On the final day of the inaugural Toyota AFL Open, Victoria has claimed the silverware in both the AFL Open Wheelchair - Division One, and the AFL Open Inclusion - Division Two competitions.
While national championships have been running for elite AFL inclusion and wheelchair players for a decade, this is the first year both events have come together under the new Toyota AFL Open format.
Vic Metro put on a dominant display in the Toyota AFL Open – Wheelchair Grand Final, with an 82-point victory over Tasmania. Vic Metro’s win marks their third consecutive national crown after beating Western Australia in 2023 and South Australia in 2022.
Vic Metro’s Sebastian Welsh didn’t miss the big sticks, scoring an incredible 10 goals while his teammate Ryan Smith put away a bag of seven to ultimately defeat Tassie – 18.8.116 to 5.4.34.
Speaking after the game, elated Vic Metro Captain Teisha Shadwell said she was delighted to take the premiership cup back to Victoria and praised her teammates.
“I think with a team like Metro we play as one, we’re connected, we work together and play for each other – it’s really great to get a win like that,” Shadwell said.
“I think honestly, I have to thank the team, this isn’t a game of individuals, it’s a team game and I need to thank everyone who made this victory possible."
With VIC Metro now on a three-peat, Shadwell has South Australia’s record of four national championship titles in a row in sight.
“Definitely, we can aim for that and beat that – let’s go for five!” she exclaimed.
In his first national championship appearance Hayden Auber from Vic Metro won the Kevin Faulkner Medal for best on ground in the grand final while Sebastian Welsh was the leading goal scorer across the Wheelchair Open for Division 1, and awarded Best and Fairest for Toyota AFL Open - Wheelchair for Vic Metro.
In the Division Two Inclusion Grand Finals which also took place on Tuesday, Vic Country’s inclusion team beat Queensland to take home back-to-back premiership flags, after taking out the national title last year, once again defeating Queensland at the AFL's Toyota AFL National Inclusion Carnival.
Sam Hudson for Vic Country was named best on ground in the grand final, with Jarrod Redcliffe being awarded Best and Fairest for Toyota AFL Open - Inclusion for Vic Country across the entire tournament.
Ben Noble (Vic Country) and James Weinert (Vic Metro) were named in the Toyota AFL Open – Wheelchair All Australian Team, whilst Kaleb Watson, Troy Gibbs (VIC Metro), Jarrod Redcliffe and Mitchell Hardman (VIC Country) were named in the Toyota AFL Open – Inclusion All Australian Team.
Click here for a full competition wrap-up and award winners.