Round 10 Torrens University Cup Wrap

With two matches remaining in the home and away season, Woodville-West Torrens is mounting a good challenge, winning six of its last seven outings to sit fourth on the ladder.

On Saturday the Eagles defeated Norwood by 30 points at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

Despite AFL Academy SA Hub midfielder Caleb Poulter playing Reserves over the weekend the Eagles still fielded a very talented core of players with Jase Burgoyne and Taj Schofield stepping up in his absence.

Son of Power premiership player Peter, Burgoyne led the possession winners on the ground with 26 disposals, alongside teammate Max Lister, while another Port Adelaide father/son Schofield had 25 disposals, eight marks and kicked a goal.

Norwood’s Samuel Duke also gathered 26 disposals, including 24 kicks and eight marks.

Redlegs and AFL Academy SA Hub teammates Cooper Murley and Henry Nelligan both had 24 disposals and kicked goals.

The Eagles kicked three unanswered goals in the opening quarter and never looked headed as they outplayed Norwood for much of the outing.

Woodville-West Torrens kicked seven of the first eight goals and it was enough to coast home without too many dramas.

Tom Powell’s 2020 U18 Torrens University Cup campaign has been exemplary, dominating the midfield battle in every game he has played, but last Saturday he went to another level.

The Double Blues played West Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval and the AFL Academy SA Hub midfielder collected an astonishing 47 disposals, including 30 kicks, nine marks, 10 clearances and two goals.

Powell has by far been the standout inside midfielder in this year’s U18 draft crop, averaging 36 disposals and nine clearances from his nine matches.

He has also booted seven goals this season, proving that he is dangerous in the forward half.

It is a fantastic sign for Powell who has struggled with injury in recent seasons.

Sturt enjoyed a dominant first half against the Bloods, kicking the first nine goals of the match and sprinting out to a match-high 61-point lead when Ethan Field goaled early in the third term.

From there West Adelaide was able to wrestle back a bit of momentum but not much could undo the rampant first half from the Double Blues, who won by 35 points.

Field was amongst the better performers for Sturt with 23 disposals and two goals, as was Mani Liddy who gathered 33 disposals, registered 10 clearances and kicked a goal on his way to the Round 10 Torrens University Cup MVP nomination.

Eduard Van den berg is putting together a consistent season for the struggling Bloods side, finishing Saturday’s match with 23 disposals and six tackles.

South Adelaide’s Hugo Hoeck played a dominant game as a tall lead-up forward in the Panthers 31-point win over Central District at X Convenience Oval.

Hoeck displayed his ability to find space inside forward 50, taking strong marks and finishing off his good work with his long penetrating kick, booting 4.1 from 12 disposals.

Hoeck enjoyed the quick ball movement from his midfielders and the space created on the large expanses at Elizabeth.

The Panthers were too strong for the Bulldogs, charging away after a close first half to win comfortably.

Brayden Cook and Jayden Little were amongst the better performers for South Adelaide, each gathering 20 disposals, while Austin McDonald was the Bulldogs’ best midfielder with 29 disposals, five tackles and five clearances.

Brodie Lake had 22 disposals and eight clearances in another encouraging display for Central.

After starting the season with four consecutive wins, Glenelg sat on top of the ladder after Round 4, but since then the Tigers have fallen to sixth place with six straight defeats.

Glenelg hosted North Adelaide at ACH Group Stadium and the Roosters proved far too strong in a 78-point win.

North’s Harvey Harrison split his time between midfield and forward and became a handful for the Tigers, booting four goals and collecting 19 disposals and five tackles.

The Roosters had the top three ball winners on the ground and they played a physical game as their big bodied midfielders dominated proceedings.

Jayden Davison and Blayne O’Loughlin each had 28 disposals and kicked goals, while Matt Borg had 26 and booted three goals.

Kye Dean battled well for the Tigers with 24 disposals and two goals on a challenging day.