CENTRAL District was challenged by a South Adelaide side that refused to go away all day, running out 15-point winners in their SANFL Under 18s clash on Sunday. The 9.13 (67) to 7.10 (52) result marked two points the Bulldogs needed to bank after an unexpected loss to West Adelaide last week. 

The Panthers are now 4-9 in 2025 and have endured a disappointing run since tasting premiership success in 2023, winning eight from a possible 31 games. Meanwhile, Centrals are one of three sides sitting on a 7-6 record in 2025, and remain a massive flag chance after last year’s Grand Final loss.

Both teams were bolstered by a bunch of state representatives after the Croweaters completed their undefeated title sweep at the Under 18 National Championships. Many of them feature in our latest Scouting Notes edition, with only five home-and-away rounds left to impress at club level.

SOUTH ADELAIDE:

#1 Jesse Nye | Midfielder
Stats: 14 disposals, 7 tackles, 5 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The South Adelaide captain lead from the front. He was in an under, winning clearances or tackling hard for a lot of the day. Always a hard runner, Nye was able to get the ball going inside forward 50 when he ventured into attack, and put in a shift going both ways. He also has great goal sense and was able to hit the scoreboard with a single major.

#3 Kodah Edwards | Midfielder
Stats: 18 disposals, 10 tackles, 4 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Whether it was on the inside or the outside, Edwards was an accumulator. He was able to get the ball off the bottom of packs or be the release player when one of his teammates needed to get the ball up. The bottom-ager was lively in possession and was able to burst away from stoppage to get the ball inside forward 50. 

#7 Archie Van dyk | Midfielder
Stats: 24 disposals, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 1 goal

Van dyk is another of the South Adelaide midfielders who went hard at the football. He was able to wrap up his opponents when they had the ball, often using his strong core to get the player to the ground and force a ball up. He also has a massive kick, and used that when it came to getting the ball out of the middle, or at one stage, kicking a big goal. 

#9 Brady McDonald | Defender
Stats: 21 disposals, 10 rebound 50s

Mr. Consistent. McDonald brings his aerial marking ability and his excellent ball skills to every game.  It is not often a half-back is able to consistently end up with high possession games without the thought of midfield time encroaching on the coaches’ mind. Boasting elite distribution and a high footy IQ, it seems McDonald has the skills available to be a very good half-back that can be used in the middle when the time comes. 

Others:

Zemes Pilot (seven disposals) was electric with his two goals. Elliott Duffield (11 disposals, four rebound 50s) was able to generate some forward movement for the Panthers off half-back, while Tom Simpson (11 disposals, one goal) was able to win the ground ball effectively.  

CENTRAL DISTRICT:

#16 Joshua Reichelt | Defender
Stats: 27 disposals, 6 marks, 3 inside 50s, 9 rebound 50s

Playing off half-back, Reichelt was sensational. He was able to help the Dogs either by hand or foot as they left defensive 50, often finding the best target by foot. He also pushed forward to get the football moving inside attacking 50, proving an effective transitional piece. Reichelt has a high football IQ and an elite disposal efficiency.    

#27 Jack Gordon | Defender/Midfielder
Stats: 22 disposals, 4 tackles, 3 clearances

While still only a bottom-ager, Gordon proved willing to get and under to win the ball, or send the ball to the outside and get involved in a chain as the Dogs moved in waves. He was able to transition the ball forward with quick hands and clean disposal by foot. 

#32 Matthew LeRay | Wing/Forward
Stats: 24 disposals, 6 tackles, 3 clearances, 1 goal

LeRay again proved capable of taking great marks overhead as he leads at the ball carrier. He was also able to find the ball in the midfield as he ventured further up the ground. He was often the player that a primary possession winner could get the ball up to on the outside, as he moved from a wing into the forwardline. 

#34 Cameron Nairn | Forward
Stats: 16 disposals, 4 goals, 4 tackles

Nairn spent a lot of the game inside forward 50 as was the primary marking target that the Dogs looked for on Sunday. He rewarded that faith with four goals and was able to take marks at the highest point. He has a great set shot routine that makes it easy for him to covert his opportunities, as he did once again for the Bulldogs.

Others:

Spearhead forward Aidan Schubert (15 disposals) didn’t miss a beat coming back from the championships with his two goals. Max McCarthy (15 disposals, seven marks) was strong in defence, and Louis Switala (16 disposals) won plenty of football on the wing. 

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AROUND THE GROUNDS

Plenty more state representatives starred in Round 14. Sturt had a full selection of its Croweater crew, but sadly look to have lost captain Harley Barker to a suspected ACL injury in the 71-point win over North Adelaide.

Richmond father-son prospect Louis Kellaway starred for the Double Blues with 31 disposals, while Roosters talls Ethan Herbert (27 disposals, 26 hitouts) and Bryce Sanders (26 disposals, 12 marks) were prominent in the loss.

A pair of upset losses headlined the weekend, with bottom-place Norwood upsetting reigning premier Woodville-West Torrens. James van Wyk‘s sixth goal saw the Redlegs home with less than two minutes remaining.

Midfielder Jim Kelly was integral to the result, collecting 31 disposals after a strong state campaign. Meanwhile, Eagles captain Jevan Phillipou, who missed the National Championships through injury, amasses 31 touches and two goals.

Over at Stratarama Stadium, uncapped state squad member Gabriel Patterson slammed home seven goals in Glenelg’s 20-point defeat to West Adelaide. While not father-son eligible, his father Stephen played 96 games for Collingwood.

In the same game, fellow Tigers Luke Candy (33 disposals) and Tim Alver (29) were prolific, but could do nothing to stop Mitchell Marsh‘s Bloods from claiming victory. Marsh booted 3.2 and took eight marks in the win.

ROUND 13 RESULTS

Norwood 13.10 (88) def. Woodville-West Torrens 13.7 (85)
North Adelaide 4.4 (28) def. by Sturt 15.9 (99)
Glenelg 13.6 (84) def. by West Adelaide 15.14 (104)
South Adelaide 7.10 (52) def. by Central District 9.13 (67)

SANFL U18 LADDER

1. Sturt | 10-2-1 | 21 points | 58.4%
2. Central District | 7-6 | 14 points | 55.4%
3. Woodville-West Torrens | 7-6 | 14 points | 50.0%
4. Glenelg | 7-6 | 14 points | 49.1%
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5. West Adelaide | 6-6-1 | 13 points | 48.1%
6. North Adelaide | 6-7 | 12 points | 47.1%
7. South Adelaide | 4-9 | 8 points | 51.0%
8. Norwood | 4-9 | 8 points | 41.4%