GLENELG’S 39-point win over Norwood is our featured SANFL Under 18s match of the round, with a bunch of players impressing across both sides. We note the top performers from that clash, before taking a look around the grounds at each other result in Round 4, and up the grades at a few juniors plying their trade in the seniors.

SCOUTING NOTES

By: Tom Wyman

NORWOOD:

#4 Tyson Walls

The diminutive midfielder was clearly Norwood’s most influential player in the Redlegs’ 39-point loss to Glenelg. Reading the tap-work of Alex Van Wyk to perfection all game, Walls consistently got things moving for the home side at stoppages. He was one of few Redlegs who was able to take the game on by foot in an attempt to disturb the rock-solid Tigers defensive unit. Adding some speed and polish, Walls’ ball use by hand was excellent, often finding an appropriate target on the outside whilst in congestion. The Rostrevor College product’s vision was sound and he topped off a strong performance with a lovely snap goal to open the second half. Walls finished with 34 disposals, five marks, five tackles, seven clearances and eight inside 50s.

#5 Will Rowlands

Rowlands took some time to work his way into the game, after spending much of the early stages in attack. However when moved into the midfield, he found plenty of the ball and generally used it efficiently. His chase-down tackle deep inside 50 was a highlight and saw him rewarded with a free-kick. Able to use his sidestep in traffic a couple of times, Rowlands looked clean, smart and composed with ball in-hand. Despite finishing with three behinds, it was a good showing from Rowlands, who gathered 26 possessions, five tackles, seven clearances and eight inside 50s.

#21 Harvey Pedler

Another Norwood on-baller who showed some handy signs was Pedler. He spent much of the game in and around the midfield, often finding himself shovelling the ball out at the bottom of scrimmages. Pedler showed some burst speed to boot Norwood’s second goal of the third term and found plenty of possessions around the ground. He finished the game with 20 touches, two marks, three tackles and five clearances.

#35 Alex Van Wyk

Big ruckman Van Wyk was arguably the most dominant player on the night, consistently providing the Redlegs midfielders with first use around the ground. Van Wyk exploited his extra size and strength, in comparison to the Glenelg rucks, to finish with 33 hitouts. However he was also valuable in general play, accumulating 16 disposals, four tackles and four clearances. Glenelg’s ruck duo of Harry Francis and Kynan Dunn weren’t able to match it with the physicality of Van Wyk, who also managed to kick two goals.

GLENELG:

#4 Archie Lovelock

SA Academy Hub member Lovelock started the game at half-forward but spent more time on-ball as the game wore on. Hard as nails throughout, he had greater influence in the middle after the change was made. Strong overhead and clean with his ball-use, Lovelock booted a good set-shot goal, tackled with intensity and was one of the leading clearance winners. He gathered 22 disposals, three marks, six tackles, five clearances and three inside 50s in the Tigers fourth win on the trot.

#5 Ben Ridgway

It was a typically combative game from the Glenelg skipper. Already voted into a leadership role despite being a bottom-ager, Ridgway was strong in the contest and prolific at stoppages. His smother early in the game left him feeling a bit worse for wear, but set the tone for Glenelg in what proved to be a strong, consistent performance. Although he may not have stuffed the stats sheet as he has done already this year (18 disposals, nine tackles and six clearances), Ridgway’s contested ball winning, tackling pressure and clearance work was top-shelf all evening long.

#12 Jakob Ryan

Stationed across half-back alongside his namesake Bodie Ryan, Jakob Ryan was likely best on ground. His ability to read the play and float across to take intercept marks time-after-time denied the Norwood forwards of any space on the lead or offensive flow. He distributed the ball well by hand and foot, making well-informed and quick decisions with ball in-hand. He would have booted a goal from inside the centre square too if it hadn’t been touched on the goal-line. In what was his best game of the year, Ryan’s stocks will have risen further following a terrific showing at The Parade.

#17 Harry Francis

The tall utility’s dominant first term paved the way for the Tigers victory. He booted the first goal of the match following a ruck infringement free-kick, and continued to present well inside-50. He took a number of important grabs in the first quarter alone, pushing up the ground well required and also rotating with Kynan Dunn in the ruck. His cleanliness above his head was noticeable, as was Francis’ athleticism – as shown when he soccered through his third goal of the opening stanza. Francis would go on to finish with 13 possessions, four goals, five marks, four tackles, 12 hitouts and three clearances.

#20 Ashton Moir

Combining well with Francis in the Bays forward line was supremely talented bottom-aged forward, Moir. His work rate and athleticism, along with his strong hands and elite vertical leap saw him haul in a couple of excellent marks. Already looming as an exciting prospect for next year, Moir was slightly inaccurate in-front of goal, booting two goals and three behinds, but offered plenty of glimpses of his talent. Reading the play nicely, Moir moved beautifully around Coopers Stadium, picking up 12 disposals and six marks (three contested) for the match.

