Round 13 Torrens University Cup Wrap

North Adelaide put itself in the frame for a finals berth with a comfortable 36-point win against Sturt at Prospect Oval.

Now level with fourth-placed South Adelaide on eight wins, the Roosters trail the Panthers by just 0.2 per cent with one minor round match to play this weekend.

Leading at every change, North established a 35-point advantage at the main break which it was able to maintain throughout the second half against the ladder-leading Double Blues.

Last round’s Torrens University Cup MVP nominee, Blayne O’Loughlin, continued his hot form in the red and white, racking up 31 disposals, eight marks and a goal while Jayden Davison (27 possessions) and Matthew Borg (25 possessions) were also influential.

Elliott McNamara hit the scoreboard with three goals for the hosts while strong-bodied pair Leo Coates and Adam Heath (pictured above) booted two each.

The Double Blues again got plenty of midfield punch from ball magnet Tom Powell, who finished with 35 disposals, five marks and 10 clearances.

His centre square teammates in Will Spain (29 disposals) and Brad Jefferies (28 disposals) were also strong contributors while AFL Combine invitee Malachy Carruthers impressed with his 21 possessions and eight marks.

Sturt key forward Morgan Ferres kicked four goals from his 13 disposals and five marks.

Norwood strengthened its claim for a top-two finals berth with a 25-point win against South Adelaide at The Parade.

After banking the premiership points against the Panthers, the Redlegs now currently sit in second spot with nine wins and a healthy percentage of 55.7.

It was a remarkable turn around for the hosts, who conceded six goals in the opening term while managing just three behinds.

But Norwood slowly worked its way into the contest after kicking 6.0 to 2.3 during the second stanza.

The Legs were then able to restrict the visitors to just one behind in the fourth quarter while piling on 5.4.

Norwood tall forward Finn Heard was a standout for his side, kicking 5.2 from his 12 disposals and eight marks en route to earning the Round 13 Torrens University Cup MVP nomination.

William Warrick kicked three for the Legs while AFL Academy Hub member Cooper Murley chimed in with two majors to go with his 19 disposals and four tackles.

Ethan Schwerdt, son of former Central and Crows wingman Stephen, had the equal most disposals (23) for Norwood with Henry Nelligan and Samuel Duke.

South’s bolter for AFL Draft consideration Brayden Cook kicked a bag of five goals to go with his 13 disposals but the Panthers’ star of the day was big-bodied midfielder Matthew Roberts, who tallied 31 possessions, six clearances and six marks while also booting two goals.

Woodville-West Torrens gained valuable percentage while accounting for West Adelaide by 90 points at The Parade.

The Eagles now boast the strongest percentage – 57.5 – in the U18 Torrens University Cup, which will be significant given they currently sit in third place with one minor round match to play.

Despite starting the match slowly with 2.4 on the board at the first change, the Eagles accelerated in the next two terms by slamming on 10.7 to West’s 1.5.

Woodville-West Torrens then kept the Bloods scoreless in the final quarter as it kicked an inaccurate 3.6 to finish the encounter in comfortable fashion.

Port Adelaide father-son prospect Jase Burgoyne was again among the most influential on the ground, racking up 35 disposals, seven marks and nine clearances for the Eagles.

Brayden Calvett (27 disposals) and Cormack O’Reilly (25 disposals) also found plenty of the ball while impacting the scoreboard with a goal each.

The Eagles shared the goals around with Jordan Kasianowicz booting three as Jay Watson, Sam Nicholls and Jacob Godden each scored a pair.

West Adelaide was well served by Eduard Van Den Berg and Cade Kennedy on a tough day, with the pair each reaching the 30-disposal barrier while taking 16 marks between them.

Central District edged out Glenelg with a nail-biting seven-point win at Prospect Oval.

Both teams may not have the chance to play in the major round but that didn’t prevent them from producing a thrilling contest considering scores were locked away in the 20th minute of the final term.

After Cody Gilchrist tied things up with his major, the Bulldogs then nosed in front by a point on the back of a behind to Sam Falland.

The premiership points were sealed for Central once Finn Reed booted his third major in the 25th minute, extending the margin to seven.

Reed was outstanding with 24 disposals and seven marks to go with his three goals.

Austin McDonald and Wyatt Ryan were also among the Dogs’ best after surpassing 30 disposals and racking up 11 clearances between them.

AFL Combine invitee Xavier Robins collected a team high 30 disposals, seven marks and five clearances for the Bays who also had Oscar Clark and Henry McAuliffe chalk up 27 possessions each.

Harry McInness booted three goals for the Tigers while key forward Riley Holder put in an eye-catching display to finish with 24 disposals, 11 marks and two goals.