Round 1 SANFL U18 Match Wraps

By ZAC MILBANK

Sturt got its 2024 SANFL U18 campaign off to a positive start with a hard-fought 13-point win against Central District at X Convenience Oval.

After a slow start and trailing the Bulldogs by three points at the final change, the Double Blues rolled over the top of their rivals by booting 2.5 to one behind in the final quarter.

Hard-running rover Connor Mills racked up 28 disposals and 10 marks while vice-captain Ned Atkinson kicked three goals to go with his 21 touches and nine marks.

Central’s Tom Cochrane was prominent with 24 disposals and a goal while Charlie Nicholls (14 disposals, 10 marks, two goals) and Jonah Pyman (15 disposals, four marks) contributed strongly.

A strong second-half showing from Glenelg catapulted it to a 40-point win against West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium.

Leading the Bloods by just three points at half-time, the Bays piled on 7.8 to the hosts’ 1.7 to secure the premiership points.

Tigers co-captain Charlie McAuliffe was rated his side’s best with 27 disposals and a goal while Oliver Betterman (16 disposals) and Angus Clarke (25 disposals, eight marks) also stood tall.

West’s Hamish Dow (21 disposals, nine marks), Gus Downs and Lucas White (22 disposals) did their best to haul their side over the line.

North Adelaide trailed at every change but escaped with a five-point victory against Norwood in an historic clash at Port Pirie’s Memorial Oval.

Playing for the first time in the Roosters’ regional recruiting zone, the hosts booted 3.2 in the final term, compared with 1.2 by the Redlegs.

North’s prime movers in Owen Kalic (23 disposals, two goals) and Sam Cumming (21 disposals, three goals) were instrumental in the win while Hunter Press was also recognised by his coaching staff.

Norwood’s Jacob Newton (22 disposals, one goal) and Ben Hogan (17 disposals, two goals) worked hard but were unable to help their side get off to a positive start.

A six-goal final-term blast earned Woodville-West Torrens an impressive 17-point win against South Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium.

Facing a seven-point deficit at the final change, the Eagles then booted the next six in succession to suddenly build a match-winning 29-point advantage against the Panthers.

Isaac Edwards (25 disposals, eight marks), Lachlan Sands (21 disposals, one goal) and Tarik Sauer (14 disposals) were the architects of the visitors’ dramatic comeback.

South captain Jacob Sheean (24 disposals, nine marks), Phoenix Hargrave (29 disposals, one goal) and Blake Florance (14 disposals, 10 tackles) shone in their first outing of 2024.