STURT has set itself apart atop the SANFL Under 18s ladder after a 52-point win over Norwood on Friday afternoon. The Double Blues shot into the lead with nine goals to three in the opening half, going on to keep Norwood to a single goal at one end of Thomas Farms Oval.

>> SCROLL to see the results, ladder, and fixture

Noah Roberts-Thomson showed out with 22 disposals, six tackles and two goals in a well-rounded performance for the victors. In-form Richmond father-son prospect Louis Kellaway also worked hard for 22 touches and seven marks, while Ivan Wilkinson booted 4.3.

Norwood key defender Noah Daw led all comers in a losing effort with 29 disposals, 10 marks and 10 rebound 50s, with fellow tall Sam Ainsworth (six marks, 32 hitouts) also ruling the airways. The latter, a mobile ruck, was recently added to South Australia’s Under 18 squad.

Woodville-West Torrens remains Sturt’s closest contender despite going down by 13 points to West Adelaide at home. Westies got out to a hot start with three unanswered goals in the first quarter and held on in the face of the Eagles’ late rally to notch their second win of the season.

Eagles midfielder Jack Cook starred with 37 disposals, nine marks and 12 tackles in a typically industrious effort. State squad inclusion and speedster Zane Peucker was the next best with 27 touches and 10 inside 50s in the wake of a broken arm to skipper Jevan Phillipou.

Jaylen Sochacki topped the Bloods’ disposal charts with 29, while Josh Goldie and Harper Ryan also tipped the 20-mark. Meanwhile, Aquel Rankine (three goals), Mitchell Marsh and Zanen Syrokos (both two) did the scoreboard damage to put their side within reach of the top four.

Over at X Convenience Oval, star Central District prospect Dyson Sharp made a return to Under 18 level in the Bulldogs’ 43-point win over North Adelaide. The hosts kicked a total 12 goals to two at the scoring end in Elizabeth to lay the foundation for their convincing victory.

Sharp regained a deal of confidence with 27 disposals and seven clearances, while defender Joshua Reichelt (30 disposals, one goal) led all comers. Dusty Geister (six marks) and Cameron Nairn (12) both bagged three goals, as bottom-ager Dougie Cochrane managed two from six marks.

North Adelaide skipper Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier marked his first game of the season with 15 disposals, topped only by Ben Francou’s 20 touches, seven clearances and one goal. Bottom-age ruck Ethan Herbert was also prominent around the contest with 20 hitouts, six clearances and a goal.

South Adelaide and Glenelg could be split by no more than three points in the Panthers’ favour at each break, before the Bays ran out six-point victors at Magain Stadium. The visitors’ 2.4 to 1.2 was enough to turn the tide, as winning captain Tim Alver sealed the deal with a classy snap.

Alver ended up with 2.2 from 18 touches, while Luke Candy (22 disposals, nine rebound 50s) and Jacob McNicol (21 disposals, seven clearances) impacted. Losing captain Jesse Nye worked tirelessly for South, amassing 28 touches, 13 marks, seven tackles and a goal.

The Panthers are now the sole side stranded on one win after five rounds, while Sturt’s draw in Round 4 has it sitting pretty above three teams – Woodville-West Torrens, Central District, and Glenelg – also on a trio of wins. The action continues on Friday with a pair of Anzac Day clashes.

ROUND 5 RESULTS

Central District 15.11 (101) def. North Adelaide 8.10 (58)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.7 (55) def. by West Adelaide 10.8 (68)
Sturt 13.17 (95) def. Norwood 6.7 (43)
South Adelaide 8.9 (57) def. by Glenelg 9.9 (63)

SANFL U18 LADDER

1. Sturt – 3-1-1, 57.7%
2. Woodville-West Torrens – 3-2, 52.7%
3. Central District – 3-2, 51.1%
4. Glenelg – 3-2, 49.4%
—
5. West Adelaide – 2-2-1, 49.9%
6. Glenelg – 3-2, 49.37%
7. Norwood – 2-3, 44.8%
8. South Adelaide – 1-4, 46.9%

ROUND 6 FIXTURE

North Adelaide vs. Central District
Friday April 25, 3:00pm @ Prospect Oval

Norwood vs. Glenelg
Friday April 25, 6:30pm @ Coopers Stadium

West Adelaide vs. Sturt
Saturday April 26, 10:30am @ Hisense Stadium

Woodville-West Torrens vs. South Australia
Saturday April 26, 12:50pm @ Maughan Thiem Kia Oval