U18s Report

South Adelaide vs North Adelaide
Round 10 - Football Park - 04/06/16

Goals: N. Steele 4, J. Fitzgerald 3, L. Fitt 2, R. Williams, R. Mountford
Best: T. Coleman, N. Steele, R. Mountford, B. Snelling, S. Draper

The U18s played out another draw on Saturday, this time at Footy Park against North Adelaide.

The two draws this year are frustrating for players, coaches and staff. However, as a coaching group we couldn't be happier with the player's mindset, application and effort for this game against North.

We played them in Round Three earlier this year and lost that game by 80 points. To see our players bring that margin back so much since then was very pleasing.

The team had a focus on limiting North's uncontested possessions, an area where they dominated back in April.

To the players credit they were able to do just that through some good defensive positioning and decision making of when to come into the contest and when to stay out and cover off on the outside options.

At the same time they were able to increase our uncontested possessions, particularly between the arcs, which allowed some run and carry and deep forward entries that resulted in scores.

Disappointingly though, we were not able to play four good quarters. We let ourselves down in the third quarter when North kicked five goals to our one.

The players showed some fight and spirit in the last quarter to outscore the opposition and come from behind to equal the scores with only minutes left.

What made the performance all the more special was the fact we lost a player in the first quarter to injury and another in the third quarter to concussion.

We played the last quarter and a half with two less rotations than the Roosters.

Plenty to like about this performance and evidence the players have taken another big step forward in their development.

Our best player was Tate Coleman, who is still an U16 age player.

We will not lose both Tate and Jonty Manuel (who is an U16 player who played his first game at U18 level on Saturday) to the U16 State Program.

There will be spots available for at least three or four players this week we look forward to seeing who puts their hand up at training.

Tony Bamford
Under 18s Coach