Under 18s Report

South Adelaide vs Woodville-West Torrens
Round 16 - Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval - 12/08/17

Goals: Colwell, Tucker 2, McGree, Arnold, Fitt, Sampson, Davies, Beenham, Illingworth
Best: Fitt, Coleman, Sampson, Beenham, Illingworth, Bogle

South Adelaide's Under-18s have consolidated their place atop the ladder thanks to a gutsy 28-point victory over second-placed Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Our Under-18s travelled to Woodville Oval for the first time since our draw there last year to play the Eagles in a top-of-the-table clash.

With the bye last week for the SANFL Under-18 competition, it was important to get off to a strong start going into a two-goal breeze.

That didn't happen unfortunately and we found ourselves in some trouble early in the quarter. The Eagles were very good in the contest and at ground level around the ground and our guys were slow to react.

The Eagles won the quarter by 25 points.

The second quarter was slightly better with our guys able to even up the contested balls and maintain possession for longer periods.

At halftime we went in 17 points behind but confident our best footy was to come.

In the third quarter the players were able to adapt very well into the wind while at the same time get some better defensive measures set up behind the ball.

The margin at the last break was 18 points.

Kicking with the wind in the final quarter the players showed terrific character to score 46 points while keeping the Eagles scoreless to win by 28 points.

This came off the back of a lift in intensity around the midfield matched by player driven "team first" competitive spirit to never give up.

Unfortunately we suffered two significant injuries during the game.

First to young Under-16 tall back Aaron Douglass, who suffered a broken nose early in the first quarter and then a very serious lower leg fracture to our second ruck/tall back Nicholas Robertson in the last quarter.

Hopefully we will see Aaron make a speedy recovery, but it appears that Robbo will spend a significant time out of the game.

We wish both lads all the very best.

Tony Bamford
Under 18s Coach

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