{"id":168244,"date":"2024-08-20T18:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-20T08:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/?p=168244"},"modified":"2024-08-20T18:43:02","modified_gmt":"2024-08-20T08:43:02","slug":"up-the-grades-welsh-boots-a-bag-in-sanfl-showdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/central.rookieme.com\/afl\/2024\/08\/20\/up-the-grades-welsh-boots-a-bag-in-sanfl-showdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Up the Grades: Welsh boots a bag in SANFL Showdown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ADELAIDE father-son hopeful Tyler Welsh<\/a> was the standout junior to turn out at state league level over the weekend, after booting five goals in the Crows’ thumping SANFL Showdown win. Find out how he, and a raft of other AFL Draft prospects fared up the grades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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SANFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Welsh posted a season-best return of five majors as his Crows comprehensively beat rival, Port Adelaide by 77 points at Adelaide Oval. The hulking 18-year-old split the big sticks four times in the second half and took six marks from 12 disposals in a performance laden with his patented power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tyler is the son of 129-game Crows forward Scott<\/em><\/strong>, who was also a premiership player at North Melbourne (1999) and ended his career with Western Bulldogs. Welsh junior came into the season as a top 30 hopeful but is now arguably regarded as a late-draft candidate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He now has nine SANFL League games under his belt this season, and dominated with 17 disposals, 10 marks and eight goals in his lone Under 18s appearance – for Woodville-West Torrens. The 191cm forward was also South Australia’s leading goalkicker at the National Championships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dyson Sharp made his League debut in Round 18 | Image Credit: Sarah Reed\/AFL Photos<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While top-ager Welsh continued his long senior stint, the state’s premier bottom-ager made his debut as Central District blooded midfielder Dyson Sharp<\/a> in a crucial one-point win over Glenelg. Having played two Reserves games, he acquitted himself well with 14 touches, 10 tackles and six clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, state Under 18 captain Sid Draper<\/a> returned to action in South Adelaide’s 57-point defeat to the Eagles. His side was blown away after half time, but the midfielder picked up where he left off to post a solid 23 disposals, five tackles and six clearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phoenix Hargrave<\/a> (19 disposals, five inside 50s, one goal) also turned out for the Panthers. Port Adelaide NGA member Benny Barrett<\/a> was a standout at Reserves level with 29 touches and 14 clearances, playing alongside fellow juniors Dakota Sterzl<\/a> (eight tackles) and Jacob Sheean<\/a> (eight rebound 50s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With only one round left to play in the senior SANFL grades, the seasons of many prospects may end next week. Some have the eligibility to play in lower grades, depending on respective players’ workloads and whether their clubs have made finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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VFL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bendigo Pioneers swingman Jobe Shanahan<\/a> matched Welsh’s effort of five goals in his third and likely final VFL outing with Essendon. The 194cm talent saved his best haul for last in the famous sash, taking his tally to 11 majors across the three games as the Bombers accounted for Coburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shanahan also had nine disposals and four marks in the win to finish with averages of 9.7 and 5.0 in the respective categories. He will now return to Bendigo’s program ahead of the final Coates Talent League round and Wildcard draw. His side dearly missed him last week and is on a 10-game losing skid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turning out alongside Shanahan over the weekend was a pair of club-tied debutants in Jayden Nguyen<\/a> (16 disposals, five marks, four rebound 50s) and Noah Caracella<\/a> (11 disposals). The former is an NGA member, while the latter is father-son eligible and was coached by his dad, Blake<\/em><\/strong> for the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Jobe Shanahan. FIVE GOALS.

? pic.twitter.com\/Wm8ifIWMpM<\/a><\/p>— Essendon VFL (@essendonvfl) August 18, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>