2025 SANFL U18 Grand Final Preview and Teams

By PETER ARGENT

After sneaking into second place, half-a-game ahead of the Eagles and Central District, West Adelaide stormed straight through to the SANFL U18 Grand Final by stunning minor premier Sturt by 13 points in the second semi-final at Thomas Farms Oval.

Westies have a strong-marking, goalkicking matchwinner in Mitchell Marsh, the son of former Crow Ben, as a key target in attack. He was selected as an All-Australian after kicking 12 goals in four games in this year’s under-18 national championships.

And defensively the Bloods are one of the most disciplined teams in the league, which is a huge credit to their mentor Russell Godson.

Big man Lincoln Pitt has perhaps been West Adelaide’s most consistent performer, along with defender Fletcher Dillon and Marsh, but the strength of the group has been the breadth of talent, playing their roles in the side.

The Bloods’ captain is Zanen Syrokos, a dual sporting talent who was a representative fast bowler for the Adelaide Turf Cricket Association at junior level. Harper Ryan – one of league star Kobe Ryan’s younger siblings – is a multi-purpose small man who possesses many of the same strengths as his brother.

“The top-agers have gelled as a group over the past three-year campaign, since they came together as under-16s,” Godson said.

“This group is quite even across the entire squad. We had season-ending injuries to Cameron Wildy and Pat Amber but generally the squad is up and about, ready for the biggest clash of the season.

“Scott McSorley, Paul Hollands and Aaron Dunk are my assistant coaches and they have worked diligently with the playing group to assist the players in their growth as footballers and people.”

Sturt has been the ladder leader across the length of the season and in the preliminary final squeezed out Shane Reardon’s Eagles – by 14 points after trailing by 14 in the last quarter – to courageously fight their way back to the big dance.

The Blues have a plethora of talent across the park, even without under-18 All-Australian Harley Barker, who cruelly suffered an ACL injury after the nationals.

Sturt coach Scott Prebble said: “It was a bit of an arm wrestle against the Eagles to get to the grand final.

“We had a draw against West early in the season (in Round 4) and a win (by 35 points) a couple of weeks later (in Round 6). The team chemistry has been rebuilding and growing over the course of the finals.

”This is driven by the personnel coming in and out of the side, with 13 changes between the final minor round game and the first final.”

With a more settled side the Blues are keen to have another shot at the Bloods.

“The boys were a little salty about the defeat on second semi-final day,” Prebble said.

“West Adelaide defend the ground well and work hard. A key for us will be our ball movement on the expanses of Adelaide Oval.”

The Double Blues, who have Sam White and Barker as co-captains, have a potent and classy midfield led by Noah Roberts-Thomson and Louis Kellaway, a strong defence with Blake Thredgold and Hugo Jaeschke in the key posts, while Jett Dahlitz is an important distributor with his kicking skills out of the backlines.

Ivan Wilkinson at full forward and Griffin James from Langhorne Creek are strong-marking options up forward. All-Australian under-16 Taj Garrett and State captain Harvey Chapman have added strength to the squad.

The grand final will showcase plenty of elite underage prospects across both teams, the best-on-ground performer to win the prestigious Alan Stewart Medal.

For the under-18 grand final team lists and preview grab this week’s Football Budget, available at Adelaide Oval.

Sunday September 14

West Adelaide v Sturt | 12pm | Live stream on SANFL Now

WEST

F Gus Downs, Zanen Syrokos, Jock Millar

HF Charlie Bradford, Mitchell Marsh, Archie Walsh

C Harper Ryan, Diego Bueti, William Thomas

HB Lucas White, Hamish Illman, Ryan McAulay

B Fletcher Dillon, Mitch Dickinson, Josh Goldie

R Lincoln Pitt, Logan McCabe, Joseph Raphael

INT Tahi Brain, Ky Burgoyne, Oliver Charlesworth, Lukas Eagleton, Henry Martinella, Jack Mrozowski, Jaylen Sochacki

STURT

F Lachie Werts, Ivan Wilkinson, Griffin James

HF Eli Anders, Noah Mennillo, Sam White

C Taj Garrett, Noah Roberts-Thomson, Dougal Grieve

HB Kale Matthews-Hampton, Blake Thredgold, Jett Dahlitz

B Gillon Wakelin, Hugo Jaeschke, Harvey Chapman

R Jonah Lagana, Jack Nelson, Louis Kellaway

INT Angus Mills, Nick Mitchell, Jackson Moody, Tom Turnbull

EMERG Ben Barnard, Ben Beaven, Tadhg Brophy, Will Ekberg, Nick Ricciuto