SCOTT Carlin says he returns to Hampden league football an improved player after a week representing Victoria at School Sport Australia championships.
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Carlin booted two goals to help the Vics defeat Western Australia 13.4 (82) to 2.5 (17) in the 15 and under grand final at Geelong’s Hamlyn Park on Saturday.
The 15-year-old Mercy Regional College student, who hails from The Sisters, also featured among the best players in a win against South Australia in a preliminary match.
He started the championships in defence but became a fixture on a half-forward flank the longer the week went on.
“I’ll have a lot more confidence when I play local footy around here,” Carlin said.
“I’ve learnt a lot more about structure and defence, where to be, where to move,” he said.
Carlin said he was surprised how easily Victoria won the grand final given a preliminary encounter between the pair went down to the wire.
A goal with four seconds to play gave Western Australia a two-point win on day two, a result which hinted at a close final. But the decider was a lopsided affair.
“We won quite easily, it would’ve been 60 or 70 points. It came as a real surprise,” Carlin said.
“I thought it was going to be a hard, physical game. The first game was real close, but this one wasn’t, we were beating them all over the ground.
“It was just a good feeling being able to win a grand final, I’ve never won a grand final so it was a good experience through the week.
“There were a lot of good footballers there.”
Carlin is in contention to return to the representative stage in coming months with North Ballarat Rebels at the V/Line Cup.
The competition pits the best under 15 sides from across Victoria against each other, with matches staged at Morwell, Moe and Traralgon.