A SOUTH Australian showdown saw the state’s Under 18s beaten by an Under 20 squad at Thebarton Oval on Friday night. Last year’s Under 18 captain and MVP Adam D’Aloia was named best afield for the victors, while current skipper Will Patton earned the same honour for his side.

In a dour sign for their upcoming Under 18 National Championships campaign, the more junior side was kept to a wasteful 1.12 across the first three quarters – albeit in soggy conditions – as the Under 20s ran away with the game. We noted some of the top performers for each team.

SA U18 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.12 | 3.14 (32)
SA U20 0.1 | 5.1 | 8.7 | 10.10 (70)

GOALS:

SA U18: J. Delean, C. Nicholls, T. Welsh
SA U20: W. Pearce 3, J. Walker 2, S. Linke, N. Sadler, T. Walls, C. Reschke, K. Ryan

BEST:

SA U18: W. Patton, L. Slade, A. Holt, S. Draper, C. Fairall, T. Tattoli
SA U20: A. D’Aloia, W. Pearce, D. Brown, L. Rayson, H. Kittel, K. Ryan

SA U18 MVP: Will Patton (West Adelaide)
SA U20 MVP: Adam D’Aloia (Woodville-West Torrens)

SCOUTING NOTES

SOUTH AUSTRALIA U18:

#9 Bodie Ryan (Glenelg)
20/04/2005 | 188cm | 82kg

The slippery ball hardly prevented Ryan from going about his usual game, rising for clean intercept marks and mopping up with composure across the Under 18s’ back half. He held a high line and read the play well to pounce on whatever came his way, winning out one-on-one before thinking about where to go with his possessions.

#12 Jack Delean (South Adelaide)
15/04/2005 | 182cm | 74kg

In conditions which should have suited a player of Delean’s ilk, the South Adelaide forward had his moments without being dominant. He presented beyond the forward 50 as a link into attack for the Under 18s, often looking to take the game on with his speed and agility. A single major was all Delean had to show for his efforts on a night where his side struggled in front of goal.

#17 Will Patton (West Adelaide)
04/01/2005 | 193cm | 81kg

In his first outing as Under 18 captain, Patton was recognised as his side’s MVP to mark a positive start to life in the role. The West Adelaide defender accumulated possessions in the back half along with defensive mainstay Alex Holt, while also competing aerially with a few spoils and splits. With ball in hand, Patton unleashed his long left boot more often than not.

#22 Will McCabe (Central District)
29/09/2005 | 197cm | 82kg

McCabe continues to showcase draftable traits, having again been utilised down back for the Croweaters. The Hawthorn father-son prospect wasn’t as prolific as last week, where he dominated against the Giants/Swans Academies, but produced some typically eye-catching moments. In particular, his attack on aerial contests and ability to intercept stood out, as well as his athleticism when carrying the ball – no less, as a 197cm player.

#26 Kane McAuliffe (North Adelaide)
01/03/2005 | 188cm | 88kg

It took little time for McAuliffe to establish himself as one of the more polished players afield at contest, with the inside ball winner sharking Taylor Goad’s tap at the opening centre bounce. He impacted mostly in those situations with clean handling, but also looked to use his driving left-foot kicking to advantage on the outside. He very nearly snared a goal that way but his shot on the run hit the post.

#37 Liam Fawcett (Central District)
22/04/2005 | 198cm | 87kg

Building off a good block of form, Fawcett looked like one of South Australia’s better marking targets in attack from the get-go. He presented nicely on the lead towards the edge of the arc and clunked his marks, but unfortunately was one of many Croweaters who had their radar slightly off on the night.

#38 Taylor Goad (South Adelaide)
28/04/2005 | 206cm | 92kg

While his numbers would arguably not have been extensive, Goad’s rise as a genuine prospect continued on Friday with a few more promising signs. He leapt well at the first centre bounce to feed McAuliffe and impressed with a few efforts around the ground. He followed up nicely to lay hard tackles or clear, but also covered good territory when the Under 18s transitioned to attack.

#42 Tyler Welsh (Woodville-West Torrens)
15/08/2006 | 191cm | 90kg

Coming into the game after half time, Welsh ended as one of just three Under 18 goalkickers. He’s a 191cm forward who plays tall, perhaps akin to Nate Caddy in the way he bustles out on the lead and thrives aerially. He had a few shots on goal and converted one over the mark, but could well have finished the night with three in more conducive conditions. The Adelaide father-son candidate is one to watch for next year.

>> Scouting Notes: SA U18 vs. Giants/Swans Academies

SOUTH AUSTRALIA U20:

#4 Jake Walker (Glenelg)
17/07/2004 | 187cm | 82kg

One of two multiple goal kickers on the night, Walker snared a brace from some busy work up forward. He kicked his majors consecutively during the second quarter; first stopping and propping before snapping home, and then slamming through a shot on the run to cap off one of his side’s better end-to-end plays. His explosive streak was on show with the second effort.

#12 Kobe Ryan (West Adelaide)
17/02/2004 | 184cm | 77kg

It was a typical crash and bash type of game from Ryan, who was among the Under 20s’ mainstays in midfield. He was often sighted hunting down opposition ball winners with tackling pressure at stoppage, but also worked hard to rack up his own possessions. He was most present at the contest, even winning a free kick inside 50 and converting off a 25-metre penalty in term four.

#13 Adam D’Aloia (Woodville-West Torrens)
09/04/2004 | 186cm | 86kg

D’Aloia added to his list of accolades on Friday night, with the former state Under 18 captain and MVP also claiming both honours for the Under 20s. Amid his kind of conditions, the Eagles midfielder was quick and clean by hand and had a real presence through the middle of the ground, particularly at stoppage. He’s a very similar kind of player to the one which was unlucky to be overlooked last year.

#22 Will Pearce (Woodville-West Torrens)
17/01/2003 | 187cm | 85kg

Pearce set himself apart on the scoreboard with three goals for the Under 20s, converting nicely on his favoured left side. His two kicks over the mark sailed home from tight angles and fair distances, both coming in the first half as his side kicked away to an unassailable lead.