SOUTH Australia trumped the Allies to the tune of 37 points on Sunday in this year’s AFL Under 18 National Championships opener. While a bunch of top-end talents were forced to miss the clash at Thebarton Oval, there were plenty of outstanding individual performers to highlight in the latest edition of Scouting Notes.

All notes are the opinion of the author.

>> MATCH REPORT: South Australia 14.9 (93) def. Allies 8.8 (56)

SOUTH AUSTRALIA:

By: Tom Wyman

#4 Kelsey Rypstra (North Adelaide)

Small forward, Rypstra applied an abundance of defensive pressure from the get-go, tackling with intent and looking to force the Allies defenders into making mistakes. His attack on the ball was excellent and his closing speed proved pivotal. Although much of his work went unrewarded, coach Tony Bamford will no-doubt have loved the team-first role he played.

#5 Tyson Walls (Norwood)

Once again deployed in his new role across half-back, Norwood’s Walls had some impressive moments in the Croweaters’ win. Despite being one of the smallest players on the field, Walls never shirked a contest, cracking in hard at ground level. He provided some run and carry out of defence, although his ball-use could do with some refinement. A midfielder for most of his junior career, it appears as if the switch to defence has revitalised the former Rostrevor College skipper.

#6 Jakob Ryan (Glenelg)

The intercept king across half-back, Ryan was typically sound from start to finish. A terrific reader of the play, his natural football smarts ensured he positioned himself well a kick behind the ball. He was strong in the air, and tough when the ball hit the deck. Ryan provided some run and carry, looked assured in-possession and used his long kicking to gain that extra yardage when going forward. After another strong performance in what has been a consistent year to-date, Ryan was comfortably one of South Australia’s best.

#9 Archie Lovelock (Glenelg)

Given more midfield minutes in the absence of leadership group members Kobe Ryan and Nick Sadler, Lovelock stood up and was one of the best players on the field. Although not included in the primary centre bounce setup, Lovelock was given stints on-ball where his stoppage nous and clearance ability was a highlight. As a deep forward, he looked threatening when the ball was in his vicinity, booting two goals including the first of the match.

#13 Max Michalanney (Norwood)

Adelaide father-son prospect, Michalanney was another South Australian defender who performed well in the opening match of the 2022 Under 18 championships. Assured both in the air and by foot, Michalanney was influential across half-back where he and Jakob Ryan made life difficult for the Allies forwards by intercepting plenty of inside 50 entries. He wasn’t required to do a lot defensively, but provided some really important rebound in the victory.

#15 Jaiden Magor (South Adelaide)

South Adelaide’s Magor burst out of the blocks, booting two first half goals including a classy snap from an acute angle in the pocket. Although he has shown he is quite capable in an on-ball role, both with Sacred Heart College and South Adelaide, Magor was used primarily as a forward where he looked threatening in the air. Unfortunately he sustained a lower right leg injury in the second half and wasn’t able to make an impact on the game afterwards, despite returning to the field for 10 minutes.

#17 Alex Holt (Sturt)

One of only two bottom-agers for South Australia, Holt played an important role in defence. Hailing from the Double Blues heartland of Glenunga, Holt was solid as a ruck down back, reading the ball well and doing whatever it took to stop his Allies opponent from getting the ball. Able to play on tall or small opponents, his defensive flexibility was noticeable, so to his football smarts, vision and long-distance kicking. Expect to see plenty more of the defender over the next couple of years.

#21 Mattaes Phillipou (Woodville-West Torrens)

In the eyes of many onlookers, Phillipou was best on ground in South Australia’s win. Part of the core centre bounce midfield group consisting of ruckman Phoenix Foster, club teammate Adam D’Aloia and North Adelaide on-baller Billy Dowling, Phillipou was outstanding from start to finish. His grunt work around the ball was relentless, however he also provided onlookers with a couple of tantalising highlights, none better than his quick snap goal out of a forward 50 stoppage. Phillipou’s hands overhead were typically clean and his skills, burst of speed and cleanliness at ground level set his game apart from the rest. Firming as a round one certainty, Phillipou was outstanding in the win.

#28 Adam D’Aloia (Woodville-West Torrens)

The Woodville-West Torrens midfielder was solid if unspectacular as one of South Australia’s key on-ballers. His defensive pressure was typically relentless, laying tackle after tackle and depriving the Allies midfielders of time and space. Although he would have liked to have found more of the ball himself, his quick hands and evasiveness in traffic were evident. Look for D’Aloia to build on this performance in the upcoming championship games.

#38 Isaac Keeler (North Adelaide)

The North Adelaide key forward and Crows NGA prospect once again impressed in state colours, producing a terrific performance at Thebarton Oval. Keeler provided an aerial presence up forward all day, attacking the ball with increased ferocity and intent. Stationed deep in attack when he wasn’t rotating with Phoenix Foster in the ruck, Keeler earned an early free kick inside 50 and made the Allies pay. With his confidence high, Keeler laid a big tackle minutes later in a strong defensive play. He had some very impressive moments in the ruck, winning a couple of clearances and showcasing his natural leap and burst of speed. He looked assured and calm with ball in hand in general play, and converted most of his opportunities inside 50, including a clever snap in the third term.

