WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens has bundled minor premier, Glenelg out of the SANFL Under 18s finals race in straight sets after beating the Bays by 49 points in Saturday’s Preliminary Final. The Eagles produced a stunning second half, kicking away with 11 goals to one after being level pegging at the main break.

The result sets up a Grand Final between the fourth-ranked Eagles and Central District at Adelaide Oval this coming Sunday. There were plenty of state representatives and draft combine invitees afield for both sides in the second-to-last game of the season, all of which feature in our Scouting Notes.

Glenelg 7.8 (50) def. by Woodville-West Torrens 14.15 (99)

GLENELG:

#4 Lucas Camporeale
Midfielder | 185cm | 21/07/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 4 clearances, 6 inside 50s

Enjoying full-time midfield minutes, Camporeale again had little trouble getting his hands on the ball but found it more challenging to hurt the Eagles with it. The Carlton father-son candidate was often wrapped up in tackles during the first half, which impacted his disposal. He then began to find the expanses of Stratarama Stadium more frequently and tried his best to be incisive by foot with six inside 50s, albeit lacking pinpoint accuracy to match his direction.

#16 Angus Clarke
Defender/Forward | 188cm | 08/05/2006

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 3 rebound 50s, 1 goal

A timely inclusion for his first appearance since Round 14, Clarke was made to get back up to speed quickly. He started down back, proving strong in the contest with an ability to impact aerially and lay strong tackles – like his effort on Eagles tall Charlie West in term three. The dashing rebounder consistently looked to take metres and be aggressive with his ball use in transition. Once switched forward in the second half, Clarke had a pair of chances to score late in term three, but capped off his game with a consolation goal over the mark and even got a run in midfield.

#17 Harrison Ramm
Ruck/Key Defender | 199cm | 05/12/2006

Stats: 14 disposals, 4 marks, 3 clearances, 11 hitouts

Ramm started in the ruck for Glenelg and immediately showed his craft with a hit to advantage at the opening centre bounce. He struggled to impose himself in the first half, but stepped up coming out of the main break with strong work at the contest. The versatile tall, who rotated to defence, covered the ground well and began to find possessions around the ground, including a strong intercept mark at half-forward in the final quarter.

#20 Thomas McKay
Tall Forward/Defender | 191cm | 27/10/2006

Stats: 6 disposals, 2 marks, 1 goal

McKay had Tom Luck for company as he started the game up forward, finding it difficult to pose a marking threat. He lifted in the second quarter with repeat pressure acts inside 50, proving the effort was there without end product. McKay eventually hit the scoreboard with a set shot goal and began to connect up the field more often, before being switched to defence in an attempt to halt the Eagles’ scoring onslaught.

Others:

Jack Wisneske led all comers for the Bays with 26 disposals and a whopping 11 rebound 50s, as he helped repel Woodville-West Torrens’ second half scoring onslaught. At the other end, Charlie McAuliffe‘s two second-quarter goals looked like being crucial, while the likes of Kobe Gibson (19 disposals, one goal) and Oliver Betterman (17 disposals, six tackles, seven inside 50s) got their hands on the ball through midfield.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#16 Jevan Phillipou
Forward | 180cm | 30/03/2007

Stats: 19 disposals, 11 marks, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Phillipou was back to his usual self on Saturday, providing a capable link-up option on the attack and also getting dangerous inside 50. The bottom-ager’s clean hands and ability to lose opponents with pirouettes helped manufacture chances on goal, either by snapping towards the big sticks or centring to the hot spot. Phillipou was not afraid to use either foot and got good range on some of his kicks, although he shanked a 50m set shot after the half time siren and copped a nasty falcon hitting up at a bouncing ball in term four.

