GLENELG has stormed to the AAMI Talent League premiership with a 66-point thumping of Woodville-West Torrens in Sunday’s decider at Adelaide Oval. The Bays kicked clear with five unanswered goals in the second term and never looked back in what was a brutally clinical performance on the big stage.

Having piled on a further seven goals in the third quarter, Glenelg turned its 35-point buffer at the main break into an unassailable 59-point lead heading into three-quarter time. The Bays ended up with a comprehensive winning total of 20.9 (129), spearheaded six majors to versatile tall forward Jack Wakelin.

Tigers midfielder Jacob McNicol was awarded the Alan Stewart Medal as the best player afield, amassing 34 disposals, eight clearances and two goals. Glenelg’s triumph backed up its Under 16 flag earlier on the same day, and made for the club’s first Under 18 premiership since 2022.

GLENELG 4.2 | 9.2 | 16.4 | 20.9 (129)
EAGLES 3.1 | 3.3 | 6.5 | 9.9 (63)

GOALS:
Glenelg: J. Wakelin 6, B. Copping 3, B. Fox 2, J. Jarrad 2, J. McNicol 2, G. Patterson 2, R. Arcot, C. Mander, I. Thomson
Eagles: H. O’Brien 3, K. Maddern 2, L. Marshall-Bates 2, J. Marks, C. Rugari

BEST:
Glenelg: J. McNicol, J. Wakelin, G. Patterson, H. Croker, B. Copping, J. Janeway
Eagles: C. Rugari, J. Marks, H. O’Brien, J. Frantz, Z. Lloyd, S. Cavallaro

Alan Stewart Medal: Jacob McNicol (Glenelg)

GLENELG:

#2 Gabriel Patterson
Forward/Midfielder | 184cm | 26/03/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 7 marks, 5 inside 50s, 2 goals

Patterson took no time to stamp his impact on the game, marking over the back to snap the opening goal with less than a minute on the clock. His connectivity as a high forward was outstanding, working hard up the ground and prolifically finding space between the arcs. That kind of play was aided by his speed, leap, and strong hands overhead. Patterson also showed his raw pace with several centre clearance exits and was prepared to apply pressure, like when he pounced on an Eagles error to snap his second goal in term three.

#3 Ben Copping
Forward/Midfielder | 181cm | 03/02/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 2 marks, 2 tackles, 3 goals

It was a relatively complete small forward’s game from Copping, who also earned a run in midfield. Like Patterson, his opportunism was terrific and he only needed small windows of opportunity to make the Eagles pay. His sharp hands and running power helped Glenelg move the ball in waves, attacking with speed and fluency. A strong mark for his size, both of Copping’s grabs were contested and gave him the opportunity to slot two of his three majors.

#5 Jacob McNicol
Midfielder/Forward | 178cm | 28/06/2008

Stats: 34 disposals, 8 clearances, 8 inside 50s, 2 goals

McNicol turned in another stat-stuffing performance to cap off a stellar season in the Under 18 grade. He was active in all parts of the ground and carved the Eagles up with his ability to break out the front of stoppages. While tested by physicality and pressure at times, McNicol worked hard to find space and showed several instances of sharp ball use to put teammates into dangerous positions. As the game opened all the way up after half time, he only continued to get better.

#11 Harvey Croker
Midfielder/Wing | 184cm | 15/08/2008

Stats: 24 disposals, 5 tackles, 5 clearances, 4 inside 50s

Croker showed great balance in his game to dig in with hard tackles and pressure, while also proving skilful on the outside. He started on-ball before rotating out to the wing, looking most effective as a second possession winner. Croker would latch onto handball receives and take ground before looking to find a teammate with sharp left-foot delivery. He was also quick and clean by hand in tighter confines, presenting as one of the most polished players afield.

#12 Jimmy Hele
Midfielder/Forward | 185cm | 28/10/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 8 inside 50s

While more fanfare will come for many of his teammates, Hele stands alone as Glenelg’s premiership captain. He once again had little trouble getting his hands on the ball, initially by releasing teammates at stoppage before becoming more expansive by foot. Hele looked most potent when able to swing onto his favoured side and deliver inside 50 on the move, but was just as happy to feed others into similar positions. His game capped off a very consistent year at the level.

#16 Jack Wakelin
Tall Forward | 189cm | 12/12/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 7 marks, 6 goals

Wakelin grabbed his opportunity on the big stage, bagging a haul of six goals to spearhead a powerful scoring performance. The mobile forward was difficult to contain on the lead, timing his runs and having just enough pace to gain separation inside 50. He had a knack for getting loose within range of goal, marking the ball strongly overhead and converting his chances well. While he tended to play taller than his 189cm standing, Wakelin showed great confidence and agility to step two opponents en route to his fifth major.

