JONATHAN O'Rourke and Joe Daniher made the under-18 All-Australian team last week as Vic Metro took out the national championship for the second straight year.
Vic Metro ended its carnival with a 24-point win against WA, kicking out to a 41-point lead at half-time before going on to win 14.12 (96) to 10.12 (72) at Etihad Stadium.
Daniher, already nominated by Essendon as a father-son selection for this year's national draft, continued to boost his profile with a best-on-ground display capped by four goals.
O'Rourke was in Vic Metro's best and joined Daniher in an-All Australian team featuring four of their state teammates.
However, the Calder Cannons continued to sink into a battle for the top eight at the weekend, losing by 16 points to the Oakleigh Chargers at Highgate Reserve.
The Cannons kicked nine second-quarter goals to turn a 38-point quarter-time deficit into an 11-point half-time lead.
But the last crack with the wind counted for little as Calder failed to overturn a three-point deficit at the final change, losing 12.4 (76) to Oakleigh 13.14 (92).
The Cannons' six-win, six-loss record is good enough for sixth, ahead of Dandenong Stingrays and Geelong Falcons on percentage and a game ahead of ninth-placed Western Jets (5-7).
Calder plays the Murray Bushrangers at Wangaratta on Sunday.
The under-16 national carnival started in western Sydney on Saturday, with Vic Metro beating Vic Country by a point in the opening game at Blacktown International Sports Park.
Maribyrnong Park's Touk Miller and Romsey's Jake Lever were among the best as Vic Metro won 11.11 (77) to 11.10 (76).
Gisborne duo Matthew Goodyear and Jack James are also in the under-16 Vic Metro squad, along with Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, Liam Duggan (both Bacchus Marsh) and Billy Myers (Darley).
Vic Metro plays WA today and South Australia on Friday.
Vic Metro U18 14.12 (96) d WA 10.12 (72)
GOALS - Vic Metro: Daniher 4, Billings 3, Salem 2, Boyd, Jaksch, McDonald, O'Rourke, Wood. WA: Wilkins 4, Martin 3, Carter, McKenzie, Paparone
BEST - Vic Metro: Daniher, Billings, Vlastuin, O'Rourke, Macrae, Boyd. WA: Martin, Paparone, Hogan,Wilkins, Carter
Vic Metro U16 11.11 (77) d Vic Country 11.10 (76)
GOALS - Vic Metro: McKenzie, Wright 2, McLaren, Goodyear, Viojo-Rainbow, Lever, Blake, Sheriden-Ferrie, Ahern. Vic Country: McGrath, Webb 3, Lamb, Goddard 2, McCartin
BEST - Vic Metro: Urban, Moore, Wright, Lever, Brayshaw, McKenzie, Miller. Vic Country: Kempster, Webb, Pritchard, McGrath, Goddard, Marchbank
Calder Cannons 12.4 (76) lt Oakleigh Chargers 13.14 (92)
GOALS - Calder: A. Gallucci 3, S. Gemmill 2, L. Berry, X. Allison, J. Sheahan, D. Ratcliffe, A. Saad, D. Bailey, J. Boyd. Oakleigh: K. Nolan 3, J. Hammond 2, J. Stewart, J. Kennedy, J. Collopy, T. Cutler, S. Collins, J. Ernest, P. Jenkins, R. Exon
BEST - Calder: Atkins, A. Saad, A. Gallucci, A. Christensen, L. Berry, S. Hetherington. Oakleigh: S. Raru, S. Collins, R. Exon, J. Kennedy, J. Collopy, J. Ernest

