FRESH off a rousing breakthrough win last weekend, South Australia will look to round out its National Championships campaign in style with a second-straight interstate trip. The 0-1 West Australian side awaits in Perth, with the clash acting as an AFL curtain-raiser at Optus Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

>> State of Play: 2023 Under 18 National Championships

NEED TO KNOW

Who: Western Australia vs. South Australia
When: Saturday June 24, 2:00pm AWST
Where: Optus Stadium (WA)
How to watch: via AFL website & app

ONES TO WATCH

The homes side has not finalised its 23 at the time of writing, but looks set to be buoyed by the inclusion of National Academy member Koltyn Tholstrup. The midfielder-forward promises to add a bit of grunt and flair, which was lacking in the Black Ducks’ 88-point loss to the Allies.

Over-age midfielders Riley Wills and Joe Fonti have been added to the overall squad, with the former a particular chance to debut at state Under 18s level. Ruck-forward Coen Livingstone is also in line for a call-up after booting six goals in his latest WAFL Colts outing. He’s a West Coast NGA product.

Competition for key position spots looks tight, though the likes of Daniel Curtin and Mitchell Edwards have locked away theirs. Elsewhere, look for small forward Lance Collard to produce some magic, and skipper Riley Hardeman to lead the charge with energetic run off half-back.

After a stunning turnaround in performance last week, South Australia has added Trent Tattoli, Oscar Talbot, and Declan Gladigau to its extended squad. Forward Tyler Welsh is fresh off a five-goal haul, while fellow bottom-ager Sid Draper looks a lock for MVP honours if he can produce another big game.

Plenty of eyes will also be on mercurial small forward Jack Delean, who has snared two hauls of four goals, and Ashton Moir is another attacking piece who is beginning to come to life. At the other end, captain Will Patton is one of a few solid operators primed to shut down WA’s threats.

WHERE IT’S WON

The midfield battle will go a long way to deciding this one. Both teams have been torched in that department so far, but South Australia turned things around last week. Now, the Croweaters have a great chance to repeat that feat and give their classy forwards ample opportunity to score.

WA lacked a bit of x-factor through the middle against a stacked Allies engine room and faced a similar issue to SA in the latter’s first two outings. The Black Ducks have enough marking targets and dangerous smalls to get to work, but they need quick and sustained supply.

In terms of covering a genuine AFL venue, the home side should have enough speed and a good enough pressure game to do so. South Australia’s connection is not as fluent, but getting control at the source and taking it on through the middle worked well against Vic Country.

Prediction: South Australia by 10.

SQUADS

WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Note: yet to name final 23

#2 A. O’Driscoll
#5 K. Sanchez
#6 P. Campbell
#7 L. Kelly
#8 O. Hine-Baston
#9 L. Collard
#12 K. Dehavilland
#13 D. Roberts
#14 O. Harvey
#15 R. Torrent
#16 A. Ferreira
#17 R. Hardeman
#18 T. Lindberg
#19 E. Logan
#20 J. Whan
#22 B. Allan
#23 K. Tholstrup
#24 B. Harbour
#25 J. Matthews
#26 E. Scoble
#27 K. Austin
#28 S. van Rooyen
#29 L. Kentfield
#30 D. Curtin
#31 M. Edwards
#32 E. Smith
#35 C. Hall
#36 X. Walsh
#37 C. Livingstone
#38 L. Kemp
#40 O. Jones

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

B: #9 B. Ryan – #17 W. Patton – #14 A. Holt
HB: #10 L. Montgomery – #22 W. McCabe – #11 L. Evans
C: #3 C. Fairall – #28 T. Wheaton – #13 L. Slade
HF: #16 L. Rawlinson – #8 A. Moir – #27 J. Dignan
F: #12 J. Delean – #42 T. Welsh – #41 P. Weckert
FOL: #38 T. Goad – #2 S. Draper – #26 K. McAuliffe

INT: #1 T. Tattoli, #5 K. Herbert, #6 S. Wauer, #15 D. Gladigau, #25 B. Ridgway, #29 P. Hargrave, #36 T. Luck, #40 O. Talbot

IN: T. Tattoli, O. Talbot, D. Gladigau

REMAINING 2023 AFL U18s FIXTURE