With round two of the SANFL Competition continuing over the weekend, 2017 South Australian draft talent was on show at League, Reserves and U18 Level. We take a look at who the top performers were across the grades:

League:

Alex Martini (Glenelg) made a solid contribution to his teams 61-point demolition of Sturt, finishing the day with 17 disposals and five marks. He rebounded the ball well from defence with six rebound 50s, while teammate Jonty Scharenberg laid eight tackles in a strong performance in the midfield. For Sturt, Mitch Crowden backed up his round one performance collecting 14 disposals and laying six tackles to be named in their best.

Reserves:

Lachie Pascoe (Norwood) was named in the best with a 26 disposal and eight marks game. Pascoe is a great reader of the ball and it was his rebound from defence that helped keep Norwood in the game. Also contributing for Norwood were onballers Stefan Giro (19 disposals) and Isaac Hewson (18 disposals). For Glenelg, Brad McCarthy chipped in with 11 disposals mainly across half forward.

U18s:

Notables for the round include: Cooper Gaffney (Woodville-West Torrens) with 37 disposals including eight tackles in a best on ground performance versus West Adelaide – after being second best last week. Ably supported by James Rowe with 26 disposals and two goals. Josh Smithson (West Adelaide) was amongst the best with 23 disposals, seven marks and one goal, as was Alex Stidiford with a good all round performance with 21 disposals, two goals and seven tackles.

Glenelg’s Henry Papatolis had 11 tackles with 19 disposals to get in the bests in the win over Norwood. Bottom-ager Sam Whitbread was South Adelaide’s best in their win over Sturt with 22 disposals, nine tackles and one goal. For Sturt, Adam Trenorden backed up his round one MVP form with another 33 disposal game including eight tackles, as well as Jordy Aitchson’s 28 disposals (including 20 kicks and eight tackles).

In a close match between Centrals and North Adelaide it was the bottom-agers leading the way. Returning from the AFL Academy game the week before Jackson Hately (Centrals) had 33 disposals including one goal, and North’s Connor Rozee played the complete game with 39 disposals – six marks, 11 tackles and one goal. Cooper Dahms for Centrals was also dominant with 29 disposals , eight marks, eight tackles and one goal.

Callum Coleman-Jones, Darcy Fogarty, Jordan Houlahan, Andrew McPherson and Thomas Schmusch represented the AFL Academy in their game against the Northern Blues VFL team on Saturday and will make their return to SANFL football this weekend.

AFL Academy vs. Northern Blues scouting notes