SA begins its national under-18 championships campaign with 89-point thrashing of WA

ACK Lukosius illustrated why he is favourite to go at No. 1 at this year’s national draft as South Australia yesterday made a flying start to the AFL under-18 championships.

South Australia’s Jacob Kennerley is taken in a strong tackle by Luke English yesterday. Picture: Tait Schmaal

JACK Lukosius illustrated why he is favourite to go No. 1 at this year’s national draft as South Australia on Sunday made a flying start to the AFL under-18 championships.

Key forward Lukosius, from the Eagles, kicked four goals and hauled in 14 marks as the Croweaters smashed Western Australia by a whopping 89 points at Alberton Oval.

Their massive victory was sweet revenge for the one-point loss to the Sandgropers in WA last year.

And it highlighted just how strong this SA team is, with a host of likely first-round selections, including Lukosius, small forward/midfielder Izak Rankine and on-ballers Jackson Hately and Connor Rozee while captain Luke Valente will also find an AFL home.

The Croweaters, under new coach Tony Bamford, never gave WA a look in, leading by 26 points at quarter-time and extending the margin at every break.

Aaron Nietschke gets a handball away.

Bamford was delighted with the strength of the victory, hailing his side’s teamwork, which he says is the key to its campaign.

“It was a terrific start, and I was really impressed with the team’s ability to play four consistent quarters,’’ he told The Advertiser.

“Jack was great and took a lot of marks and when he is marking the football it’s bad for the opposition.’’

“It’s an exceptionally talented group but talent doesn’t necessarily work unless it works hard and plays as a team and I was pleased with how the boys gelled.’’

SA...5.3...9.4...14.8...19.10 (124)
WA...1.1...3.3....5.4.... 5.5 (35)

BEST — SA: Lukosius, Hateley, Valente, Rankine, Kennerley, Munn, Frederick. WA: English, Greaves, Sturrock, Spooner.

GOALS — SA: Lukosius, Munn 4, Jarvis 3, Chapman 2, Rankine, Valente, Sampson, Tarca, Hately, Nietschke. WA: Moore 2, Clark, English, Hill.