Round 4 SANFL U18 Match Wraps

By ZAC MILBANK

North Adelaide produced a gutsy last-gasp fightback to secure a thrilling one-point SANFL U18 win against Woodville-West Torrens at Prospect Oval.

Trailing by 19 points nearly 10 minutes into the final term, the Roosters booted the next three goals in succession through Even Bradley, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier and PJ Carlin to claim their third victory of 2024.

North captain Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier was outstanding with 36 disposals, 10 clearances and a goal while teammates Henry Turner (26 disposals, eight marks) and Lachlan Gardner also had a significant influence on the result.

Eagles pair Jett Hasting (25 disposals, one goal) and Lachlan Sands (19 disposals, two goals), together with Raymond Sumner, fought hard for their side until the final siren.

Central District overcame a slow start to register a comfortable 38-point win against West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

Conceding the opening five goals of the game, the Bulldogs clicked into gear during the second stanza by booting 5.3 to the Bloods’ 1.1 to swing the momentum their way.

From there, the likes of Charlie Nicholls (22 disposals, three goals), Dyson Sharp (31 disposals) and Brodie Wills (26 disposals) made sure the visitors would bank the premiership points.

West officials praised Thomas Kain (18 disposals), Will Ashton (21 disposals, 10 marks) and Ayden Hodgson (24 disposals, 12 marks) for their performances.

Glenelg survived a late scare from fast-finishing Norwood to escape with a three-point victory at The Parade.

After trailing by 13 points at the first change, the Bays worked hard to establish a 23-point lead by three quarter-time.

But the Tigers were forced to sweat when the Redlegs kicked 4.2 to 1.0 in the final term, with the hosts’ Ned Bowman kicking his third with around a minute to play.

Glenelg’s Angus Clarke, Archer Rouvray (17 disposals, fourth-term goal) and Oliver Betterman (18 disposals) were strong influences in the win.

Norwood hailed the never-say-die attitudes of Bowman (16 disposals, three goals), Jim Kelly (24 disposals) and Jacob Newton (27 disposals).

A game-breaking seven-goal haul from Sturt’s Ned Atkinson proved vital in his team defeating South Adelaide by 19 points at Thebarton Oval.

The Double Blues’ acting captain booted his first inside the opening minute of the second stanza but it was his four-goal haul in the final term which was most decisive.

Atkinson – who finished with 13 disposals and four marks – was joined at the top of the best players’ list by teammates Oscar Merrett and Kurtis Ridley.

South’s Phoenix Hargrave (30 disposals, eight clearances), Cohen Shortridge (18 disposals, three goals) and Benny Barrett (20 disposals) were unable to counter Atkinson’s ability to hit the scoreboard.