Round 8 Torrens University Cup Wrap

South Adelaide moved into the top three with a one-point come-from-behind win over Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Theim Kia Oval on Saturday.

The Eagles led by as much as 36 points early in the third term before Panthers forward Brayden Cook turned the game on its head with five second-half goals.

Cook was outstanding with a team high 22 disposals and eight marks, but he could have had a really big day out in front of the sticks if he had have kicked straight, booting 5.5.

It was still enough for him to be awarded the Round 8 Torrens University Cup MVP nomination.

Before kicking his first goal at the 18-minute mark of the third term Cook’s output had been 0.3, and at long last he put through a snap from the pocket to commence his side’s comeback mission.

Still trailing by 21 points at three-quarter time, Cook had four scoring shots in the opening 11 minutes of the fourth term, booting 3.1, to reduce the margin to just two points.

From there, the Eagles steadied with goals to Callum Pitman and Jonte Hunter-Price to reinstate a 13-point lead with nine minutes to go.

Cook goaled again at the 19-minute mark and Luke Mitton kicked another for the Panthers soon after to make it a one-point ball game in favour of the Eagles.

South trapped it in its forward zone and kicked two further behinds to creep over the line.

Port Adelaide father/son prospect Jase Burgoyne continues to perform for the Eagles with 32 disposals, five marks and five clearances against the Panthers.

Sturt went into Saturday’s clash with Central District on top of the ladder, but it was the seventh-placed Bulldogs who secured an upset 17-point victory.

Cody Gilchrist was an absolute star for Centrals with four goals, 16 disposals, eight marks (four contested), nine hitouts and two clearances, while Sturt’s Tom Powell continued to do as he pleased with another 39-disposal outing.

A 180cm AFL Academy SA Hub midfielder, Powell, also kicked a goal, took nine marks and had six clearances in the disappointing loss.

The Double Blues kicked an early goal through Harry Morbey, but the Bulldogs replied with the next three majors through Gilchrist (two) and Leek Alleer to put the pressure on Sturt.

Gilchrist kicked his third first-quarter goal and the Bulldogs held a nine-point lead at quarter time.

In a tight, low scoring game, Central kicked two goals to one in the second term, before an early third quarter goal to Brodie Lake had the Bulldogs out to a match-high 22-point lead.

The Double Blues replied with three very quick goals to reduce the margin back to single digits, before the Bulldogs held their nerve and rounded out the game with two of the final three goals to record their second consecutive win.

After launching the season with four consecutive wins, Glenelg suffered its fourth loss on the trot on Saturday as the top of the table Norwood claimed a 34-point win at Coopers Stadium.

Redlegs forward Alex Scali kicked the first goal of the afternoon at the two-minute mark of the opening quarter and his side was never headed, despite there being just a four-point margin at half-time.

Most of the first half went goal-for-goal as both sides realised what hinged on the result.

A win for the Redlegs had them a win clear on top of the table, while a Tigers victory meant they created some separation between themselves and the fifth-ranked team, Woodville-West Torrens.

The former happened and now Glenelg have a big Round 9 match-up this weekend against third-placed South Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium.

Despite it being seven goals to six in the first half (in Norwood’s favour), the Redlegs escaped from the rooms with a lot more vigour and piled on six goals to two in the second half.

It all started in the middle as Norwood trio Michael Cavallaro and AFL Academy SA Hub prospects Cooper Murley and Henry Nelligan dominated the game.

Nelligan finished with a match-high 34 disposals, while Cavallaro had 32, and Murley 30 disposals, eight marks, 11 clearances and a goal.

William Watts chalked up 27 disposals for the Tigers as his team’s major ball winner.

Scali had a breakout match with three goals from 14 disposals, while Glenelg’s Riley Davis kicked three first-half goals.

Sixth-placed North Adelaide is knocking on the door of the top four following a comfortable 54-point win over West Adelaide at Prospect Oval on Saturday.

The Roosters were far too good for the winless Bloods as Elliot McNamara did as he pleased in the forward line, kicking six goals from 22 disposals, while Matt Borg ran riot through the midfield with 36 disposals, two goals, seven marks, eight tackles and six clearances.

Harvey Harrison was also a standout for the Roosters with 29 disposals and seven clearances.

West Adelaide tested the Roosters up until three-quarter time, trailing by just 10 points, but North Adelaide kicked the last eight goals of the match to blow the Bloods away.

Eduard Van den berg was the major ball winner for West Adelaide with 21 disposals.