Round 18 SANFL U16 Match Wraps

By TOM WYMAN

Central District sewed up the SANFL U16 minor premiership with a 57-point victory over Glenelg at X Convenience Oval in Round 18.

The Bays began the final round in fourth spot, but the ruthless Bulldogs kicked the first eight goals of the contest and stole the show to end Glenelg’s finals hopes.

Glenelg’s first goal didn’t come until the 19-minute mark of the second quarter as Bulldogs trio Hugo Semmler and Toni and Luca Marrone helped Central gain the midfield ascendancy.

Central tall Brayden Whimpress was terrific in attack, booting an equal season-high four goals from 16 disposals and eight marks.

A brilliant nine-goal haul from South Adelaide star Zemes Pilot helped the Panthers smash Woodville-West Torrens by 114 points at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval to secure a finals berth.

Outside the top four since Round 12, the Panthers won the clearance battle 39-14 and produced 40 scoring shots from 53 inside-50s to easily defeat the Eagles.

Pilot simply couldn’t be stopped, slamming through nine majors but also collecting a game-high 27 disposals and seven marks in one of the great individual performances of the season.

Panthers midfielder Oli South led the way with seven clearances and ruckman Hudson Croser recorded 31 hit-outs and 17 disposals.

Norwood upset North Adelaide by 16 points at Prospect Oval to force the Roosters into an Elimination Final.

In a game of ebbs and flows, North led by 22 points early in the second quarter before Norwood kicked seven unanswered goals to wrestle back the momentum and take the lead.

North restored its narrow advantage by slotting four of the next five goals, but three late blows from the visitors secured the points for Norwood.

Redlegs gun Thomas Gribben starred with four second-half goals and teammates Mason Tembe (35 disposals and 11 marks) and George Serocki (33 disposals and 13 rebounds) found an abundance of the football.

West Adelaide locked in a second-placed finish with a comfortable 46-point victory over Sturt at Thomas Farms Oval.

The Bloods’ win, their sixth in seven weeks, and North Adelaide’s loss saw West rise up the ladder to lock in a Qualifying Final berth.

West’s Laurence Andriani was instrumental in the triumph, gathering 32 disposals and two goals and teammate Harry Banks finished with 26 disposals, six clearances and eight inside-50s.

Carter Gallasch did all he could for the Double Blues, collecting 30 possessions, 13 marks, seven clearances and a goal.