After the efforts by the Under-18s in last rounds game against Glenelg, the boys were looking to cause an upset against the most in-form squad in the competition. Facing Central District in a Saturday afternoon clash, the stage was set.

Both sides would come out their corners swinging in the first, the opposition doing well to keep up with the Panthers and put 5 majors on the board.

Oliver Goss would kick the first major for the side, swiftly followed by Jay Chapman, both doing well to secure their goals and put their skills on display.

Centrals were relentless and would only allow one more major to sneak by, this coming off the boot of Jacob McGarry, doing everything he could to keep the squad up and about early.

With only a minor score going through after this, the boys were down by 15-points headed into the second.

Unfortunately, the Under-18s were going straight into a blitz as the opposition would fire away all throughout the term, keeping the Panthers scoreless and putting up 4 more majors.

Despite the deficit, the boys were doing their best to get the ball moving, especially Cohen Shortridge, starting to gather the ball in bunches during this term and ending the contest with 27 disposals.

The Under-18s would be down by 40-points by the end of the half.

During the third term, the squad would bounce back not letting the opposition run all over them like it was looking in the second.

Zebadiah Sinclair would finally get the squad back in the scoring column with his major, a positive sign and reward for the hard effort he was putting in on the defensive side of the ball, he’d end with a team high 11 tackles.

Centrals were only able to kick one major in this term, while the Panthers still had plenty more in them.

Chapman would secure his second off a 45-metre bomb from in front.

Sinclair would fire again for his second of the contest on the back end of the quarter, while Shortridge would secure his first, adding onto his already impressive day out.

This would leave the boys down by 29-points headed into the final term, if they could rally like this in the last, who knows what could have happened.

But as it stands, the Under-18s wouldn’t have enough in this contest, only managing to kick one more major in this quarter with time winding down.

Coming off the boot of Tyler McCreanor, his goal while on the move from 20-metres out looking stylish.

This would leave the squad down by 30-points, sadly falling short of a tough Centrals side.

The squads next chance will be against Sturt at Karen Rolton Oval on Wednesday the 22^nd in a 7:15pm timeslot.

After a convincing win against Glenelg in round 6, the Under-16s were looking to build their momentum against Central District.

Playing in front of the home crowd, the boys were wanting to put on a show.

In the first term it was high octane action all round as both sides were firing early. Going back and forth between each other.

Zemes Holmes came out the gate looking to score and before even a minute had passed, his hands were on the ball. From an unlikely position he’d snap the ball through for the first major of the day.

Centrals would reply but Angus White would do well to keep the boys in it with his major.

The opposition didn’t stop and would keep the Panthers at bay by 7-points headed into the second term.

With that end to the quarter the squad wasn’t happy, they’d rally and make sure they made their presence known. Kicking 3 majors before the 10-minute mark.

White slotting his second while Harrison Davey and Kody Shortridge would both get on the end of their first majors of the quarter.

It was a spectacle as it stemmed from all around the ground, from the work by foot and the efforts at the stoppage.

Centrals would own most of the middle portion of the term kicking two majors which would bring the game back into contention.

Holmes finished off the quarter on a good note with his second major, leaving the Panthers up by 8-points.

In the third it was a lot of the same, great skills and hard-hitting football, Centrals doing well to turn it up a notch and keep their noses right in it with 3 majors.

Archie Van Dyk kicking his major amongst this barrage. He’d add this to his collection of disposals, ending the contest with 31.

With time running low, Ethan Sheppard would stop the bleeding, getting a backdoor handball, and while on the move he’d slot the 40-metre major.

This leaving the Panthers up by 3-points headed into the fourth term.

The stakes were higher than ever with one quarter remaining and it was looking like the Panthers were going to get the job done after Shortridge slotted his second major.

But the goal kicking would halt with this, and the Bulldogs would continue to fire, with a late major the game was left at a 4-point loss, in a devasting finish after a hard-fought effort.

The Under-16s will look to rebound against Sturt at Karen Rolton Oval in a midweek clash on Wednesday the 22^nd in a 5:00pm timeslot.