The run home and standout players for every SAAS First XVIII college football side including Ash Moir, Beau Baldwin, Patrick Weckert
A thrilling college footy season is entering its final month, with finals and Intercol games still to be played. We’ve looked at how each school sits and listed their star players for 2022.
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The mid-year break is over and the SAAS First XVIII college football season is back, with multiple big games to be played out throughout the coming weeks.
A round of standard fixtures will be played this Saturday before the competition’s inaugural finals series begins in round eight, August 6.
Semi-finals between teams placed first to fourth in division one will determine the spots for the division one grand final on August 13, while a division one ‘mid grand final’ will also take place between teams determined to be fourth and fifth on the same day.
Inter-divisional matches will then get underway on August 20, with the best schools from division two matching up with division one’s sides.
Intercol will take place on August 27.
Ahead of what should be a cracking month of footy, we’ve analysed how each division one college sits and listed their top players for 2022.
PRINCE ALFRED COLLEGE
Ladder: First (5-0)
Standout players: Hughen Wissman, Will Charlick, Patrick Weckert
Prince Alfred has had a sensational season so far, keeping coach Matt Slade happy despite multiple slow starts.
The Reds handed Sacred Heart its first loss since 2020 in round six, with star forward Patrick Weckert booting a goal on the siren to give his side a 78-73 win at home.
“We’ve worked really hard and put ourselves in a reasonable position,” Slade said.
“A lot of guys have shown improvement this year and we’re beginning to come together as a team.”
Up and coming gun Hughen Wissman has been dominant through the middle this season, while Will Charlick remains a star across half-back.
The return of captain and 2021 competition best and fairest Kane McAuliffe from injury will be a major boost for Princes as they take on a red-hot Rostrevor this weekend.
The school will be part of finals in round eight and, if all goes well, should make round nine’s div one grand final.
ROSTREVOR
Ladder: Second (4-1)
Standout players: Beau Baldwin, Jack Hodges, Noah Hyde, Max Daw
Coach James Allan has Rostrevor firing on all cylinders this season and the college has undoubtedly cemented itself as a strong challenger for a First XVIII premiership.
Despite a loss to Sacred Heart at the start of the season, Rostrevor has strung together a series of impressive performances, including a 70-31 round four win over St Peter’s and a 152-point away win over Scotch in round six.
Max Daw has been a breakout star across half-back for the team, while Noah Hyde and Beau Baldwin have dominated through the middle, and Jack Hodges has been a star utility.
Rostrevor will face Prince Alfred College this Saturday in what is set to be one of the games of the year, and will also be in the mix for finals in rounds eight and nine before inter-division games and Intercol in the final two weeks.
“We’re fit and ready to go,” Allan said about his side’s matchup with PAC.
“It should be a great game, so hopefully we can grab a win.”
If Rostrevor emerges victorious, it will sit top of the ladder heading into the semi-finals.
SACRED HEART
Ladder: Third (4-1)
Standout players: Ash Moir, Jakob Ryan, Will McCabe, Ned Atkinson
Sacred Heart would be eager to hit the ground running this weekend after their round six loss to PAC before the mid-year break.
Hearts still remain the favourite for the First XVIII div one premiership, but a loss away to St Peter’s on Saturday might set off alarm bells for coach Jon Symonds.
The side – like most others – has had to juggle player ins and outs due to SANFL or state team commitments, but at full strength should still remain the benchmark.
Ash Moir has continued his evolution into a superstar young key forward, while half-back Jakob Ryan remains a mainstay in the team.
Ned Atkinson – son of former Sturt Magarey Medalist Brodie Atkinson – has been a revelation through the middle and Will McCabe’s goal sense and strong aerial ability will be key to Hearts’ success this year.
Don’t be surprised if the team puts together a premiership and Intercol-winning run through the next five weeks.
ST PETER’S COLLEGE
Ladder: Fourth (2-2-1)
Standout players: Billy Dowling, Fraser Bone, Henry Wicks
New Saints coach Josh Francou has already been through a rollercoaster season with his side, with a round six draw with Immanuel away from home the latest result in what has been an up and down year.
St Peter’s sits two points above Immanuel in a top four finals spot, but could easily fall out of the top half finals with a loss to Sacred Heart this week.
Captain and star midfielder/forward Billy Dowling should be returning to the lineup for the big game this week, while ruck/utility Fraser Bone and midfielder Henry Wicks will both also be important.
If Saints can string some wins together through the following three weeks, they’ll be well set up to take on Prince Alfred in the 151st Intercol between the two schools.
IMMANUEL
Ladder: Fifth (1-3-1)
Standout players: Phoenix Foster, Riley Davey
Immanuel has only won one game this year but could play for a spot in the grand final if it wins at Westminster this Saturday.
The college’s only victory so far this season was a 14-102 victory at Scotch.
Saturday will be its first meeting with Westminster.
“We’ve been able to compete with a lot of the top schools this year despite results which is promising,” coach Mark Bickley said.
“We might be able to play that finals series if we have a high enough percentage and if results go our way.
“It’d be really good for our side to be able to play in it.”
Ruckman Phoenix Foster will need to stand up against Westminster if available, while onballer Riley Davey looks set to continue his breakout year for Immanuel.
WESTMINSTER
Ladder: Sixth (1-4-0)
Standout players: Anthony Munkara, Anders McShane
Superstar forward and inevitable 2022 AFL draftee Anthony Munkara has been a major positive for Westminster this season, the supremely skilled young gun causing problems for every defence he comes up against.
Arguably the best player in Adelaide’s college scene, Munkara’s ability should be cause for optimism for a team which hasn’t had much joy so far in 2022.
Westminster will play off in the mid div one grand final if it can defeat Immanuel at home this Saturday, a realistic achievement for the college with weapons like Munkara and Clay Shadforth up front, and midfielder Anders McShane in strong form.
SCOTCH
Ladder: Seventh (0-6)
Standout players: Harry Chaplin
Scotch has struggled to put strong performances together for four quarters this season, but with a vastly inexperienced team it comes as no surprise.
Youngster Harry Chaplin has been a standout in the middle for the college with star players Jackson Bishop and Kyan Eagleton out with injury through the first half of the season.
Scotch has a bye this week, meaning it will inevitably remain bottom of the ladder, but with Bishop and Eagleton set to return for inter-division games during the finals rounds (eight, nine and 10), coach Ben Nelson’s side could be in for a surprise win before Intercol.
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