TASMANIA started its NAB AFL under-18 championship campaign in
brilliant style yesterday with key forward Todd Grima kicking 10 goals in a
62-point win over Northern Territory at Melbourne's Optus Oval.
The Tasmanians kicked 18.5 (113) to NT's 8.3 (51) in the first match of the 2005 carnival.
The heroics of Grima, along with Tasmania's accuracy in front of goal, were crucial to the win.
Tasmania booted 11.1 to 5.7 in the first half before running away with the victory.
Grima, an 18-year-old, 193cm tall key forward from the Northern Bombers, was outstanding as he kicked three goals in the opening term - including the first two of the match.
He bagged another three in the second quarter to have six goals by half-time.
He then added four more in the second half to hit double figures in one of the best individual efforts in the history of the under-18 tournament.
Grima's conversion was spot-on, kicking 10 goals from 12 kicks, while he claimed nine marks -- including six contested marks.
His efforts will excite the dozens of talent scouts trawling the carnival for likely AFL recruits.
Mitchell Thorp (18 disposals and a goal), Cameron Beck (16 touches and two goals) and Darren Crawford (17 possessions and one goal) were other players to shine for Tasmania.
For the Territory, Trevor Oliver racked up 25 touches - the most for the match - to be among his side's best.
Final Scores
NORTHERN TERRITORY: 1.2 5.7 6.3 8.3 (51)
TASMANIA: 5.1 11.1 13.4 18.5 (113)
GOALS - Northern Territory: Campbell 2, Calma 2, G.McLean, Oliver, Rioli, Stephensen Tasmania: Grima 10, Beck 2, Fagan 2, Charlesworth, Crawford, Thorp, Wells
BEST - Northern Territory: Oliver, Stephensen, N.McLean, Campbell, Measures, Corrie Tasmania: Grima, Thorp, Beck, Crawford, Howard, Armstrong, Lonergan, Turner, Neville
UMPIRES - Fila, Keating, McDonald
At Optus Oval
Last Modified on 27/06/2005 16:56