THE TIP OF THE GOALSQUARE. 

HEARTBREAK FOR COUNTRY, BUT METRO ARE 2024 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WINNERS!

85-84 

FULL TIME: VIC METRO 12.13.85 - 13.6.84 VIC COUNTRY

Unbelieveable finish. 

AWARD WINNERS:

Larke Medal: Harvey Langford (Vic Country) and Leo Lombard (Allies)

Metro MVP: Murphy Reid

Country MVP: Harvey Langford