CENTRAL Districts juniors were the talk of the town as many of them were unleashed into the senior SANFL grades in Round 19. Meanwhile, a pair of Giants Academy prospects rounded out their VFL campaigns, and West Coast-tied talent showed their wares in the WAFL’s top flight.

SANFL

SANFL League & Reserves Round 19

Central District had no issue blooding its youth at senior level this week, with the Under 18 side having a bye. Tall utility Dougie Cochrane lined up at League level alongside state Under 18 captain and Larke Medalist Dyson Sharp, with both players collecting 11 disposals. Cochrane also nabbed a goal.

The 86-point loss to Glenelg also featured state combine invitee Latrelle Sumner-Pickett, who made a splash in his top flight debut for the Bays. He snared four goals from 16 disposals having finally earned a berth at League level. The 19-year-old kicked 28 goals in 17 Reserves outings this season.

Centrals also unleashed four juniors into the Reserves side, including three debutants. Ruck-forward Aidan Schubert starred with 14 disposals, six marks, 14 hitouts and three goals, while Cameron Nairn (16 disposals) and Matthew LeRay (15) joined him on the scoreboard with a goal apiece.

Along with the aforementioned trio, bottom-ager Jack Gordon made his second appearance at the level, notching seven touches. State Under 18 representative Luke Candy also made his maiden Reserves appearance for the Bays, collecting 13 disposals, five marks and a goal in the 19-point win.

Woodville-West Torrens again fielded Jack Cook (20 disposals, five marks) and Jevan Phillipou (five and three) in the Eagles’ thrilling come-from-behind League win over North Adelaide, while Norwood’s Balyn O’Brien managed four touches as the Redlegs went down by 10 points to Port Adelaide.

The Redlegs had a handful of Under 18 prospects running about in the Reserves, too. Ruck-forward Sam Ainsworth booted three goals while Noah Daw reeled in six marks among his 18 disposals. Jim Kelly and Micah Kretschmer posted 11 possessions each to go with a lone goal from Will Prescott.

Elsewhere in the SANFL Reserves, South Adelaide Under 18 captain Jesse Nye turned out once again for 12 disposals, four marks and three tackles. The Panthers won by 90 points over West Adelaide in that match and will move on to face North Adelaide in Saturday’s qualifying final against North Adelaide.

VFL

Wildcard Round

Greater Western Sydney had a couple of Academy prospects help round out their season in a Wildcard Round bout with Richmond. Over-ager Riley Hamilton (10 disposals, one goal) and bottom-ager Ethan Matthews (12 disposals, one goal) had nine intercept possessions between them in the Giants’ loss.

Meanwhile, potential Fothergill-Round-Mitchell medallist Harry Scott continued to press his case with 28 disposals and five clearances for the Tigers. Over-age teammates Massimo Raso (19 disposals, seven tackles, one goal) and Sam Toner (16 disposals, five marks, one goal) were also lively for the victors.

WAFL

WAFL League & Reserves Round 20

East Fremantle’s Luke Carrello was again the pick of the bunch in terms of output from Western Australia’s juniors at League level. He racked up 23 disposals and five marks in the Sharks’ 72-point win over West Perth and will hope to play a part in their finals campaign, starting on Sunday.

West Coast father-son Charlie Banfield had another run around in Eagles colours, managing 12 disposals, three tackles, three inside 50s and 1.2 in an 87-point loss to South Fremantle. Meanwhile, fellow Eagles-tied prospect Wesley Walley rounded out his season with nine touches and a goal for Subiaco.

Over-age state combine invitee Leon Kickett also hit the scoreboard as Swan Districts went down by 47 points to Peel Thunder. The lively small forward bagged two goals from nine disposals and four marks in what was his second appearance at the level after debuting last week.

Peel had a couple of juniors take the field in the Reserves grade. Tall defender/wingman Matthew Becker had 11 disposals and four marks, while small midfielder/forward Will York contributed 12 touches and two minor scores to their side’s 47-point defeat at the hands of Swan Districts.