NAB AFL All-Stars Match Replay

By ZAC MILBANK

Woodville-West Torrens midfielder Caleb Poulter made a strong impression in Friday night’s NAB All-Stars Match at Thebarton Oval.

The big-bodied onballer was among several prominent performers for Team Grundy, which comfortably accounted for Team Hurn by 54 points after leading at every change.

Measuring in at a sizeable 192cm, the Ardrossan product got things moving for his team with multiple centre clearances while also showing off his attributes by hand and foot.

The long-kicking left-footer used the ball well, including one massive handball from the middle of the ground which allowed teammate Zac Dumesny to run onto the ball without breaking stride.

Poulter also produced an eye-catching passage of play in the final term which saw him work hard to be involved in no less than three handball receives before engineering an inside 50m entry.

His instinctive play also included a blind turn while gathering the ball off the ground before kicking short inside 50m.

Panther Dumesny was also impressive playing higher up the ground than he does at League level on a wing, kicking a goal while being constructive with his touches.

Sturt forward Tom Emmett was a constant threat throughout the match as he made the most of the continual supply of inside 50m entries to boot a game-high four goals for Team Grundy.

He worked well in tandem with fellow tall forward Riley Holder, with the Bays prospect finishing his neat marking by chiming in with three goals.

Glenelg’s Cooper Beecken was rock solid in defence for Team Grundy, snaring intercept marks while under-age North Adelaide half-back Blayne O’Loughlin seems to always have time and poise to make good decisions with the footy.

Team Hurn was well led by the industrious Double Blues workhorse Tom Powell, who found plenty of the ball while Tiger Luke Edwards was steady in the back half.

Central’s Corey Durdin used the ball well by foot to consistently hit leading targets inside 50m while the athletic Brodie Lake made the most of limited opportunities to boot two goals.

The Northern Territory forward was productive early, nailing a super checkside set shot from deep in the pocket to the southern end.

TEAM GRUNDY  4.3  8.9  10.13  12.18 (90)

TEAM HURN  1.1  2.2  2.8  4.12 (36)

BEST – Grundy: Emmett, Beecken, Poulter, O’Loughlin, Nelligan, Dumesny

Hurn: Powell, Edwards, Hunter-Price, Durdin, Lake, Kraemer

GOALS – Grundy: Emmett 4, Holder 3, Liddy, Dumesny, Young, Horsnell, Wanganeen

Hurn: Lake 2, Murphy, Heard

TEAM SMITH  6.0  7.2  8.5  9.6 (60)

TEAM EBERT  2.2  3.6  5.7  7.10 (52)

BEST – Smith: Williams, Calvett, Lochowiak, Heath, Jefferies, Tunkin

Ebert: Willis, Neuman, Linke, Brown, McInnes, Wiseman

GOALS – Smith: Hortle 2, Tunkin, Walls, Jackson, Cooke, Heath, Bennier, Zantillo

Ebert: McInnes 3, Whitelum 2, Thomas, Brown

By ZAC MILBANK

North Adelaide speedster Tariek Newchurch is set to start on a wing when he lines up in South Australia’s NAB AFL All-Stars Match at Thebarton Oval on Friday night.

Newchurch, a Crows Next Generation Academy prospect, has chiefly played across half-forward for the Roosters in the U18 Torrens University Cup this year but will get his opportunity higher up the ground.

Speaking on SANFL Radio, NAB AFL SA U18 Academy Coach Tony Bamford said he was keen to see what Newchurch could produce on the wide wings at Thebby while also spending time in his natural position inside 50m.

The West Augusta product will be one of several players to watch, with high-profile Croweaters Riley Thilthorpe (rested), Lachlan Jones (rested), Brayden Cook (shoulder), James Borlase (hamstring) and Taj Schofield (hamstring) unavailable.

Central District’s Corey Durdin has overcome his hamstring injury to take his place predominantly as a midfielder while Glenelg’s Luke Edwards will spend most of his time at half-back.

South Adelaide goalsneak Beau McCreery has been rewarded for his consistent Statewide Super League season, with the 19-year-old attracting interest from AFL scouts keen to see him in action after booting 19 goals from 15 games in 2020.

Sturt’s Tom Powell, who missed the NAB AFL Combine with calf tightness, will play after getting through the Double Blues’ U18 finals series unscathed.

Norwood’s key-position quartet of Sam Duke, Finn Heard, Nathan Hearing and Ned Carey will also look to impress, with the latter shrugging off an injury-interrupted campaign to line up as a key back.

Under-age South star Jason Horne will also be rested for the clash after playing in the Panthers’ League finals series but there will still be the likes of Norwood’s Cooper Murley and Eagles’ father-son prospect Jase Burgoyne among the 17-year-olds on display.

Team Hurn, named in honour of West Coast premiership captain Shannon Hurn, will be guided by former Glenelg and Sturt wingman Ben Kane together with newly-appointed Central coach Paul Thomas and Crows backman Kyle Hartigan.

Team Grundy, named in honour of Collingwood ruckman Brodie Grundy, will be coached by Sturt premiership midfielder Ben Nelson with assistance from Crows pair Brodie Smith and David Mackay.

Starting at 7.30pm, the NAB AFL All-Stars match will follow a NAB AFL Futures game between Team Ebert, named after Brad Ebert, and Team Smith, named after Brodie Smith, which begins at 5pm.

The NAB AFL All-Stars match will be live streamed on the SANFL website.