WOODVILLE-WEST Torrens has taken out the SANFL Under 18s premiership after defeating Central District by four points in a thrilling decider at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The Eagles held on after taking the lead via Logan Hughes‘ goal with six minutes left to play, which was the final score of the day.

Centrals had shot out to a game-high 33-point lead nearing half time, only for Hughes and Jevan Phillipou to pop up with crucial late majors to snatch the momentum. The scores were part of a run of six unanswered Eagles goals, which was enough to see the sides go in level at three-quarter time.

With premiership glory on the line, the two contenders went blow-for-blow in the first 15 minutes of term four, before Hughes’ winner. The ball was planted deep inside Centrals’ forward 50 for much of the dying stages but the Eagles held firm to deny their willing counterparts in a fitting finish.

Woodville-West Torrens captain Jett Hasting was awarded the Alan Stewart Medal as best afield for his 20 disposals, six marks, seven tackles, and one goal out of midfield. He led his side to the top of the mountain from fourth spot, having scraped into finals during the ultimate home-and-away round.

CENTRAL DISTRICT 5.2 | 8.4 | 9.5 | 11.7 (73)
WWT EAGLES 2.1 | 5.3 | 9.5 | 12.5 (77)

GOALS:
CD: T. Rosenzweig 4, C. Nicholls 2, A. Schubert 2, T. Cochrane, M. LeRay, A. Rothe
WWT: J. Gray 4, L. Hughes 3, C. West 2, J. Hasting, J. Phillipou, J. Russell

BEST:
CD: A. Schubert, T. Rosenzweig, C. Nicholls, R. McDonald, S. Sibbick
WWT: J. Hasting, R. Burgoyne, J. Cook, H. Dodd, R. Sumner

Alan Stewart Medal: Jett Hasting (Woodville-West Torrens)

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 marks, 5 clearances

Ellis-Lane was one of Centrals’ smoothest operators in midfield, showcasing great poise and finesse in the heat of a robust battle. The top-ager showcased his clean set of hands and sharp skills by foot, able to wheel into space and time his releases nicely. His refined ball use and deft feints made it look like he had more time than others in possession, even with a handful of clearances.

#16 Joshua Reichelt
Defender | 180cm | 18/06/2007

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 5 rebound 50s

It was business as usual for Reichelt, who offered his usual dash and dare out of defence. It took a scrubber of a first kick to get going with a sharper second effort, and the bottom-ager got going in the second quarter as one of Centrals’ best outlets on the rebound. He shouldered the kick-in duties and did much of his work facing forward, before more pressure came in the second half.

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 clearances, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

Cochrane finished as his side’s equal-top disposal winner in a busy outing between the forwardline and midfield. He started out as a key link man in the front half, helping the Bulldogs connect into forward 50 with his power and work rate. The top-ager went on to showcase a good ability to absorb contact and stand in tackles, even taking the ball one-handed under pressure. He added some late flair with a spin and baulk in one of Central’s end-to-end passages, and hit the scoreboard with a cool finish over the back in term three.

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

Stats: 11 disposals, 4 marks, 4 goals

Rosenzweig stepped up to be his side’s spearhead after an early injury saw Centrals shuffle their abundant tall stocks. The forward showed good mobility to hit up on the lead, but his main avenue to goal in the first half was through strong contested marking. He used his length and reach overhead to pluck the ball before coolly converting over the mark. Rosenzweig’s only second half goal was one to tie up the scores in term four. He was manned by fellow state representative, Tom Luck.

#31 Douglas Cochrane
Tall Defender | 194cm | 02/05/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 6 marks, 1 tackle

An inclusion to the side for just his fourth game at the level, Cochrane’s foot skills were tested but he otherwise showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion. The Under 16 state MVP was posted in defence where he took on an entertaining and athletic matchup on Logan Hughes, but backed himself to peel off and stick some terrific intercept marks. He was switched forward in the second half as Centrals looked for answers, though looked most at home down back.

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

Stats: 22 disposals, 5 marks, 6 inside 50s, 1 goal

LeRay was one of two Bulldogs to lead the disposal count with 22, doing his work through the centre of the ground. While solidly built, the bottom-ager impressed with his ability to carve paths through traffic, most notably in a couple of passages during the third quarter. He even made a storming run along forward wing which ended in him hitting the post from the boundary. LeRay did split the big sticks too, with a grubber goal through the hands of Eagles defenders in term two.

