PLAYING across all three SANFL grades this season, Sturt prospect Nick Sadler is one of South Australia’s most promising midfielders. The 179cm talent offers a nice balance of inside and outside traits, with clean hands to go with outside speed and sharp kicking on the move.

The state talent hub member started his top-age campaign in the Under 18s, and after two games apiece in the Double Blues’ League and Reserves sides, he made his second appearance in the category in Round 6. Booting two goals from 23 touches, Sadler helped his side claim its fourth win in 2022, downing Norwood by 44 points.

We put Sadler’s Round 6 performance under the Player Focus microscope.

SturtMidfielder

Nick Sadler

Height: 180cm

Weight: 74kg

DOB: 08-01-2004

Strengths:

Agility

Clean hands

Kicking

Leadership

Scoreboard impact

Speed

Improvements:

Contested work

Size

Draft range: Pick 40-60

SEASON SO FAR

The Under 18s kicked off this year’s SANFL action a week before the seniors, and Sadler took the chance to ease into his campaign with 22 disposals in Sturt’s win over South Adelaide. That performance earned him a League debut in Round 1, where he kicked a goal from seven touches as the Double Blues downed South Adelaide. He showed promise but was handed consecutive Reserves games, before jetting back into the top flight to improve his best numbers to 11 disposals against Port Adelaide. That brought Sadler to his Round 6 Under 18s outing, where he found some of his best form for our latest Player Focus.

2022 SANFL Under 18s – Round 6
Sturt 16.13 (109) def. Norwood 9.11 (65)

Stats: 23 disposals (16 kicks, 7 handballs), 3 marks, 2 tackles, 3 clearances, 3 inside 50s, 3 goals

FIRST QUARTER

While he took a few minutes to get going, Sadler ended the first term as the best and most prolific player afield. He notched up highs of eight disposals and two goals, helping Sturt string together four unanswered majors in an eight-minute hot streak.

The 18-year-old started up forward before rotating through midfield and attending four of eight total centre bounces. His first touch came up in the corridor, receiving a handball and pumping his legs before delivering a kick inside 50 on the fly. Sadler’s driving dash and sharp kicking were features of his quarter, as was his finishing ability.

Both of his majors were converted via snaps, with the first coming at a forward 50 throw-in where Salder somehow went unmanned and was free to shark the tap, before stepping and sending the ball home. His second goal yielded a touch of fortune, as a defender spoiled the ball right into his path as he took full toll with a quick shot at the sticks.

Also among Sadler’s highlights was a rundown tackle in the centre square, and his ability to spread quickly from the contest or time his runs for a handball receive. With that being a key to his game, he got Sturt on the front foot and looked all class in the first 25 minutes.

SECOND QUARTER

After a strong start in term one, Sadler’s second quarter was a touch steadier in terms of pure impact per possession as he managed to rack up another six touches. Again attending half of the six centre bounces, he looked much more lively on-ball where his stoppage smarts came to the fore.

Nearly all of Sadler’s possessions were earned once he shifted from his starting forward post, as he worked back and mopped up plenty a loose ball with one-touch handling. Norwood had turned up the heat though, and he was forced to handball out or dump clearing kicks forward under duress.

When looking for short targets in a little more space, Sadler was much more assured and could use his skills to keep Sturt rolling forward smoothly. He would have enjoyed a couple of battles with Tyson Walls too, before the pair combines among SA’s Under 18 talent hub later this year.

THIRD QUARTER

Utilised in the same role after half time, Sadler had to wait a touch less to make his midfield move from the forwardline. He was thrust into the centre bounce after four minutes, but not before snaring another clever goal with just 90 seconds on the clock. Swooping on the loose ball inside 50, it was a checkside finish which yielded his third major.

The key to Sadler’s third term was his ability to cruise into good positions, then pounce on any contested spillage and explode away with his turn of speed. In those situations, he read the flow of play incredibly well and anticipated the right moment to make his move each time.

His kicking looked particularly slick in the third quarter too; hitting the easy targets with stationary kicks, but also finding his range in full flight with a particularly memorable pass inside 50 to the leading Blake Fidge. Another of his highlights was an overhead marking effort going back with the flight, displaying his handy leap and courage as a small.

FOURTH QUARTER

The fourth term was easily Sadler’s least prolific, as he attended the least amount of centre bounces (2/5) with Sturt coasting to a comfortable victory. He still hit up at the ball from his forward post on a couple of occasions, with one wheeling effort in the corridor seeing him hit a long kick to the forward 50 arc.

His next kick was also effective, this time penetrating the arc to find Thomas Byun uncontested. He notched one more handball for the game, a clean ground ball effort on the move at a defensive 50 stoppage, finishing an impactful outing steadily.

Overall, Sadler showed his wares as a midfielder-forward and while he looked most comfortable at stoppage, proved he can hit the scoreboard as a forward. His foot skills and clean hands make for desirable traits, and at his size, being able to navigate out of traffic is another key asset. Absorbing contact and executing his skills under that kind of pressure are a couple of tests he’ll face at senior levels, despite his courage.