Torrens University SA U18 Team – Game 3

By ZAC MILBANK

The Torrens University SA Under-18 Team will welcome back key forward Cameron Taheny for its must-win clash against Victoria Country in Geelong on Friday.

Norwood’s Taheny, who has booted 11 goals from three games at Statewide Super League level this year, has been named to start at centre-half forward after missing last Saturday’s loss to Victoria Metro with a corked thigh.

The AFL Academy member has been joined by overage Glenelg forward Declan Carmody, who will be given the opportunity to display his athletic traits across half-forward.

Central District’s Oliver Shaw is the other new face to the Croweaters’ line-up after being named on the extended interchange bench.

Recovering from a recent ankle strain, Shaw is described as a composed half-back who can play on tall and small opponents while also making good decisions with ball in hand.

Other players returning to the 24-player squad include Kevin Sheehan Medallist Corey Durdin, South Adelaide giant Damon Freitag and Bays utility Callum Park, who displayed some positive traits in the Game 1 win against Western Australia.

Exciting SA goalsneak Kysaiah Pickett headlines the list of exclusions, with the speedy Eagles forward accepting a one-match sanction with an early guilty plea from the AFL’s Match Review Panel for engaging in rough conduct against Victoria Metro.

Pickett, who laid a high bump on Vic Metro’s Nikolas Cox, will be available to return for SA’s final game of the tournament against the Allies at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday July 3.

Sturt’s Oliver Grivell, Eagle Jamie Coff and South pair Zac Dumesny and Darnell Tucker have been rotated out of the squad for the week-long trip to Victoria.

SA must defeat Victoria Country to remain in the hunt to defend its AFL National Championship crown, with the Vic Country boys currently undefeated after the opening two matches.

If successful against Victoria Country, then the Croweaters must also topple the Allies next Wednesday to win the 2019 AFL Under-18 National Championship.

Friday June 28 at GMHBA Stadium in Geelong from 12.30pm (SA time)

F: Corey Durdin, Daniel Sladojevic, Josh Morris

HF: Brady Searle, Cameron Taheny, Declan Carmody

C: Dylan Stephens, Jackson Mead, Joshua Shute

HB: Will Gould, Dyson Hilder, Will Day

B: Luke Edwards, Karl Finlay, Harrison Magor

R: Lachlan Burrows, Harry Schoenberg, Lachlan McNeil

INT: Jordan O’Briem, Callum Park, Oliver Shaw, Damon Freitag, Jed McEntee, Jordan Moore

IN: Carmody, Shaw, Durdin, Freitag, Park, Taheny

OUT: Pickett (suspended), Grivell, Coff, Tucker, Dumesny