The finisher: Murray Bushranger and Shepparton’s Jack Whitlock kicked a stunning goal after the siren to seal victory for Victoria Country against Queensland.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Jack Whitlock produced the ‘‘it’’ moment of his budding football career at the weekend.
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Down by two points with nothing left on the clock in the under-17 Futures match between Victoria Country and Queensland, Whitlock entered the stratosphere to grab a rousing pack mark inside 50.
The siren followed seconds later, throwing the question back to the 17-year-old: how is your bottle?
What followed put the question to bed.
Whitlock placed the ball on the ground, gathered himself and kicked true from mid-range for the stands to erupt and send his teammates running full tilt towards him.
His dream-worthy goal iced the game for Vic Country 9.16 (70) to 9.12 (66), with Whitlock beaming while recalling the match-winner.
“Obviously they’ve kicked it out on the full and then it’s come back in pretty quick,” Whitlock said.
“I don’t know, my opponent just kind of got off me and I felt like I could run and jump at it. I jumped at it, marked it and the siren’s gone.
“I just took a few deep breaths, did some breathing and it was fine really. It is what it is.”
Cool as you like, Whitlock wasn’t the only Goulburn Valley League representative with ice in his veins on Sunday.
Matt Whitlock ― Jack’s twin ― donned the Big V at Avalon Airport Oval alongside Shepparton Swans’ Ollie Warburton.
Went to War: Oliver Warburton also turned out for Vic Country against Queensland.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The trio helped Vic Country to a 20-point lead by quarter-time, Jack kicking the final goal of the first term.
Queensland then barged back into the contest to trail by 10 at the half.
Vic Country held a more commanding advantage heading into the final quarter, but would fail to register a major, while Queensland kicked three goals without reply to surge towards the finish line.
Cue Whitlock to cut off the visitor’s air supply with his effort at the death.
The key forward spoke about the team talk from coach Eamonn Gill before the game, with the talented teen carrying out his instructions to a tee.
“Before the game we highlighted everyone having a moment, whether that’s taking a big mark like that or a chase-down tackle or anything,” he said.
“He was pretty happy, everyone had their moment which was good and showed their weapons as they like to call it.”
Whitlock spent the game flitting between centre half-forward and full-forward, but had to have a hard think once he saw who he’d be lining up on.
Grazing 200cm, the Bears product was surprisingly matched for height by Queensland’s like-for-like marker.
“The guy I was playing on was a fairly similar build to me, so I had to work out a few things early on to see how I could beat him one-on-one and stuff like that,” he said.
“It was good, we got up a bit at the start, but then they fought back. It was tight all day, pretty physical and quick like usual.”
And while his twin may have stolen the limelight, Matt Whitlock also had a solid game inside the arc.
Twin win: Jack and Matt Whitlock starred for Victoria Country at the weekend.
Photo by
Zac Standish
However, he was deployed at the opposite end of the ground as he transitioned from full-back to centre half-back during a game which he revelled in.
“It’s always good when the team wins. It was a good win, I had lots of fun,” Matt said.
“I don’t think I had a specific moment, but I think I did lots of little things; little one-on-one wins which I think just built my game all round.
“They were pretty tough opponents, my bloke in particular was a pretty strong tall boy.
“It’s always tough battling it out with some of the best in Australia.”
