AFTER a tight first three quarters, North Adelaide kicked away to a 59-point win over South Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Sunday. Having led by 17, 18, and 22 points at the first three breaks respectively, the Roosters kicked seven goals to two thereafter to win comfortably.

The match was headlined by an imposing performance from Roosters ruck Ethan Herbert. Having been kept out of the state side by frontline option Sam Ainsworth, the bottom-ager led all comers to amass 25 disposals, 40 hitouts and 11 clearances as the clear best player afield.

Meanwhile, fellow state Under 18 squad member Kodah Edwards laid 15 tackles to go with his 17 disposals and eight clearances for the Panthers. Exciting Under 16 representative Zemes Pilot also made his debut at the level, booting two goals from seven touches in the loss.

NORTH ADELAIDE 4.2 | 6.4 | 8.8 | 15.15 (105)
SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.3 | 3.4 | 5.4 | 7.4 (46)

GOALS:
North Adelaide: J. Saunders 3, A. Scullino 3, F. Blieschke 2, M. Klenner 2, S. Tassone 2, A. Bradshaw, W. Brown, E. Herbert
South Adelaide: Z. Pilot 2, H. Wadewitz 2, P. Carman, G. Caudie-Simes, C. Hart

BEST:
North Adelaide: E. Herbert, A. Bradshaw, S. Tassone, A. Scullino, J. Saunders
South Adelaide: K. Edwards, K. Clark, H. Wadewitz, T. Simpson, C. Woods

NORTH ADELAIDE:

#1 Ethan Herbert | Ruck
Stats: 25 disposals, 40 hitouts, 11 clearances, 1 goal

The complete game from North’s primary ruck, he had a day out. Not only was he winning the taps, but he also prised the first couple of clearances for the day. He’s agile and moves incredibly well for a big man, and almost becomes another midfielder once the ball hits the ground. Up forward, he presents well and can compete aerially, using his ability to launch at the footy.   

#23 Finn Wunderberg | Midfielder
Stats: 22 disposals, 4 marks, 4 inside 50s

A very smart midfielder with good skills. Wunderberg has a high footy IQ, and that’s his selling point. He can select the right option under pressure and also has the skills to execute passes to find them. When he puts the footy inside forward 50, his delivery is top class to get the ball in the hands of his most dangerous forwards. 

#27 Jay Saunders | Wing
Stats: 13 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals

A winger with some real talent. Saunders is able to position himself well and can get forward to hit the scoreboard. He has great work rate and is willing to track back just as hard as he does forward.  He does also have some excellent stoppage craft and can go and win his own football. 

#38 Ryan Paul | Wing
Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 7 inside 50s

Paul was a connector in several bits of play as North used the footy down the wing. He has great when delivering the ball inside forward 50, and was also involved in multiple occasions when the Roosters were exiting from defence. He was able to win the football on the outside predominately, but also went into the middle to extract the ball when needed. 

Others:

Sam Tassone (24 disposals, two goals) was another midfielder who was important for North. He is an accumulator with his disposals and he knows where the goals are as well. Bradley Rogers (20 disposals, seven clearances) isn’t afraid of getting the ball and is often in and under, while Armani-Jacom Scullino proved a goalsneak with three majors inside forward 50.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#4 Gabriel Caudie-Simes | Forward
Stats: 12 disposals, 4 inside 50s, 1 goal

Caudie-Simes doesn’t need a lot of the footy to have an impact. He was able to deliver the footy brilliantly to his forwards when he was the last kick inside the attacking zone. He moves well, and was able to use his smarts to grab the ball when it was there to be won. 

#9 Brady McDonald | Defender
Stats: 21 disposals, 4 marks, 13 rebound 50s

A half-back with a great pair of hands, McDonald was courageous when he went back with the flight to cut off North Adelaide attacks. However, he wasn’t satisfied with just stopping attacks, and was also able generate moves for the Panthers as he got the ball moving via his elite hand and foot skills.

#10 Harry Wadewitz | Forward
Stats: 11 disposals, 5 marks, 2 goals

Wadewitz caused problems for his defenders, as he was able to lead toward the football and take marks inside forward 50. He has a nice goalkicking action and also takes defenders away from the contest if he doesn’t compete. Wadewitz gave Max Savage a chop-out in the ruck and also laid plenty of tackles for a big man, finishing with five.

#29 Zemes Pilot | Forward
Stats: Seven disposals, two goals

With plenty of speed, elite skills and all-round excitement, Pilot is considered one of the best underage prospects in South Australia. At just 16 years of age, he has caught lighting in a bottle.  The Port Adelaide NGA product can fly in the air and tackle when the ball hits the ground. He has good goal sense and is dangerous inside attacking 50, proving as much with two majors on debut.

Others:

Jake Wigzell (18 disposals) was solid for the Panthers with his distribution. State squad member Kodah Edwards (17 disposals, 15 tackles, eight clearances) had a midfielder’s game as he accumulated possession after possession, while ruck Max Savage, (18 hitouts) and Patrick Carman (nine disposals, one goal) looked promising in their positions.

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STATE U18 SQUAD MEMBERS

Toby Callow* (Norwood) – 18 disposals, 6 marks, 5 inside 50s
Kodah Edwards (South Adelaide) – 17 disposals, 15 tackles, 8 clearances
Ethan Herbert (North Adelaide) – 25 disposals, 40 hitouts, 11 clearances, 1 goal
Gabriel Patterson (Glenelg) – 15 disposals, 5 tackles, 1 goal
Jevan Phillipou (Eagles) – 28 disposals, 6 marks, 7 clearances, 1 goal
Joshua Reichelt (Central District) – 28 disposals, 5 marks, 5 inside 50s

* – denotes Allies squad member

ROUND 12 RESULTS

West Adelaide 9.8 (62) def. Central District 9.7 (61)
Woodville-West Torrens 8.9 (57) def. by Sturt 13.9 (87)
Glenelg 12.13 (85) def. Norwood 6.9 (45)
North Adelaide 15.15 (105) def. South Adelaide 7.4 (46)

SANFL U18 LADDER

1. Sturt | 9-2-1 | 19 points | 57.0%
2. Woodville-West Torrens | 7-5 | 14 points | 50.1%
3. Glenelg | 7-5 | 14 points | 50.0%
4. Central District | 6-6 | 12 points | 55.3%
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5. North Adelaide | 6-6 | 12 points | 48.9%
6. West Adelaide | 5-6-1 | 11 points | 47.2%
7. South Adelaide | 4-8 | 8 points | 51.5%
8. Norwood | 3-9 | 6 points | 40.4%