The athletic twins played pivotal roles in Vic Country’s epic one-point loss to Vic Metro under the roof at Marvel Stadium.
The high-octane match was decided in controversial circumstances when umpires awarded a 50m penalty for dissent against Vic Country gun Toby Travaglia with less than 30 seconds remaining.
The penalty allowed Vic Metro to convert the shot on goal from point-blank range, as opposed to outside the forward 50 where the original free kick was paid.
The goal came after the siren to lift Metro to a 12.13 (85) to 13.6 (84) win.
“(It was a) surreal experience,” Jack Whitlock said.
“The speed and intensity everyone played with was on another level. Best standard of game I’ve played in.”
Jack saved his best performance of the championships for last, lighting up the second half with a handful of strong contested marks and two goals.
He finished the match with 13 possessions, seven marks and two goals to be the game’s most dangerous key forward.
Matt Whitlock kept Vic Country in the match early as their Metro counterparts bombarded the forward 50 in the first quarter.
Playing as a key back, Matt continually repelled Metro while keeping tall forward Thomas Sims goalless. Matt’s stat sheet read 15 possessions and 231m gained.
The Murray Bushrangers’ other likely first round draft pick, Joe Berry, also tore up the Marvel Stadium turf with a blistering three-goal haul.
The Benalla product was Country’s most effective forward, gathering 14 possessions and taking his championship goal tally to nine.
The Bushrangers’ remaining two representatives also contributed strongly, with Shepparton Swans’ Ollie Warburton finishing with 19 possessions from half-back, while bottom-age inside mid Riley Onley showcased his class with several vital touches from limited game time.
“I thought all five played their roles well in what is always the sharpest match of the season,” Bushrangers coach and Vic Country assistant Mark Brown said.
“It was a brilliant clash which unfortunately didn’t get the ending it deserved. The boys should be immensely proud of their performance throughout the entire carnival.”