#21 Rome Burgoyne
Defender/Midfielder | 182cm | 29/08/2006

Stats: 27 disposals, 5 marks, 4 inside 50s, 4 rebound 50s

It was a top class performance from Burgoyne, who looked assured as ever running off half-back. He got in all the right spots a kick behind the play to mop up errant Glenelg forays and turn defence into attack with aplomb. The Port Adelaide father-son hopeful made terrific decisions and executed well by foot, helping set up the play and connect the field. Burgoyne also got a run in midfield but was most effective when transitioning the play from end-to-end.

#22 Jett Hasting
Midfielder | 182cm | 22/05/2006

Stats: 29 disposals, 5 clearances, 4 rebound 50s

Hasting had no trouble finding the footy on Saturday and led all comers with 29 disposals. He was strong at the coalface where he utilised his quick and clean hands to feed the Eagles’ outside runners with minimal fuss. Hasting also tracked well behind the ball and tended to play to his strengths, doing the basics well.

#23 Harry Dodd
Midfielder/Defender | 184cm | 05/02/2006

Stats: 28 disposals, 4 marks, 5 rebound 50s

Another of the Eagles’ hardened ball winners, Dodd’s no nonsense approach saw him clear the ball long and gain much needed territory for his side. Like fellow midfielders Hasting and Kade Herbert, he did much of his most effective work by hand. Despite that, Dodd’s best play for the day came in term three where he took an intercept mark at half-forward and charged into a booming inside 50 kick to assist one of Jack Gray’s four goals.

#24 Kade Herbert
Midfielder | 184cm | 03/04/2006

Stats: 27 disposals, 7 marks, 7 tackles, 6 clearances

Herbert was industrious through the Eagles’ engine room, contributing going both ways. His defensive application was exceptional, laying strong tackles, but he also hunted the ball and was a powerful clearance winner. The top-ager leant on his League experience to show poise and find exits from the contest, rolling tackles off his back or fending off when he couldn’t step into space. One thing Herbert can work on is getting back off the mark quickly, having nearly had a couple of kicks smothered by attentive opponents as he looked to move the ball on.

#26 Logan Hughes
Tall Forward | 192cm | 21/05/2007

Stats: 16 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals

There were moments where Hughes looked far from a conventional tall forward, and others where he fit the bill en route to two goals from five scoring shots. The nimble bottom-ager positioned well front-and-centre to the contest and showcased his finesse with a classy snap goal in the final quarter. He had his set shot chances too, proving quick off the mark to find space inside 50 and take advantage of quick repeat entries.

#28 Tate Delmenico
Tall Defender | 190cm | 05/12/2006

Stats: 13 disposals, 7 marks (5 contested), 4 rebound 50s

Intercept marking is Delmenico’s bread and butter, and that’s exactly what the tall defender did best against Glenelg. Among his seven marks overall, five were contested with several also being intercepts. Crucially, he was able to snaffle up the ball inside defensive 50 and hold firm in big packs. Delmenico’s reading of the play was sound and while his ball use was less assured at times, he got good penetration on his rebounding kicks.

#30 Charlie West
Key Forward/Ruck | 195cm | 01/02/2006

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 tackles, 10 hitouts, 1 goal

Somewhat akin to Hughes, West impressed most with work that would normally be expected of smaller players. The 195cm prospect followed up at ground level extremely well, including when he gathered a loose ball before wheeling around to boot a goal in term one. He lacked genuine aerial dominance but hit up at the ball hard and attacked each contest with vigour, bringing the Eagles’ smalls into play when he couldn’t recover the ball himself.

Others:

Bottom-ager Jack Cook was once again a standout in midfield, amassing 24 disposals, eight marks, six inside 50s and a goal with ample class. Jack Gray proved economical inside 50 with 4.5 from nine kicks and was typically difficult to shut down as a key scoring avenue. Zac Schwarz got busy at ground level to bag a pair of goals with sharp finishes, while Jack Hankins (20 disposals, eight marks) was named amongst the Eagles’ best players.

2024 SANFL U18s GRAND FINAL:

Central District vs. Woodville-West Torrens
Sunday September 15, 12:00pm @ Adelaide Oval