#32 Ryan Wurfel

Livewire forward Wurfel played a really important game for the Bays across half-forward. Always energetic when the play was in his vicinity, Wurfel attacked the ball with speed and used the footy intelligently. His kicking going inside-50 was particularly accurate. Busy from start to finish, he accumulated 14 possessions, two marks, three tackles, six inside-50s and a goal.

AROUND THE GROUNDS

By: Micah Hann

Woodville West Torrens 13.3 81 defeated by West Adelaide 13.14 92

Woodville West Torrens kicked off the long weekend on Thursday night against western suburbs rival West Adelaide. The Eagles put through the first three goals of the game and took an 11-point lead into the main break against a wasteful Bloods outfit. Blake Hansen (35 disposals, nine rebound 50s, one goal) was prolific off half-back and one of his sides’ best. Adam D’Aloia (31 disposals and 11 clearances) found plenty of the football at stoppage and Mattaes Phillipou was effective through the midfield and forward of centre, finishing with 26 disposals and three goals.  
 
Tom Scully was the story of the night for West Adelaide. The big key forward finished with seven goals and an incredible eight contested marks, proving to be simply unstoppable inside 50. Kobe Ryan (33 disposals, seven clearances, seven inside 50s, two goals) was influential through the midfield and kicked the first two goals of the last quarter, before Scully’s seventh looked to seal the win. Will Patton (23 disposals and six rebound 50s) was strong across half-back and Harry Barnett dominated again in the ruck with 25 hitouts.  

Central District 3.6 24 defeated by North Adelaide 16.15 111

North Adelaide laid a beat down on Central District to the tune of 87 points. The Roosters dominated through the midfield and up forward, finishing with 11 more clearances and a massive 32 more inside 50s than their opponents. Billy Dowling (32 disposals, three goals) and running mate Hughen Wissman (33 disposals, 12 inside 50s, one goal) continued their impressive starts to the season to lead a balanced North Adelaide midfield which boasted eight separate players with three or more clearances. Logan Mulady finished with three goals and 10 hitouts, while Kelsey Rypstra, Toby Turner and Ethan Walker were the other multiple goalscorers for North Adelaide.  

Trent Tattoli (32 disposals, seven marks and five clearances) was again one of Central’s best, while Sebastian Wauer (29 disposals and 10 rebound 50s) continued to find plenty of the ball across half-back. Jayden Matz (17 disposals, 27 hitouts) dominated through the ruck, while over-ager Cody Gilchrist was the only multiple goalkicker for the Dogs, finishing with two goals and as many behinds.  
 
Sturt 15.10 100 defeated South Adelaide 12.15 87

Coming off a 76-point win against South Adelaide in Round 1, Sturt made it two from two against the Panthers this year, running out 13 point-victors in their latest clash. Without talented duo Luca Slade and Loch Rawlinson, the Double Blues were still able to match South Adelaide through the middle of the ground, with their accuracy in front of goal proving to be the difference between the two sides.

Midfielder Cormac Dwyer (22 disposals, eight inside 50s, five clearances, one goal) was one of Sturt’s best and Alex Holt (19 disposals, five rebound 50s) worked tirelessly in defence all game. Chad Reschke kicked four first half goals and Will Torode managed three of his four goals within a three-minute patch in the third term to give his side a match-winning 4 goal lead at three quarter time.  

Angus Bradley (21 disposals, six clearances, one goal) maintained his strong form as one of South Adelaide’s best. Jack Delean (18 disposals, three goals) split his time as a midfielder and forward but missed a couple of opportunities in the last quarter to close the deficit for his side. Koby Cockshell was also dangerous up forward, finishing with a bag of five goals.

League and Reserves

There was a host of SA Talent Hub members representing Central District’s reserves side on the weekend. Finn Reed collected 12 disposals, six marks and a goal, while Brodie Tuck seemed comfortable at the level in his Reserves debut, winning 13 possessions, taking eight marks (3 contested) and laying five tackles. Austin McDonald has spent the entire year at Reserves level thus far and won 11 disposals in the Dogs’ loss to North Adelaide.  

Elsewhere, Max Michalanney had 14 disposals and five marks in Norwood’s narrow loss to Glenelg in the SANFL Reserves, while Nick Sadler collected 14 disposals in a win for Sturt’s Reserves side. Top pick candidate Harry Lemmey missed West Adelaide’s game due to health and safety protocols, for the second time this season.