CENTRAL District remains level with Glenelg atop the SANFL Under 18s standings after a 30-point win over South Adelaide in Round 8. Kicking off a stacked Saturday fixture, the Bulldogs led from the first goal and kicked on from their 40-point advantage at half time to move to 7-1 on the season.

Victorious captain Beau Ryan led all comers with 30 disposals, 10 marks and a goal as both sides missed their state Under 18 stars. Mitchell McDonald (23 disposals, 10 clearances) and Brodie Wills (21 disposals, seven marks) also got their hands on the ball in the win.

Cohen Shortridge was South’s standout with 27 disposals, nine marks and a goal, while Oliver Goss stood up for his 19 touches and single major. Last year’s premier now sees its defence in a precarious position, sitting sixth with a 2-6 record and three wins outside of the top four.

Bookending Round 8 with a bounceback win on Saturday was Glenelg, which remains in top spot thanks to a superior percentage to Centrals. The Bays beat a winless West Adelaide by 40 points on the road, keeping the Bloods goalless at one end of Hisense Stadium.

Charlie McAuliffe (21 disposals, one goal) returned strongly for the victors, while Oliver Betterman racked up 33 touches and a goal. Mainstays Kallan Bevan (23 disposals, seven marks and Archer Rouvray (19 disposals, six clearances), and Kobe Gibson (20 disposals, two goals) were also prominent.

The Tigers’ depth proved much too strong for Westies, who are the only side without a state Under 18 representative. Ayden Hodgson (30 disposals, 10 marks, two goals) was terrific for them in their eighth consecutive loss, while Bailey and Lucas White found plenty of the ball, too.

The weekend’s two tightest games saw Sturt earn some breathing space in the top four with a four-point win over Woodville-West Torrens, while North Adelaide solidified its spot in third after beating Norwood for the second time in three weeks – by 10 points.

Double Blues key forward Sam Waltham was outstanding with five goals to spearhead Sturt’s victory, as Felix Katsaros accumulated 32 disposals and 10 marks. Meanwhile, Josh Koster and Owen Kalic both ticked up over 20 touches and booted a goal each in the Roosters’ win.

The SANFL Under 18s will resume on a slightly altered schedule next Tuesday (May 21), with the state squad set to play the second of its two trial games. A clash with the Under 20 side will go down on Saturday May 18 at Thebarton Oval before the National Championships kick off on Sunday May 26.

SANFL U18s ROUND 8 RESULTS

South Adelaide 8.4 (52) def. by Central District 12.10 (82)
Norwood 10.7 (67) def. by North Adelaide 12.5 (77)
Sturt 9.8 (62) def. Woodville-West Torrens 8.10 (58)
West Adelaide 5.7 (37) def. by Glenelg 10.17 (77)

SANFL U18s LADDER

1. Glenelg (7-1, 62.3%)
2. Central District (7-1, 61.4%)
3. North Adelaide (6-2, 51.3%)
4. Sturt (5-3, 50.0%)
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5. Woodville-West Torrens (4-4, 53.1%)
6. South Adelaide (2-6, 48.2%)
7. Norwood (1-7, 42.7%)
8. West Adelaide (0-8, 31.4%)

CLAREMONT COLTS CONTINUE UNBEATEN FLAG DEFENCE

CLAREMONT’S perfect premiership defence remains in tact after a 55-point win over Perth in Round 7. The Tigers kept their adversaries goalless across the first three quarters to set up the thumping win at Mineral Resources Park, moving to 6-0 and two games clear stop the Colts ladder.

Despite missing some of their 12 state Under 18 representatives, the Tigers still had strong contributions from Jaxon Douglas (29 disposals, eight marks), Bailey Banfield (28 disposals, two goals), and Hamish Davis (28 disposals, two goals), while Rory Luscombe booted a game-high three goals.

Peel Thunder kicked off the weekend with its first win of the season, defeating Swan Districts by 42 points at Steel Blue Oval. The Thunder kicked away with six goals to two after half time, including four unanswered in the final quarter to peel off bottom spot on the ladder.

Tom Smedley snared three goals from 19 touches and seven marks for the victors, while 2024 League debutant and WA’s leading prospect Bo Allan matched his disposal haul. Will York led all comers with 22 alongside valiant Swans Chayse Martinson and Lucas Andrews.

With Peel’s win, Subiaco consigned South Fremantle to last place with a resounding 75-point win at Sullivan Logistics Stadium. The Lions poured on nine unanswered majors in the first half and had nine individual goalkickers en route to remaining clear in second spot with a 4-2 record.

Bottom-ager Wesley Walley did plenty of damage with 4.3 from his 12 touches, while tall Koopa Walsh clunked six marks and booted three goals. Promising talent Malakai Champion produced arguably his best game of the season too, snaring two majors from 19 disposals.

East Fremantle was the other winner out of Round 7, defeating East Perth by 27 points to plant itself firmly in the top five. The Sharks started slowly but drew level at half time and overcame a deficit at the final break to storm home with five unanswered goals in the fourth quarter.

Joshua Nomlatyu was impactful with 3.2 from just eight disposals, while Declan Pauline (27 disposals, one goal), Elijah Stockden (26 and one), and Presley Campbell (26 disposals) were all prolific as usual for the victors, who regain a positive record at 3-2.

The WAFL Colts competition will enjoy a league-wide bye next week, with the state Under 18 team set to soon undergo a pair of trial games ahead of the Under 18 National Championships. A full allotment of games will return on Saturday May 25.

WAFL COLTS ROUND 7 RESULTS

Swan Districts 5.10 (40) def. by Peel Thunder 12.10 (82)
East Fremantle 11.11 (77) def. East Perth 7.8 (50)
Perth 3.12 (30) def. by Claremont 13.7 (85)
Subiaco 16.10 (106) def. South Fremantle 4.7 (31)

WAFL COLTS LADDER

1. Claremont (6-0, 162.2%)
2. Subiaco (4-2, 109.1%)
3. East Fremantle (3-2, 129.0%)
4. West Perth (2-2-1, 109.6%)
5. Perth (2-3-1, 91.6%)
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6. East Perth (2-3, 87.7%)
7. Swan Districts (2-3, 86.0%)
8. Peel Thunder (1-4, 88.2%)
9. South Fremantle (1-4, 60.1%)