GLENELG further cemented its status as the SANFL Under 18s frontrunner on Saturday, thumping Woodville-West Torrens by 80 points at ACH Group Stadium. The Bays lead at every break and remain undefeated alongside North Adelaide atop the ladder. We noted some of the standout performers from that game, our match of the round, before taking a look around the grounds.

By: Micah Hann

GLENELG:

#4 Archie Lovelock 

Lovelock has been one of Glenelg’s most consistent performers to start the season and was once again among his side’s best. He finished with 29 disposals and two goals and was pivotal through the midfield, where his five clearances and seven tackles highlighted his ability to contribute both offensively and defensively. Lovelock showed a little bit of everything in this game. He had some nice moments overhead, read the ball well as a crumber, and executed well by foot with his kick placement consistently to a teammate’s advantage. The Tigers play such an unselfish, team-oriented brand of football and Lovelock really embodies those qualities, demonstrated by his willingness to bring others into the game when there were opportunities to blaze away and chase his own numbers.

#7 Jake Walker 

Walker would’ve been close to best on ground and was Glenelg’s most productive midfielder on the day. His 33 disposals came from a balanced mix of tough work on the inside and outside accumulation. Walker’s tough frame allowed him to find plenty of the ball at stoppage, where he was able to use his speed and strength to break tackles and accelerate away from the contest. He covered the ground strongly all game, allowing him accumulate the football on the outside and involve himself in much of Glenelg’s ball movement from defence to attack. Finishing with a single goal, Walker also had a long attempt touched on the line and one shot that hit the post. There were a handful of other opportunities for him to hit the scoreboard but he unselfishly distributed to others for higher percentage shots on goal.  

#12 Jakob Ryan 

Ryan came into the game early with a couple of intercept marks down centre wing, as the opposition attempted to exit their defensive half. His use by foot in the first term was typical of what we’ve come to expect from him as he delivered the ball long and to his teammates’ advantage. Ryan started the second half in the midfield, where he showed clean hands to win the football and distribute to teammates on the outside. His ability to find space and link up by hand was important to the success of his sides ball movement. The extra exposure to the midfield looked to be important for Ryan’s development as he seeks to continue to improve the contested part of his game.    

#13 Hayden Brokensha 

Brokensha started well to be one of the leading possession winners on the ground by quarter time. He used his speed well to create separation from the contest and the time and space he found allowed him to consistently deliver the football without significant pressure. Brokensha is critical to his sides ball movement and he didn’t let his team down, distributing cleanly through the contest by both hand and foot. 

#20 Ashton Moir 

Moir was lively all game and showed why he is one of the most exciting players in the SANFL U18 competition. Playing predominantly across half forward, Moir showcased plenty of his athleticism throughout as he flew for marks and competed strongly in the air.  His first goal came within the first six minutes of the game, after he read the forward entry best and marked directly in front of goal.  His second came late in the second term after he pushed free of his opponent to mark relatively uncontested. Moir then produced one of the highlights of the day, kicking his third goal from another set shot – this time from the boundary line, approximately 40m out. Moir’s ability to read the flight of the ball lead to his fourth goal, where he was able to quickly work back to out-mark his opponent just outside the goal square.   

Moir showed why he is such a nightmare match up for any defender in the SANFL U18 competition. His ability to get separation on the lead made it near impossible for anyone to deny him the football and when given the chance to fly he marked the ball at the highest point. His speed and evasiveness makes him a headache once the ball comes to ground, where his goal sense and ability to finish on either side of his body makes him a goal scoring threat anywhere inside forward 50. Moir showed plenty of football smarts with a few deft touches by hand to the advantage of his teammates, while his speed and evasiveness enabled him to create time and space for himself to be able to deliver the ball effectively by hand and foot, despite pressure from the opposition.  

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#18 Jacob Battle 

Battle was solid all day coming out of defence for the Eagles. Under enormous pressure for much of the morning, Battle used his long left foot to repel many of the Tiger’s forward ventures and finished with a game high, nine rebounds from defensive 50.  

#24 Adam D’Aloia 

D’Aloia delivered on exactly what we’ve come to expect from him, which is relentlessness in the contest and elite ball winning ability at stoppage. His persistence through the middle of the ground was rewarded as he won 8 clearances, although the impact of those possessions were often impacted by the pressure that Glenelg’s midfielders applied. At times, he was unable to create the separation he needed to get a clean kick away, but his work by hand was high class as he released teammates into space.  
 
