WA defeat Torrens University SA U19 Team

By ZAC MILBANK

An accurate Torrens University SA U19 team fell 10 points short of Western Australia in its final NAB AFL Championships match at Thebarton Oval on Sunday.

Despite having 10 less scoring shots than the Sandgropers, SA managed to stay in the contest throughout due to its efficiency inside 50m, led by key forward Lukas Cooke with four goals.

The Croweaters were still in with a chance of winning the contest until the final minute of the last term when Luca Whitelum kicked a tight set shot from the scoreboard pocket after taking a mark from teammate Isiah Dudley.

It followed Cooke’s fourth major, which came when SA’s Matt Roberts was felled behind the play after kicking the ball deep inside his side’s attacking arc.

Roberts did his best to impose himself on the contest during the final quarter after being thrown into the middle, covering plenty of territory to collect a total of 23 disposals.

Shay Linke also worked hard through the centre square to tally 21 disposals but SA’s best player for the afternoon was key defender Oscar Adams, who finished with 10 disposals, six marks and six tackles.

Adams took several intercept marks to team well with fellow SA backmen Max Litster and Jarrad Parrish, who also defended valiantly under siege from the visitors.

SA’s NAB AFL National Championships campaign now comes to a close, winning one match against the Allies and losing three to Western Australia, two by 10 points or less.

South Australia’s talented teenagers will get their next chance to impress at the State NAB AFL Combine to be held next Saturday, October 16.

WA  2.6  4.7  7.11  9.14 (68)

SA  2.0  4.1  7.2  9.4 (58)

BEST – WA: Sheldrick, Gorringe, Paton, Williams.

SA: Adams, Litster, Roberts, Cooke, Linke, O’Loughlin.

GOALS -WA: Paton, Williams 2, Sheldrick, Jones, Pulsing, Bennington, Ditmar.

SA: Cooke 4, Whitelum, Stagg, Ferres, Burgoyne, Lemmey.

At Thebarton Oval