Round 9 Torrens University Cup Wrap

Port Adelaide father/son prospect Jase Burgoyne continues to go from strength to strength in his  U18 Torrens University Cup campaign, with another dominant performance against Sturt on Saturday.

The Woodville-West Torrens midfield/forward (son of Peter Burgoyne) has averaged 28.1 disposals this season – the second best in the league – and against the Double Blues he had another 33 touches and seven clearances in a convincing 25-point victory.

After a slow start to the season, the Eagles have won five of their past six matches and sit fourth on the ladder.

In Saturday’s Round 9 match at Peter Motley Oval, Woodville-West Torrens had an even spread of contributors as AFL Academy SA Hub midfielders Caleb Poulter and Taj Schofield and ruckman Zac Phillips had big influences on the contest.

Poulter gathered 31 disposals, 10 clearances and laid seven tackles, while Schofield (son of Port Adelaide premiership player Jarrad Schofield) had 20 disposals and kicked a goal.

Will Spain, who won the U18 Hills Football League best and fairest award with Onkaparinga Valley last season, led Sturt’s possession tally with 31 disposals.

He also laid 15 tackles, gathered seven clearances and kicked a goal in a very impressive outing.

The Eagles kicked the first three goals of the match to register an early lead before the Double Blues fought their way into the contest.

Sturt stole the lead briefly during the second term, but Woodville-West Torrens kicked seven of the next nine goals to secure a comfortable win over the second-placed Double Blues.

North Adelaide tall forward Leo Coates played an outstanding role in his side’s narrow six-point win over Norwood at Coopers Stadium.

Coates had 31 disposals, took 10 marks, laid five tackles and kicked a goal in a performance that impressed SA U18s coach Tony Bamford.

It also earned the Crystal Brook recruit the Round 9 Torrens University Cup MVP nomination.

“Coates as the high tall forward was possibly the best player on the ground working as a marking connection between midfield and forward,” he said.

“His work rate to get off his man and be a moving target for his backs and mids was the best I’ve seen from a tall forward for a while.

“Blayne O’Loughlin was another very good player from the Roosters’ back-six, winning many one-on-one contests in the air and at ground level before using his elite kick to find holes in the Norwood defence.”

In what was a close low-scoring tussle, Bamford said it was an outstanding midfield battle between two talented engine rooms.

AFL Academy SA Hub midfielders Henry Nelligan and Cooper Murley were among the best performers for Norwood.

Nelligan had 34 disposals and six clearances, while Murley found 26 disposals and seven clearances.

For North, Kyle Brazell had 29 disposals, O’Loughlin had 26 and Matt Borg had 25.

“The overage Brazell was also very good for North with a big first quarter, he really got his team going early,” Bamford said.

“Borg was his normal busy self around the midfield winning a lot of the ball and making life hard for the Norwood mids.”

West Adelaide secured its first victory of the season with a six-point come-from-behind win over Central District at Richmond’s Hisense Stadium on Saturday.

The Bloods trailed for the entire match until Luke Young marked 20m out and converted his second goal from directly in front at the 17-minute mark of the final term.

Westies were then able to hang on to claim a memorable victory.

Young was one of his side’s leading contributors, collecting 27 disposals and taking nine marks, as well as booting 2.3 in front of goal.

Dylan White had 30 disposals for West as did Brodie Lake for the Bulldogs, who also took 12 marks and won five clearances.

South Adelaide continued its impressive season, defeating Glenelg by 23 points at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday.

The Panthers kicked early goals through Dylan Brown and Liam Nye to set the tone and their lead was never reeled in.

Nye went on to kick three goals for the afternoon, while Brown kicked two from his 15 disposals.

South Adelaide’s lead was extended out to 39 points early in the third term before Glenelg clicked into gear with three roving goals to Jayden Davis in the space of three minutes.

Playing through the midfield and floating forward, Davis was fantastic for the Tigers with 24 disposals, three goals, eight marks and five tackles.

Glenelg’s Hagan Wright was the leading ball-winner on the ground with 30 disposals and nine marks, while Max Clifton led the way for the Panthers with 28 disposals and five clearances.