South West footballers help secure comeback wins over Victoria Country at the National Under-18s Championships.

Bunbury’s Leo Steed again stepped up for the boys side as co-captain, helping his team fightback from 33 points behind in the first half.

The Swan Districts product finished with 24 disposals and six clearances in the 10.16 (76) to 9.6 (60) win at Marvel Stadium on Friday as WA got their second win of the carnival.

It comes after the 18-year-old’s draft stocks continue to rise as he performs well on the big stage for the third time in a row for WA at the championships.

In WA’s 36-point loss to Vic Metro, Steed gathered 24 disposals, along with a game-high six clearances and applied nine tackles as his side went down 11.9 (75) to 5.9 (39) to the carnival’s traditional powerhouse.

Steed’s final chance to prove his skills on the national stage will be in Wednesday’s final game against the Allies in Ballarat.

On Saturday, Collie’s Heidi Ireland and Busselton’s Mia Van Kleef helped the 18s girls team get their first win of the carnival at Kennedy Community Centre in Victoria.

Mirroring the boys from the day before the girls stormed home from 17 points down at three-quarter-time against Vic Country to secure a seven-point win in an epic victory.

Van Kleef applied relentless pressure up forward, laying six tackles along with five disposals while gathered eight touches plus two tackles and a clearance as the side won 6.4 (40) to 5.3 (33).

The girls will finish their carnival also against the Allies at Shepley Oval in Dandenong on Saturday, July 11.