#18 Ian Thomson
Key Forward/Ruck | 197cm | 22/11/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 hitouts, 1 goal

Thomson’s presence allowed Wakelin to become a threat closer to goal, while also giving Janeway a chop-out in the ruck. The top-ager split aerial contest at a minimum and showed a strong set of hands, even when taking the ball below his knees. He was deceptively nimble at ground level and tackled hard all day, imposing himself with several acts of physicality. He ended up in the scorebook after converting via a deliberate rushed behind free kick in the final quarter.

#19 Kai Edwards
Key Defender | 195cm | 13/02/2008

Stats: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 3 tackles

Edwards was tasked with helping shut down the Eagles’ many marking targets and proved more than competitive throughout the day. He provided aerial support down back and was capable of splitting contests or reeling in intercept marks. The athletic tall also got ahead of the ball and joined the attack at times, showing signs of his dynamism and versatility. It was a low-volume kind of game, but he played a key role nonetheless.

#25 Jobe Janeway
Ruck | 206cm | 04/01/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 3 marks, 20 hitouts

Janeway equalled his best disposal haul for the season in one of his best performances to date, which went a long way to Glenelg’s midfield ascendancy. The towering ruck did his best work at the centre ball-ups, guiding the ball down into dangerous zones for his rovers to shark the ball on the move. He also played a key hand in dropping back to provide aerial support behind the ball, taking a trio of solid marks at full extension. Janeway’s reach and range allowed him to get a hand in on many other contests, while his mobility in open play was terrific. He moves well and has neat skills for a player his size, but can continue to develop his physicality.

#29 Harry Franz
Key Defender | 193cm | 27/11/2008

Stats: 17 disposals, 4 marks, 10 rebound 50s

Along with Edwards, Franz helped quell the influence of the Eagles’ marking forwards while setting up counterattacking opportunities. He reliably flew into aerial contests and made several big spoils before landing and recovering the ground ball. His playreading ability allowed him to get into position early and arrive exactly where the ball was headed, cutting it off and sending it the other way. An agile tall who backs his skills, Franz was composed with ball in hand – even in the face of a few defensive turnovers.

WOODVILLE-WEST TORRENS:

#6 Zack Lloyd
Midfielder | 170cm | 26/12/2008

Stats: 13 disposals, 8 tackles, 6 clearances

Lloyd embodied Woodville-West Torrens’ pressure game with his relentless hunt and dogged tackling in midfield. He ran down opponents on several occasions, showing great instincts to pounce on any opportunity to lay a big tackle. Lloyd’s clean hands and quick feet also saw him swoop to take the ball on the move and drive his legs forward. He did much of his best work in the cut and thrust of stoppages, comfortably leading the Eagles’ clearance count.

#10 Connor Rugari
Midfielder/Forward | 179cm | 11/11/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 4 marks, 3 inside 50s, 1 goal

Rugari’s pace and movement helped put the onus back on Glenelg in a heavy defeat, as the utility produced several eye-catching runs. He put speed on the ball upon collecting it and consistently looked to take ground or link up with teammates on the way forward. Those kind of attacking instincts, along with great vision and smarts, made him one of the more dangerous Eagles with ball in hand. He also impacted the scoreboard with a set shot goal in the third quarter.

#17 Jensen Frantz
Defender | 188cm | 26/12/2008

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 3 rebound 50s

Frantz was tasked with playing a little taller than his 188cm standing, matching up on genuine key position players at times and holding his own aerially. He tended to occupy the back shoulder and trusted his athleticism to shut down and chime in with a spoil. Frantz intercepted and recovered plenty of errant Glenelg kicks across the back half, often holding a high line and launching the ball into attack. He competed well in all phases of the game, but was particularly impressive in the air.

#27 Harvey O’Brien
Key Forward | 192cm | 15/01/2008

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 3 goals

Despite working with limited supply, O’Brien competed hard to register six scoring shots and a team-high three majors. The competitive forward hit up full-chested on the lead and was prepared to take bodies along the way, while also throwing his weight around when the ball hit the deck. All three of his goals came in the second half, showing great dexterity to snap two of them in open play before converting a set shot in more conventional fashion.

#28 Jack Marks
Key Forward/Ruck | 195cm | 27/08/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 10 hitouts, 1 goal

Along with O’Brien and Lachlan Marshall-Bates, Marks provided a physical presence in the air and close to goal. He attacked the ball hard and reeled in some strong marks around the ground, most notably when dropping back to support the Eagles’ defence. He was prepared to compete in the ruck and followed up eagerly at ground level to remain involved in each phase of play. His lone goal came via a high free kick deep inside 50 during the opening term.