#42 Phoenix Foster (Norwood)

With first-choice ruckman Harry Barnett missing the clash with COVID, the exciting Norwood bigman stepped up to the plate and showed plenty of promise. Although he gave away some size and strength to the Allies’ talls, Foster had them covered around the ground where his strong overhead marking, agility and cleanliness for a player of his height was noted. Aside from his contested marking, Foster’s ball use was particularly impressive. With Barnett a possible inclusion for next weekend’s encounter with Vic Country, Foster did just about all he could to retain his spot in the lineup.

ALLIES:

By: Michael Alvaro

#5 Colby McKercher (Tasmania Devils)

One of only two bottom-agers out there for the Allies, McKercher defied his age as one of the more polished operators out there. The Tasmanian spent most of his game in attack but worked high up the ground to get involved in transitional play, using his patented pace and evasiveness to carve routes towards forward 50. Though limited given the heat of the contest, McKercher often looked to shift onto his favoured left foot and be creative with his kicks, before earning a run through midfield in term four.

#13 Seth Campbell (Tasmania Devils)

Combining well with state teammate McKercher, Campbell finished as one of three multiple goalkickers for the Allies. He snared his side’s first major after a holding the ball tackle at the top of the goalsquare, ending South Australia’s early run of dominance. His second goal again came from close range, as the Tasmanian got out the back and converted with a dribbler. Crafty as ever, Campbell was one of the Allies’ few constant threats in attack, doing his best to make things happen with limited opportunities.

#15 Harry Rowston (Giants Academy/NSW-ACT)

Kicking three goals as a rotating midfielder-forward is nothing to scoff at, no less in a side which only managed eight all up. That is exactly what Rowston delivered on Sunday, converting a trio of excellent set shots from around 45 metres out. He booted all three towards the wind-favoured end, with his two in the second term keeping the visitors in with a chance at half time. In a scrappy affair, the Giants Academy member was clean when marking the ball and converted cooly.

#17 Jason Gillbee (Bendigo Pioneers/NSW-ACT)

Gillbee had a stack of the ball down back during the first half, taking on the kick-in duties and looking to drive the Allies on the rebound. The versatile Bendigo Pioneers prospect worked hard to mop up across his side’s defensive 50, and used his penetrative kicking to hit targets well up the field. While a few passes failed to hit the mark against a stiff breeze, Gillbee did his best to relieve some of the pressure which came his way, until the dam wall broke.

#18 Jaspa Fletcher (Lions Academy/Queensland)

The Allies skipper was utilised on both sides of midfield on Sunday, starting out on the wing before shifting into the centre bounces after quarter time. Fletcher was perhaps not as prolific as usual, but looked to make good decisions and showcase his class with ball in hand. While in that sense his short, inboard kicks stood out, clearly Fletcher’s best moment was a long-range goal in term two. The Lions Academy standout snuck one home over the back from outside 50, before a set shot attempt from similar range in term four fell short, but lead to Jed Walter’s second major.

#22 Lachlan Cowan (Tasmania Devils)

A centrepiece of the Allies defence, Cowan was another who racked up plenty of possessions in the first half. He ended with 20, but was on track for many more, with his aggressive positioning behind the ball and quick reactions allowing him to intercept quick South Australian clearances. The Tasmania Devils captain looked to move the ball on quickly, but was a little safer than usual with his ball use and struggled to hit the mark with short-range passes. He was eventually freed up to play midfield in the fourth term, with the Allies requiring something spectacular.

#27 Angus Anderson (Swans Academy/NSW-ACT)

Accumulating a game-high 25 disposals and seven clearances, Anderson was a beast around the ball. The over-age Swans Academy standout had little trouble imposing himself on the contest, often proving too big and strong at stoppages. His hands were typically clean and with such a strong frame, Anderson powered out with relative ease to get the Allies moving forward. As he was on Sunday, he’ll continue to be a core member of his side’s midfield group during this year’s championships.

#28 Tom McCallum (Tasmania Devils)

One of two late inclusions to the Allies lineup alongside Ethan Grace, McCallum filled a Lloyd Johnston-sized hole in defence. Though many of the visitors’ backmen racked up a heap of the ball, McCallum caught the eye with his 14 touches. The Tasmanian clunked eight marks among them, with his first a lovely intercept where he showcased wonderful athleticism. As usual, he looked to be aggressive with ball in hand and was one of the more dynamic movers in he Allies side.

#38 Jed Walter (Suns Academy/Queensland)

It is always hard to fault Walter for effort, and the bottom-aged AFL Academy member brought the heat for four quarters in his usual key forward post. His first couple of possessions came by presenting strongly up the ground, and he was rewarded in term two with a free kick and goal. He added another in the fourth quarter among a goalmouth scramble, but what stood out most was his intensity even when the game was dead and buried. In one memorable double-effort, Walter pressured with repeat tackles and won a holding the ball free kick at half-forward, closing on his opponents with fearsome intent late in the game. You have to love his passion.