Torrens University SA U16 Team defeat Victoria Country

By ZAC MILBANK

The Torrens University SA U16 put on a dazzling display in the wet conditions to blitz Victoria Country by 73 points in Game 2 of the AFL National Championships on the Gold Coast.

Even driving rain at Heritage Bank Stadium couldn’t prevent the Croweaters from playing a classy brand of footy, as they kept their rivals goalless for the final three quarters.

At every opportunity, coach Julian Farkas’ charges moved the ball intelligently with speed and through the corridor, resulting in 19 more inside 50 entries and 18 more scoring shots for the afternoon.

And even on the odd occasion there was a fumble, the SA boys would knock the ball forward into a dangerous space or into the path of a teammate to ensure maximum impact.

Torrens University SA U18 skipper Dyson Sharp led from the front with a dominant performance worthy of best afield billing, racking up a game-high 33 disposals, together with five tackles, 11 clearances and nine inside 50s.

Fellow midfielders Jim Kelly (26 disposals, six clearances, six inside 50s), Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier (24 disposals, five clearances, five inside 50s) and Louis Kellaway (27 disposals, four tackles, four inside 50s) were also hugely influential in the result.

Tall utility Aiden Schubert hit the scoreboard with a game-high three goals, 12 hit outs and 18 disposals while Joshua Reichelt earned praise for his performance in defence with 20 disposals and five rebound 50s.

SA had the opening three goals of the game on the board – two to Schubert – inside the first 20 minute of the first term before Victoria Country would boot its sole major for the match just a minute before quarter-time.

Sam Cumming and Lachlan Sands were quick to pile on the scoreboard pressure to start the second stanza with consecutive goals inside five minutes.

And when Kelly coolly slotted a lovely finish on the run from 40m in the 10th minute, the Croweaters had suddenly earned a commanding 34-point advantage.

Having taken a 43-point lead into the half-time break, SA was expecting some genuine resistance from Country early in the third term.

But it never arrived as SA vice-captain Oudshoorn-Bennier kicked a pair of goals within three minutes of the ball being bounced to start the third quarter.

Croweaters captain Sharp broke clear with a centre clearance which ended up inside 50m as Oudshoorn-Bennier crumbed beautifully and snapped from 45m near the boundary.

Oudshoorn-Bennier remarkably found more space to be on his own while kicking his second with a snap from 20m out directly in front.

It was indicative of their dominance and determination to respond from a frustrating Game 1 loss to Western Australia, in which SA squandered opportunities in front of goal.

Now with a 1-1 win-loss record at the Championships, the Croweaters will prepare to face arch-rival Victoria Metro at Southport on Friday.

Tuesday July 4
Game 2 – AFL U16 National Championships
Heritage Bank Stadium, Gold Coast

South Australia  3.3  7.7  11.9  12.12 (84)

Victoria Country  1.0  1.0  1.3  1.5 (11)

BEST – SA: Dyson Sharp, Jim Kelly, Aidan Schubert, Joshua Reichelt, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier, Louis Kellaway

GOALS – SA: Aiden Schubert 3, Lachlan Sands, Blake Oudshoorn-Bennier, Jesse Nye 2, Jim Kelly, Sam Cumming, Blake Thredgold