South Australia makes it a junior double as under-16s triumph on the Gold Coast
SOUTH Australia has claimed the AFL junior double for the first time since 2014, with the state’s under-16 team following the under-18s to the national title.
SOUTH Australia has claimed the AFL junior double for the first time since 2014.
The Croweaters’ under-16 football team held off a late challenge from Vic Metro on the Gold Coast on Thursday to win the national championship just a week after SA's under-18s clinched the national crown.
It was SA’s fifth under-16 title since 2010, with vice-captain, Central District’s Corey Durdin, winning the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player at the championships.
The twin triumphs illustrate the healthy nature of junior football in SA.
SA’s under-16s went through the four-team carnival unbeaten.
They beat Western Australia by three points in a thriller at Alberton Oval two weeks ago before this week conquering Vic Country by seven goals and Vic Metro by 12 points on the Gold Coast.
The Croweaters led by 37 points at the final change yesterday before almost being overrun, with Vic Metro kicking 5.3 to 1.2 in the last stanza.
Central’s Isaya Dudley and Glenelg’s Cooper Horsnell each kicked three goals for SA while Norwood’s Henry Nelligan had 21 disposals, Durdin 20 and Tiger Luke Edwards, the son of Crows great Tyson Edwards, 19.
SA did not lose a game at either under-age level, with the under-18 team winning all four of its matches at home and in Melbourne.