D’Aloia’s best moment of the day came in the second term. After missing a snap shot on goal just moments earlier, he  followed up with a tough stoppage win, smooth side step to avoid a would-be tackler and classy finish around his body, in what was one of very few highlights for his side on the day.  
 
#25 Mattaes Phillipou  

Phillipou started the game in great touch, winning the first two centre clearances of the game and finding plenty of the ball at stoppage. When possessions started to dry up for him in the second and third terms, Phillipou sought to use his length and instincts to impact the game defensively, with varying degrees of success. At times, his defensive efforts resulted in free kicks against, but he did have some important touches to slow the opposition’s ball movement. While it wasn’t his most prolific day, Phillipou still showed off his ability at stoppage, winning seven clearances in a solid effort against a deep Glenelg midfield.  

#28 Patrick Weckert 

It was a quiet day for Weckert as he spent much of the day up forward with very few opportunities coming his way. When the ball came to him he had no hesitation in throwing his weight around and competed really strongly in the air. Weckert made his presence felt at every contest and his ball use and decision-making while solid, was at times let down by his teammates inability to capitalise on the quality of his possessions.  

AROUND THE GROUNDS

By: Tom Wyman

The Norwood Under 18s returned to the winners list with a three-goal victory over West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium. The Bloods regained the lead in the third term after trailing all day before the resilient Redlegs kicked away in the final term. The consistent Noah Hyde was the primary ball winner for the Redlegs, gathering 25 disposals, four marks, seven inside 50s and an important last quarter goal.

Riley Verrall returned to form, providing plenty of rebound for the visitors. He accumulated 23 possessions while Harvey Pedler (21 disposals, four clearances and two goals) produced another strong performance. SA Academy hub members Taj Rahui (19 disposals, four inside-50s and a goal) and Tyson Walls (19 disposals, three inside 50s and four rebounds) were also among Norwood’s best.

West Adelaide’s dominant duo of Kobe Ryan and Tyson Coe were once again prolific through the midfield. Ryan managed 34 disposals, six tackles, five clearances and was rewarded for his hard-at-it approach by winning five free kicks. His schoolmate Coe gathered 32 disposals, five marks, five tackles, five clearances, seven inside 50s and a goal. Key forward Tom Scully extended his lead at the top of the goalkicking tally after booting a further four majors from 10 disposals and six marks.

North Adelaide made it five from five with a workmanlike victory over South Adelaide. Despite scores being level at half-time, the Roosters booted seven goals to three in the second half to continue their undefeated streak. Exciting forward Isaac Keeler booted four goals for North while midfield mainstays Hughen Wissman (30 disposals, seven tackles, five clearances and seven inside 50s), James White (26 disposals, five marks, four clearances and a goal) and Billy Dowling (25 disposals, five marks, six tackles, five inside 50s and a goal) continued their strong seasons.

South Adelaide on-ballers Charlie Duncan (33 disposals, six clearances and five inside 50s) and Angus Bradley (23 disposals, seven marks and two goals) were the home side’s best performers. Ruckman Will Verrall, who has had a conservative start to the season by his standards, booted two goals to go with 17 possessions, 20 hit-outs and five clearances.

Central District managed their first points of the season with an upset win over Sturt at Unley. Led by nine goals between key forwards Brodie Tuck (six goals) and Cody Gilchrist (three), the Bulldogs stormed home, booting six goals in the final quarter. The Bulldogs’ midfield was the catalyst for the victory, with bottom-aged talent Trent Tattoli flexing his muscles. The Angle Vale junior was terrific around the contest, winning a game-high 34 touches, six clearances and five tackles. He was well supported by Seb Wauner (28 disposals and seven rebounds), Austin McDonald (25 disposals, five marks, four clearances and a goal), Finn Reed (23 disposals and eight inside 50s) and ruckman Jayden Matz (nine disposals and 28 hitouts).

The usual suspects were among Sturt’s best performers as Alex Holt (26 disposals, seven marks and four clearances) and George Pope (21 disposals and six clearances) finished as the Double Blues leading ball-winners. Finn Wakelin, Will Torode and Chad Reschke each booted two goals in the loss.