#37 Charlie Nicholls
Key Forward | 197cm | 08/06/2006

Stats: 15 disposals, 8 marks, 10 hitouts, 2 goals

Nicholls was just about untouchable in the first half, booting two goals in the opening quarter and wrecking havoc inside 50. After losing out in his first one-on-one with state teammate Tate Delmenico, the mobile tall rallied to prove too big and strong in their subsequent jostles. He also set up goals in that time, and showed his versatility in the second half as a defensive stop-gap when the Eagles surged with momentum. He had one more opportunity on goal in term four, but put his long-range set shot out on the full.

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

Stats: 21 disposals, 6 marks, 23 hitouts, 2 goals

Schubert could not have done much more to get his side over the line. It was an impressive all-round performance from the bottom-ager, who was forced to step up as the Bulldogs’ primary ruck after James Noack was concussed in the opening seconds. The nimble tall followed up and covered ground like a fourth midfielder, but also performed his aerial duties by reeling in some top marks at the height of his reach. He even tracked back to defence and hit the scoreboard when it mattered, including with a pack mark and goal to level the scores in term four. Best afield in the loss.

Others:

Central District’s top-end prospects did much of the heavy lifting, though Riley McDonald also had a say with 16 disposals, three marks and three tackles. He was recognised amongst the Bulldogs’ best handful of players along with Sam Sibbick (12 disposals, five marks, four tackles).

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#8 Jack Cook
Midfielder | 181cm | 02/07/2007

Stats: 25 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles

Cook rounded out a strong finish to the season with 25 more disposals, making for an incredibly consistent postseason run. The reliable bottom-ager displayed his natural ball winning ability by getting busy at the contest and in open play, using his booming left-foot kicking to propel the Eagles forward. He would often get good purchase off only a couple of steps or while wheeling around under pressure. One to watch for SA in 2025.

#16 Jevan Phillipou
Forward/Midfielder | 181cm | 30/03/2007

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 6 tackles, 1 goal

His numbers may not jump off the stats sheet, but Phillipou provided the intangible spark for Woodville-West Torrens to change the momentum of the game. He came to life late in the second quarter with a couple of electric plays to lift his side, the second being a strong overhead mark and set shot goal. Possessing good athleticism and guts in aerial contests, the bottom-ager also levelled the scores before three-quarter time after a brave grab running back with the flight, at full stretch.

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

Stats: 27 disposals, 6 clearances, 9 rebound 50s

Not long removed from big brother, Jase’s career-best performance on the AFL finals stage, Rome Burgoyne led all comers in his own final at Adelaide Oval. The smooth moving defender had his usually calm demeanour and trademark poise tested by Centrals’ pressure, but he was the Eagles’ main distributor from defence. Given the frantic nature of the game, he resorted to more direct and quick clearing kicks out of defensive 50, while also getting his hands on the ball through midfield.

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

Stats: 20 disposals, 6 marks, 7 tackles, 1 goal

Hasting led from the front on Sunday and was duly awarded the Alan Stewart Medal as best afield. He set the tone in midfield with his contested nous and work rate standing out. While his kicking bordered on being too cute at times in the first half, Hasting straightened up and showed urgency with each possession. He popped up in all parts of the ground, including at the top of forward 50 with an intercept mark and clutch set shot goal to contribute to the Eagles’ third term scoring surge.

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

Stats: 19 disposals, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Dodd was another player who surged the ball forward effectively as Woodville-West Torrens began to put the onus on Central District. He constantly looked to move the ball on quickly and played the basics well, taking ground before gaining even more with his punchy field kicking. Dodd also did some tough work on the last line, forced to use his strong frame to resist pressure.

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

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 3 goals

The Eagles’ hero, Hughes kicked three goals with his third being the decisive final score of the game. It was a floating snap from long-range, differing from his more conventional set shot conversions earlier on. The bottom-ager impressed with his mobility throughout the match, drawing Dougie Cochrane up the ground and plucking a couple of nice overhead marks. He also produced one of the plays of the day in term three, tucking the ball under his arm along the wing before hitting up Jack Gray inside 50 for a goal assist.

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

Stats: 17 disposals, 5 clearances, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Another eye-catching and athletic tall in Woodville-West Torrens’ ranks, West impressed with his speed off the mark. Often times he would snatch the ball off hands or recover it at ground level before accelerating away and delivering forward. His competitiveness got him a strong contested mark and goal in the second term, and he popped up again in the final quarter to give his side a momentary lead with goal number two.

Others:

Spearhead forward Jack Gray booted his fourth consecutive four-goal haul for the Eagles in another strong performance inside 50. At the other end, Tate Delmenico and Tom Luck took on the unenviable task of shutting down Centrals’ tall targets. Elsewhere, Lachlan Sands provided a spark at crucial moments, as did Ray Sumner in the forward half.