SOUTH Adelaide berthed another League debutant in Round 16, with Dakota Sterzl becoming Panther number 1837 over the weekend. The promising utility, fresh off representing South Australia at Under 18 level, broke through to the top flight after making three appearances at Reserves level this season.

Sterzl posted 12 disposals and three marks in the Panthers’ 21-point win over West Adelaide. Fellow juniors Sid Draper (26 disposals, six inside 50s) and Phoenix Hargrave (14 disposals, six marks) both hit the scoreboard during South’s decisive five-goal to one final quarter to claim the comeback victory.

The trio’s state teammate Louie Montgomery was another League debutant on Saturday, turning out for Port Adelaide thanks to his father-son ties to the club. He replaced Rome Burgoyne, whose opportunity came via the same program, collecting a solid 16 disposals and nine marks in a 23-point loss to Sturt.

Port coach Hamish Hartlett was pleased post-match with his new charger’s maiden performance, particularly following the standard set by Burgoyne in previous weeks.

“We thought he competed exceptionally well, showed good composure when he had the ball and took some nice intercept marks as well, so really happy for Louie and the way he played,” he said via the club’s website. “It followed on from a few good weeks that we had with Rome Burgoyne as well in recent times, so some exciting times for some young players.”

Meanwhile, another father-son gun continued his run in Adelaide’s seniors. Crows hopeful Tyler Welsh registered five marks and six inside 50s among his nine total disposals, while also slamming home a thunderous goal from long-range in his side’s crucial 16-point win over Woodville-West Torrens.

South Adelaide’s prolific youth program filtered into the Reserves, too. Port Adelaide Next Generation Academy (NGA) prospect Benny Barrett was again lively with 19 touches, six tackles and five clearances in a win over bottom-placed West Adelaide. Under 18 skipper Jacob Sheean debuted in the same game.

With only two rounds left to play at Under 18s level, Glenelg remains a game clear in top spot after a thumping 96-point win over Norwood. The Bays kicked 14 unanswered goals across the first three quarters to set up a comprehensive victory and move closer to this year’s minor premiership.

Four Tigers booted three goals or more, headlined by Kobe Gibson‘s haul of four from 23 disposals and nine marks. Charlie McAuliffe (23 disposals, 3.4) was also prominent on the attack, while Oliver Betterman led all comers with 27 disposals and seven clearances in the winning effort.

Central District remains in the hunt for pole position after its 42-point win over North Adelaide. The Bulldogs kicked away with the last six goals of the game after leading by less than a straight kick at the major and final breaks. The Roosters now hang precariously onto fourth place.

Evan Bradley, who got the margin back to two points at the start of term four, finished with three goals for the Roosters, while Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier was resolute with 19 disposals and nine tackles. Fresh of their Reserves stints, Centrals pair Dyson Sharp and Charlie Nicholls were integral to the result.

Leading bottom-age talent Sharp racked up a game-high 27 disposals, 10 tackles and two goals to stamp his authority back at Under 18s level. Meanwhile, Nicholls snared three goals from nine marks (three contested) to sit just behind Cameron Nairn (four goals) on the scoreboard.

Sturt is the third side locked into the battle for top spot, and remains both a game and percentage off the pinnacle after beating Woodville-West Torrens by a point. The Double Blues held on in the face of a late Eagles charge, leaking two majors while being held goalless in term four but getting the job done.

Harry Dodd was prolific in the losing side, amassing 35 disposals, nine marks and two goals. The likes of Owen Hartley-Brown (28 disposals, 14 marks) and Tate Delmenico (27 and 10) were also resolute as the Eagles lost the clearance and inside 50 battle, but ruled the airways with 107 marks to 68.

Sturt ruckman Alex Dodson stood head and shoulders above the rest with a massive statline consisting of 32 disposals, 34 hitouts and 10 clearances. The developing tall has hit his straps in recent weeks, no less at representative level, and continues to shape as the draft’s leading ruck prospect.

Elsewhere, West Adelaide took out the clash of two bottom three sides, defeating South Adelaide by 47 points. The victory was set up by the Bloods’ nine-goal to two first half, with both teams adding 4.4 to the scoreboard after the main break.

Ayden Hodgson (39 disposals, three goals) was again immense for Westies, while the likes of Samuel Burbridge (10 tackles, nine clearances) and Hamish Dow (28 disposals) got stuck in. Meanwhile, Cohen Shortridge stood tall for South with 25 disposals, nine tackles, and nine clearances.