AFL Under 18 Championships Report
Reported by Michael Robinson(VFL Footy News)

NSW/ACT Rams have won the Division 2 section of the NAB AFL Under 18 Championships following todays games at Victoria Park,Collingwood.

This is their 4th title and first since 2003.

In their 1st game today Queensland got off to a good start against the NT boys and at one stage led by 20 points half way through the second quarter.

NT then dominated from there led by Cyril Rioli (7 Goals) and Peter Rolfe (4 Goals). NT going on to win the game by 26 points.

NORTH TERRI  1.2  5.3  11.4  17.9(111)
QUEENSLAND   2.2  6.5  11.6  12.13(85)

Goals: NT: C.Rioli 7, Rolfe 4, Whitehurst 3, Liddle, Stewart Rioli, Motlop Qld: Zorko 3, Magin, Mulligan, Stewart 2, Hill, Enright, Fewkes

The AFL have announced a venue changes  to the final round of matches of the AFL Under 18 Championships.

Division 2-Tuesday July 10 (Games at Victoria Park,Collingwood)
Queensland vs Northern Territory at 11am
Tasmania vs NSW/ACT at 1:30pm


Division 1-Wednesday July 11 (Games at Casey Fields,Cranbourne East)
Victoria Metro vs Victoria Country at 10:15am
South Australia vs Western Australia at 12:45pm

(Please note the change of times for Wednesday's games)

Triple reigning premier Sandringham stretched the Devils' club-record losing streak with a 19.20 (134) to 14.8 (92) win at Aurora Stadium, but the home side scored a moral victory.

The Devils fought like their namesakes against a Melbourne-laced Sandringham, and had Lady Luck smiled on the locals they would have given the Zebras the fright of their lives.

Besieged coach Daryn Cresswell mingled with his players post-game, smiling and even announcing a temporary lift on the players alcohol ban, such was his delight with his dog-tired 22.

The biggest bonus for Crezza came from one man, midfielder Scott Stephens.

"I copped a lot of flack about making this guy co-captain of Tasmania," Cresswell said.

"He had 39 possessions tonight. His last six weeks have been outstanding.

"He played on a class player in Peter Summers and kept him to 18 possessions and had a ton of it himself.

"He's one player who shows great character and I was really pleased with him and the way he led from the front.

"I feel I made the right decision -- I never doubted myself, but a few other guys did."

THE Coburg Tigers staved off a gallant Northern Bullants side by 12 points at Preston City Oval yesterday, getting up 10.14 (74) to 8.14 (62) on a bitterly cold and rainy afternoon.

Despite going into the game as underdogs, the Bullants fired the first shot and when Mark Austin kicked the first of his three goals, the Tigers had some catching up to do.

With a patient forward structure and seemingly endless space, the Bullants looked the better side in the opening term and had a two-goal advantage at the first break.

David Teague and Josh Houlihan led the way with 10 possessions each.

The second quarter was sloppy as expected as the ball gathered mud, but Coburg came to life and began to run numbers behind the ball. The forward pair of Kent Kingsley and Jay Schulz were clearly hampered by the conditions.

"It was always going to be tough for those two. The conditions didn't suit them at all," Tigers coach Andy Collins said. Inaccuracy also cost Kingsley, who should have kicked at least four goals but ended with two.

Speaking at the Devils' training session at the venue in preparation for today's clash against reigning VFL premier Sandringham, Cresswell said it was important for the team to have a central training base.

"The football department will meet with Scott Wade in the next few weeks to discuss a system whereby we can train together a bit more than we have done," Cresswell said.

"Aurora is definitely a chance because it's very accessible and we can get on here in the summer months because there's no cricket played here."

But Cresswell said he didn't have a particular preference for either Bellerive or Aurora.

"Whatever best suits the footy team in terms of the best training venue where everyone can get together is more important to me rather than where it's at," he said.

The bottom-placed Devils face a tough assignment in today's game against the Melbourne- aligned Zebras, who boast a potent forward line of Nick Sautner, Ezra Poyas, Ben Holland and Byron Pickett.

But Cresswell said he was more concerned about the Devils' effort than the result.