Under-16's return looking fresh, while the Under 18's struggled to continue their form.

South Adelaide Under-18 V Woodvile-West Torrens Under-18
Round 12 - Flinders University Stadium - 01/07/2023

Goals: Delean, Schirmer, Wheaton 2, Borlace, Hargrave, Shortridge
Disposals: Draper, Hargrave 24, Rodrigues 22, Schroder 21, Hamilton, Sterzl 19
Best: Hargrave, Rodrigues, Draper, Nicholls, Hamilton

Sometime has passed since the Under-18’s last took the field, their last contest against Norwood resulted in a win, so in Round 12 the Panthers were looking to continue their form with some fresh legs.

It was an all-out offensive flurry in the first quarter both teams laying blows and doing well to score efficiently out the middle of the oval.

Thomas Schirmer was a force in the first term as he would convert on both of his attempts up forward. Doing well to navigate through traffic and get himself into great positions.

Woodville were unrelenting in the term as they would kick four major scores, testing the Under-18’s upon return. Cohen Shortridge was all class as his goal on the run would sail through.

After the events of the first term, it was setting up to be a great contest. The Panthers doing well to move around the ground freely and provide options up forward.

Woodville would kick a goal early, but this would be their last for the term, as the Panthers went on to kick three major scores.

Jack Delean got the party started with his set shot from 30-metres out.

Before the next major score, it would stagnant as both sides were unable to break from each other, the stoppages were congested, and the Panthers did well to break away late.

Tom Wheaton putting his skills to use, marking the ball on the goal line, and snapping around the corner for his first of the day.

Phoenix Hargrave would supply the final Panther goal of the quarter, resulting in a lead of 11 points headed into the second half.

It seemed that the Under-18’s had their hands all over this contest and clawing it away from them wasn’t going to be easy.

As it transpired the Panthers got ahead of themselves as Woodville would claw back in spectacular fashion, kicking five goals in the third term.

The Under-18’s were only able to supply one goal off of Delean’s boot in this quarter, a crushing blow to what was an impressive display in the first half.

The Eagles were applying the pressure, this was a major shift in contest as the Under-18’s were struggling to play their brand of free-flowing football.

It was going to take a major lift in the fourth to get over the line and there simply wasn’t enough time to get it done, Woodville were freakish in the final term, supplying seven major scores.

In the midst of this Ryan Borlace would kick his first and Wheaton would add to his impressive 17 disposal game with another goal.

In the loss Sid Draper was seriously impressive, finishing the game with 24 disposals.

The Under-18’s will look ahead to Round 13’s contest against North Adelaide on Saturday the 8^th at Prospect Oval in a 1:15pm timeslot.

South Adelaide Under-16 V Woodville-West Torrens Under-16
Round 12 - Flinders University Stadium - 01/07/2023

Goals: Carman, Gordon, McGarry 2, Florance, Ramm, Simpson
Disposals: Florance 25, Simpson 20, Van Dyk 16, Gordon, Ramm 16
Best: Florance, Simpson, Carman, McGarry, Gordon

Nearly a month has passed since we last saw the Under-16’s in action against Norwood in Round 11 in a loss, now faced against Woodville-West Torrens getting back into the winning column is all that was on the young Panther’s minds.

The first quarter was a back-and-forth affair for who would secure the first major score of the day. The stoppages around the ground were constant and the pressure was high.

Woodville seemed to have more of the football up forward until Patrick Carman managed to work some magic late in the term, gathering a ground ball and snapping around his left shoulder for a magnificent goal.

The reply would come shortly after, and the quarter would end with Woodville in the lead by 2 points.

It wasn’t going to come easy for the Under-16’s and the second term showed this off perfectly as both sides were in a tussle for the lead.

The Eagles would go ahead and kick one early before Thomas Simpson and Cain Florance would both secure their first in short succession of each other.

Without missing a beat, the Eagles came right back with two of their own.

It was clear neither side would let up and it was going to go down to the wire. Luckily Lucas Gordon came up clutch with time winding down, bringing the deficit back down to 6 points.

In the third term the pressure needed to be maintained as it could slip away quite easily against this opposition side.

The tide was shifting into the Under-16’s favour in this quarter as they would find the football in their forward half for a majority of the term, opening the door for plenty of opportunities.

Isaac Ramm would do well to kick his first, same as Gordon who converted his second in this term.

Despite the chances up forward the panthers were only up by 2 points, leaving the door wide open.

The fatigue started to kick in and it was looking like the Under-16’s were sinking fast, Woodville would respond during the term and find the lead once more.

If we know anything about this young group of future stars, it’s that they never back down. Jacob McGarry came up huge in this term supplying two critical goals, alongside Carman with his second.

The late surge was enough to see the Under-16’s get the win in this closely battled contest, with 10 points separating the squads. 

Florance was classy in the contest finishing the game with 25 disposals.

With a win in the books the Under-16’s will look to build against North Adelaide on Saturday the 8^th at Prospect Oval in an 11am timeslot.