NORWOOD secured the SANFL Under 18s minor premiership, and Sturt sealed its top four status in a meaningful final home and away round. With finals set to get underway, the Redlegs, Double Blues, North Adelaide, and Glenelg will battle it out for flag supremacy. Before that pans out, catch up on all the Round 18 results.

North Adelaide 8.14 (62) def. by Sturt 14.6 (90)

Sturt booked its place in the SANFL Under 18 finals with a win over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval. Competition leading goalkicker Chad Reschke booted six goals straight for the victors, proving too strong in the air for the North Adelaide defence. Fresh off a strong college grand final performance with Prince Alfred College, Luca Slade booted two goals from 14 possessions and six clearances. Finn Wakelin also booted a pair of majors, as Lachlan Boscence became the Double Blues’ leading ball winner with 22 touches and 11 rebound 50s.

For the Roosters, who finished the minor rounds in second position, bottom-aged utility Kane McAuliffe amassed 22 disposals, five marks, seven clearances, nine inside 50s and a goal playing predominately through the middle. Jed Dignan was the leading ball winner on the ground with 24 possessions. He also booted a goal and had four tackles and three clearances. Skipper James White had another 17 touches to comfortably finish the home and away season with the most possessions in the competition. Hughen Wissman was another Rooster to put in a solid showing, collecting 21 disposals, seven tackles and five inside 50s.

Central District 8.3 (51) def. by Glenelg 18.13 (121)

Glenelg made the trip up north worth it by recording a 70-point win over Central District. State representative Archie Lovelock had a day out, gathering 33 possessions, seven marks, seven tackles and two goals playing a familiar midfield-forward role. The Sacred Heart star looms as an x-factor for the Bays as they enter finals. He was well supported by on-ball trio Ben Ridgway (29 disposals, seven tackles and 10 clearances), Jake Pavia-Amato (27 disposals, eight marks and six tackles) and Bowen Payne (23 disposals, six inside 50s and a goal). Forward Ethan Murdock snared five goals for the match, with Harvey Lambert, Ryan Scovell and Beau Symonds each booting two.

State Under 16 swingman William McCabe was a shining light for Central District, taking a couple of important contested grabs to go with 19 touches, six rebounds and a goal. Nash Haynes was his side’s most prolific possession getter with 23, while Riley McDonald managed 22 touches, five clearances and five tackles. Heath Growden booted four goals for the ‘Dogs and Liam Fawcett chipped in with a couple on a tricky day for the home side.

Woodville-West Torrens 10.10 (70) def. by South Adelaide 10.12 (72)

Panther Jaiden Magor was the star of the show, booting a late goal to give South Adelaide the edge over the reigning premiers at Woodville Oval. Magor booted six goals for the game, proving a level above the Under 18 competition. He also managed 19 disposals, nine marks (three contested) and three clearances to prove he remains one of South Australia’s most intriguing prospects.

Having missed out on representative duties, his 11 goals in a fortnight upon returning will have impressed recruiters. Ruckman Will Verrall was at his dominant best, winning 43 hitouts to go with 23 touches and nine clearances. Kyle Marshall was solid down back with Austin Hogg and Myles Amos others to impress.

Bailey Arthur was excellent for the Eagles, accumulating 27 disposals, five marks, six clearances, six inside-50s and a goal. Callum Fairall managed 22 possessions, seven tackles and four clearances for the contest, with Oscar Pearce the only other Eagle to record more than 20 touches. Big man Jonte Hunter-Price finished his season off nicely, booting four goals.

Norwood 18.11 (119) def. West Adelaide 8.9 (57)

Norwood rounded out the home and away season with a strong win over West Adelaide to claim top spot. The minor premiers were led in attack by Harvey Pedler, who booted four goals from 14 possessions. Elsewhere, Riley Verrall continued his consistent year with another 26 disposals, six marks and eight rebounds while Noah Hyde managed 23 disposals and two goals. Rolling through the midfield after having played down back for the state Under 18s, Tyson Walls won a game-high nine clearances to go with 20 disposals.

Kobe Ryan took charge of proceedings in the middle for the Bloods, racking up 25 disposals, four marks, four tackles and four clearances in a well-rounded showing. Tyson Coe‘s terrific form continued with another 21 touches, seven clearances and a goal roving to ruckman Harry Barnett, who managed 25 hitouts, six marks and 14 possessions himself. Harry Lemmey ran well up and down the ground, taking nine marks and booting one goal. Bottom-aged defender Will Patton had 18 touches and took seven marks, including two contested grabs.

UP THE GRADES:

Bottom-aged key forward Patrick Weckert made his long awaited League debut on the weekend, snaring his first top flight goal from seven touches. Unfortunately, his Woodville-West Torrens Eagles went down and missed out on a finals berth.

A pair of over-age state combine invitees saw their sides lock horns on Saturday, as Oscar Steene‘s West Adelaide downed Baynen Lowe‘s Norwood by a single point. The former, a raw ruckman, managed 11 disposals and hitouts, while the latter contributed five marks and tackles for the Redlegs.

Sturt forward Tom Emmett was another combine invitee in action, booting two goals in the Double Blues’ 22-point loss to North Adelaide. In the Reserves, state Under 18 representatives continued to come to the fore in the final home-and-away fixtures.

Eagles midfielder Adam D’Aloia was prolific for his 27 disposals and 12 clearances in a 20-point defeat to South Adelaide, while Adelaide father-son candidate Max Michalanney notched 12 touches and seven tackles in Norwood’s four-goal loss to South. Centrals defender Adam Deakin also turned out, registering eight rebound 50s from 15 disposals.