Page 39 - AFL QUEENSLAND 2012 YEAR IN REVIEW

UNDER 18 QUEENSLAND SCORPIONS
The 2012 Queensland Scorpions team was the product of the first full year of operation of the Gold Coast SUNS and the Brisbane Lions Academies who conducted summer training for team selection.
The gains were significant, with the Queensland team achieving four wins from seven games and three wins out of five in the Under 18 NAB AFL National Championships.
After two lead up TAC Cup trial matches - where the Scorpions lowered their colours to the Dandenong Stingrays before bouncing back with a win over the Bendigo Pioneers in Melbourne - the Scorpions headed to Blacktown in Western Sydney for their Round 1 National Championships game.
Lining up against Division 1 powerhouse Western Australia, the Scorpions pulled off the upset of the carnival with a 2-point, come-from-behind victory over the Sandgropers; their first ever win against a Division 1 team.
Division 1 team Vic Country brought the boys back down to earth the following week with a 94-point win over the Scorpions.
The Scorpions then faced fellow Division 2 teams in the final three games of the Championship. Round 3 saw the team register a disappointing 6-point loss at home against Tasmania, but the Scorpions bounced back courageously in Melbourne
to defeat the Northern Territory by 7-points and NSW/ACT by 28-points in the final game of the Championships.
The Division 2 ladder at the end of the Championships showed three teams level on 8-points with Northern Territory winning the title on percentage from Queensland in second place, Tasmania third and NSW/ACT winless in fourth position.
Coach Ray Windsor was pleased with the commitment and endeavour of the group, who showed they were competitive against all comers. The loss at home against Tasmania in Round 3 eventually cost the team a title win and will provide next year’s group the incentive to go one step better in 2013.
Broadbeach junior Andrew Boston was awarded the Queensland Most Valuable Player award for the Championships and was also the sole Queenslander selected as an All-Australian.
AFL Queensland
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