VIC Country is on the comeback trail in the under-16 National Football Championships in Queensland.

Article first appeared: Herald Sun 4 August 2007

The Country side last tasted success six years ago when it won the 2001 championships trophy.

But the young boys from the bush are on the up, recording an impressive victory against South Australia on Sunday, before a 79-point slip up against a powerful Western Australia on Wednesday.

Country coach Leon Harris praised his side's effort against a full-strength South Australian team.

"We've struggled over the last few years to be competitive in Division 1," he said.

"We were quite static against South Australia and were equal at three-quarter time.

"Midway through the final quarter we were three goals down then we ended up coming back to win by 10 points."

Jack Ziebell and Andrew Hooper were among the best for Country in Game 1 and midfielder Steele Sidebottom was damaging when moved into the forward line in the last quarter.

It was a study in opposites when Country played WA in its second game.

WA took control of the match in the second quarter and refused to let up until the final siren.

"Western Australia took us to the cleaners and kicked about 11 goals in the first half," Harris said.

"They just broke the game open and we weren't able to match it."

Vic Country is hoping for a different outcome today when it goes head-to-head with arch rivals Vic Metro.

Harris, who has coached Country for the past 11 years, said the real test would be how his side rebounded from the loss against WA and prepared for its clash against Metro.

"It will put them under the microscope a little bit more," he said.

"The difference is WA is more of a running type of game whereas the Victoria Country kids aren't running as well at the moment because they probably play on smaller grounds.

"You would think Metro will go in hot favourites.

"They're playing to win the carnival and we're playing to improve a little more on where we were in Game 1 and get a little more respect."

Metro bounced back after a two-point loss to WA in its opening match with a convincing 77-point dumping of SA on Wednesday.

This week's championships are as much about possible TAC Cup selection as they are about winning.

The three games give TAC Cup sides a chance to see what the next batch of footballers has to offer.

"You try and pick the right types that are going to be able to get the running ability into their game," Harris said.

"The under-16s is more of a development program.

"We hope that these kids will walk into under-18 football next year.

"You hope the experience spurs them on."