CENTRAL District fought off North Adelaide’s fourth-quarter comeback, kicking two late points to secure its first victory of the SANFL Under 18 season.

After the Bulldogs extended their lead to 20 points at the start of the fourth quarter, the Roosters kicked four goals in a row to hit the lead, but a late swing of momentum was enough to see Centrals home.

Both sides boasted some strong draft prospects who were able to impact across the ground. We noted which of them performed best in the Round 2 hitout.

Central District 10.15 (75) def. by North Adelaide 10.13 (73)

Central District:

#11 Ryan Lane-Ellis
Midfielder | 177cm | 22/12/2006

Stats: 26 disposals, 5 marks, 5 rebound 50s

Lane-Ellis found his way into the game with his ability to hold his width out of the stoppage. He frequently created space on the inside and outside and was able to create offensive movement when he got opportunities to use his pace out of congestion. He captured his moments well, and when put into the centre stoppages late in the fourth quarter, he was able to generate clearances and gain territory when the match was in the balance.

#18 Tom Cochrane
Midfielder | 181cm | 27/01/2006

Stats: 25 disposals, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s

Cochrane was electric around the contest, utilising his pace to move the ball out of traffic and gain metres down the line. His work inside the centre stoppages was impactful in providing an outlet handball and overlap run through the corridor, finishing with six clearances. His goal late in the fourth quarter topped off his performance, a running checkside inside 50 to spark Central’s late turnaround.

#20 Dyson Sharp
Midfielder | 188cm | 23/05/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 10 tackles, 4 clearances

Sharp’s execution was fine-tuned across the four quarters, extracting the ball cleanly from the stoppages and reading the play ahead of time. He was able to show off athletically in defensive transition with a few intercept marks to force turnovers. His defensive pressure was intense across the four quarters, leading the tackle count with 10. He was aggressive with his running patterns out of defensive 50 and accountable across four quarters.

#30 Tallan Rosenzweig
Key Forward | 197cm | 08/09/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 6 marks, 4 goals

Central’s best on ground, Rosenzwig was dominant inside forward 50 with his contested marking prowess, kicking four goals from eight scoring shots. Whether it was a strong take one-on-one or a smart lead towards a midfielder’s kick, Rosenzwig set himself up well to compete at most inside 50 entries. A few of his kicks lacked conviction, but his opportunities closer to goal were put away. Some of his pressure acts late in the game were crucial in securing a stoppage as the seconds counted down.

#32 Matthew LeRay
Forward | 189cm | 22/02/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals

LeRay’s productivity was impactful for Centrals in the early and late stages of the game, kicking two goals from eleven touches as a high half-forward. His first contested mark was topped off with a bomb from beyond the 50-metre arc, and early in the fourth kicked his second with another contested grab deep inside 50. His inside 50 vision was critical late in the fourth, setting up well weighted kicks that led to scoring shots.

#39 Aidan Schubert
Key Forward | 195cm | 21/12/2007

Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 3 goals

Schubert provided a one-two punch to compliment Rosenzwig, kicking three goals of his own in an impactful tall forward performance. An inside 50 entry in the first quarter set up a certain goal, and as the quarters progressed, he moved deeper inside 50, presenting well with power in his step to take a few contested marks. He managed good separation from his opponent and had moments of space inside 50 with time to assess. Schubert kicked a clutch goal in the fourth quarter to put Centrals back in front off the back of some clean hands at the drop of the ball.

Others:

Joshua Reichelt provided a good intercepting presence in defensive 50, finishing with six rebound 50s, impactful with his pace off the half-back line. Charlie Nicholls was productive inside 50, and whilst he wasn’t able to kick a goal, his marking presence and ball use at the drop of the ball set up scoring opportunities for the Bulldogs.

NORTH ADELAIDE

#3 Taj Murray
Ruck | 200cm | 05/02/2007

Stats: 9 disposals, 5 tackles, 18 hitouts

The Roosters’ ruck was productive at the centre stoppages, able to hit down to his midfielders on the burst and provide effectiveness in transition. Across the ground, his running patterns created intercept marks and forced turnovers that led to stoppages. His tackling pressure was a significant element as the ball moved into North’s defensive 50.

#12 Tom Tasker
Midfield/Forward | 189cm | 02/01/2006

Stats: 23 disposals, 9 marks, 4 goals

Tasker was extremely effective with his 23 touches, and his productivity became instrumental as the game wore on. His pounce and extraction of the loose ball out of the contest moved the Roosters’ along in transition, and as he moved inside forward 50 he impacted on the scoreboard with four majors. His kicking vision inside 50 in the third quarter set up two scoring opportunities, and his work in the fourth quarter saw some classy finishes at goal on the run.

#14 Samuel Cumming
Midfielder | 184cm | 27/07/2007

Stats: 32 disposals, 7 tackles, 8 inside 50s

For the second week running, Cumming was aggressive and offensive in his midfield battles, tallying 32 disposals in his classy showing. Cumming generated five clearances out of the centre stoppages, and his pace and explosiveness out of congestion gained territory inside 50. Under moments of stress late in the fourth, he was calm and composed moving it forward, sizing up his options well.

#20 Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier
Midfielder | 181cm | 11/04/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 clearances

Oudshoorn-Bennier’s tackling pressure was evident from the first bounce as he was willing to win his own footy. His pace out of the centre stoppages created offensive pressure, and defensively his pressure acts created turnovers and shots on goal. In the second half, his stoppage work was slick and clean and his ball movement inside 50 set up a goal for the Roosters in their four-goal streak.

#25 Evan Bradley
Small Forward | 174cm | 17/01/2006

Stats: 12 disposals, 5 inside 50s, 1 goal

Bradley’s ball movement had a strong focus of using his legs to break away from his opponent after struggling to size up options down the line. His productivity increased in the second half as his ball use under pressure was effective and his pressure acts forced shots on goal, one of which put the Roosters back in front late in the fourth.

Others:

Louie Montgomery had powerful moments through North Adelaide’s midfield, exposing the space through the corridor with some smart decision, but a tad off with execution at times. His impact was constant across four quarters. Ben Francou was prominent with his second efforts, with some clean moments through traffic.

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AROUND THE GROUNDS

It came down to a kick after the siren between Glenelg and South Adelaide, as Ned McCarthy became the hero in yellow and black, kicking the final two goals of the game to get the Tigers home by a goal.

Phoenix Hargrave and Benny Barrett were on show for the second week in a row for South Adelaide. Hargrave was dominant with 22 disposals and two goals, whilst Barrett had 23 disposals and 10 clearances.

>> Player Focus: Benny Barrett (South Adelaide)

Ben Camporeale racked up 22 disposals in the midfield, whilst Riley Shepherdson was impactful up forward with three goals from six touches.

Sturt was a convincing 50-point winner against Norwood on Thursday night.

Noah Roberts-Thomson had 32 disposals and two goals in the midfield, whilst Sam Waltham kicked three goals up forward.

Ned Bowman provided for Norwood with three goals, and five clearances from his time in the middle.

Woodville-West Torrens made it two from two in 2024, defeating West Adelaide by 69 points.

Harry Dodd backed up a strong Round 1 performance with 26 disposals and two goals, along with fellow midfielder Jett Hasting who mirrored Dodd’s statline. Jevan Phillipou kicked four goals along with 25 disposals.

Lucas White was prominent for West Adelaide with 31 disposals, such was Ayden Hodgson who had 30 touches and a goal in the defeat.