SOUTH Australia will hope for marked improvement results-wise at this year’s Under 18 National Championships. The Croweaters get this year’s series underway on Sunday June 1 against the raging hot title favourites, but will hope their depth can put them up there with the best in the competition.

>> FULL SQUAD: 2025 South Australia Under 18s

BREAKDOWN

AFL Academy (4): Harley Barker, Sam Cumming, Matthew LeRay, Dyson Sharp
League experience (1): Dyson Sharp
Bottom-age (2008-born): 7
Top-age (2007-born): 26
Over-age (2006-born): 1

SQUAD NUMBERS

1. Cain Florance, 2. Jack Cook, 3. Jesse Nye, 4. Jim Kelly, 6. Joshua Reichelt, 7. Louis Kellaway, 8. Angus White, 9. Kodah Edwards, 10. Noah Roberts-Thomson, 11. Zane Peucker, 12. Jevan Phillipou, 13. Gabriel Patterson, 14. Luke Candy, 15. Tim Alver, 16. Sam Cumming, 17. Jett Dahlitz, 19. Archie Van dyk, 21. Fergus Myall, 22. Balyn O’Brien, 23. Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier, 24. Harley Barker, 25. Matthew LeRay, 26. Mitchell Marsh, 27. Elliott Duffield, 28. Cameron Nairn, 29. Dyson Sharp, 30. Thomas McKay, 31. Noah Daw, 32. Blake Thredgold, 33. Douglas Cochrane, 37. Aidan Schubert, 38. Bryce Sanders, 39. Ethan Herbert, 40. Sam Ainsworth

FIXTURE

vs. Allies | Saturday June 1, 12pm AEST @ Blacktown ISP
vs. Vic Metro | Sunday June 8, 11:15am ACST @ Alberton Oval
vs. Western Australia | Sunday June 15, 12pm ACST @ Alberton Oval
vs. Vic Country | Sunday June 29, 10:30am AEST @ TBC (Victoria)

TRIAL GAMES

South Australia U18 11.8 (74) def. by South Australia U20 13.10 (88)
NSW Academies 9.3 (57) def. by South Australia U18 20.14 (134)

Click on either scoreline for the respective Scouting Notes

SQUAD STRENGTHS

The Croweaters utilised quite a set midfield group last year but possesses greater depth which can be exploited this time around. Captain Dyson Sharp will likely be a mainstay alongside fellow AFL Academy member Sam Cumming, with both players resting forward during the trial games.

Sturt pair Louis Kellaway and Noah Roberts-Thomson are also likely to roll through along with Woodville-West Torrens accumulator Jack Cook, who can operate off half-back. That’s not to mention the likes of Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier, Tim Alver, and Jim Kelly, or livewire forward Zane Peucker.

Even on the outside, Kelly and Jesse Nye can operate around the square to support likely starting wingmen Matthew LeRay and Harley Barker. The latter pair, both AFL Academy members, could also add size and athleticism on-ball and have been utilised at either end of the ground.

South Australia’s depth of running backs is also quite handy. Expect Joshua Reichelt and Jett Dahlitz to be among those who fight with Cook for the kick-in duties. Glenelg’s Luke Candy is another prolific rebounder, while Oudshoorn-Bennier could be used back there for his kicking skills.

The Croweaters’ tall defenders are quite capable with ball in hand, too. Blake Thredgold (broken hand) will miss games, but Noah Daw and Thomas McKay provide solid starting options. Bryce Sanders is likely to also be utilised down back, while the injured Dougie Cochrane (hamstring) was an Under 16 All-Australian defender. They have options.

STAR POWER

Captain Dyson Sharp is the obvious choice here and the most recognised prospect out of South Australia. He’s the only player in the squad with League experience and will set the tone with his inimitable contested work. A vocal instructor who racks up possessions, he will lead from the front.

Perhaps the Croweaters’ next best prospect is Sam Cumming, another National Academy member. While likely to earn plenty of midfield minutes, the North Adelaide star is just as impactful as a high forward with his work rate and fast feet. His state teammates labelled him as one to watch heading into the year.

South Australia has a couple more AFL Academy talents in Matthew LeRay and Harley Barker, who will likely make up the starting wing pairing. Gun bottom-ager Dougie Cochrane and explosive midfielder-forward Jevan Phillipou also have star power, but will miss most, if not all of the National Championships.

POTENTIAL RISERS

West Adelaide spearhead Mitchell Marsh is perhaps the South Australian prospect with the most potential to rise during the series. At 191cm he’s athletic and freakish in the air, possesses a booming left-foot kick, and runs hard all day. He’ll thrive in an elite system and well-oiled team.

Akin to Marsh, Central District tall Aidan Schubert has plenty of nice traits. The nimble ruck-forward booted four goals in South Australia’s second trial game and comes from the fabled basketball background. He has 16 goals to his name in seven SANFL Under 18 games this year.

Another player to watch is Woodville-West Torrens’ Jack Cook. A small midfielder/defender, he runs incredibly hard and is a neat ball user by foot, but can also left fly on his favoured left side. He is no stranger to racking up big numbers and that includes the tackle count – he’s a tough bugger.

NEXT GEN

South Australia boasts a considerable number of bottom-agers in its squad with seven, four of them being from South Adelaide – Kodah Edwards, Cain Florance, Archie Van dyk, and Angus White. Glenelg speedster Gabriel Patterson is one to watch in the forward half, while North Adelaide’s Ethan Herbert provides solid fold in the ruck. Of course, Dougie Cochrane is arguably the top prospect for 2026 but carries a hamstring injury into the carnival and may not get on the park.

FRESH FACES

South Australia made seven inclusions to the squad which came together during summer. Many of them are set to make an impact on the starting lineup having put together strong starts to the SANFL Under 18 season. We profiled each of the inclusions in the link below.

IN: Sam Ainsworth (Norwood), Tim Alver (Glenelg), Thomas McKay (Glenelg), Jesse Nye (South Adelaide), Gabriel Patterson (Glenelg), Zane Peucker (Eagles), Bryce Sanders (North Adelaide)

>> PROFILED: South Australia Under 18 squad inclusions

WHO’S MISSING?

As has been outlined, the three omissions, who picked up injuries after the squad was finalised, are Dougie Cochrane (hamstring), Jevan Phillipou (broken arm), and Blake Thredgold (broken hand). All are expected to miss most, if not all of the National Championships as likely starting 18 players.

BEST LINEUP

B: J. Reichelt – T. McKay – N. Daw
HB: L. Candy – B. Sanders – J. Cook
C: M. LeRay – D. Sharp – H. Barker
HF: C. Nairn – M. Marsh – N. Roberts-Thomson
F: Z. Peucker – A. Schubert – G. Patterson
FOL: S. Ainsworth – S. Cumming – L. Kellaway
INT: J. Dahlitz, F. Myall, J. Nye, B. O’Brien, B. Oudshoorn-Bennier

EMG: T. Alver, K. Edwards, J. Kelly, A. White, A. Van dyk, E. Herbert, C. Florance, E. Duffield

INJURED: D. Cochrane, J. Phillipou, B. Thredgold

HOW THEY STACK UP

The Allies are raging hot favourites to take out this year’s title, but notoriously start slowly. That gives South Australia the opportunity to catch them cold in the championship-opener and set up a tilt at pole position. After the first-up litmus test, the Croweaters will likely compete for second or third sport, even with three key injuries to their starting 18. A strong start will be key, there’s some handy depth there.