Live stream: Players keen to make draft cases in U18 v U20 SANFL State Youth Match
The SANFL U18s national championships preparations look in excellent order judging by this impressive 27-point victory - with a seven-goal third quarter a big highlight. Relive all the action.
The SANFL U18s sounded a warning to their rivals at the upcoming national championships by beating the SANFL U20 side comprehensively, with a seven-goal third quarter propelling them to a 27-point success.
Down by two points at halftime, the younger SANFL team came alive in the third term to take a 70-44 advantage into the final term as Benny Barrett took control of the midfield.
The U20 side threatened a comeback early in the final quarter by kicking the first two goals, but the U18s regained their composure to pile on another four goals to win 94-67.
Check out the REPLAY of the match above.
PREVIEW
A host of South Australia’s top AFL mid-season draft hopes will be out to make a ‘pick me’ statement when they play in the annual State Youth Match in front of AFL recruiters at Thebarton Oval on Saturday.
The showdown, which starts at 11am, will pit most of SA’s top under-20 players against this year’s state under-18s squad, which will use the match as an important part of its preparations for the AFL Under-18 National Championships.
And you can catch all the action LIVE and EXCLUSIVE on KommunityTV as part of a unique deal with SANFL, which will also showcase the SA U18 Girls v SA U23s game in July, the U15 Boys Youth Intra-state Carnival, the U15 and U17 Girls Youth Carnival and
SANFL Juniors preliminary and grand finals.
With the mid-season rookie draft on Wednesday, May 29, and SANFL league clubs having a bye round for Sunday’s state clash against the WAFL in Perth, several league regulars, overlooked draft prospects and former junior state players will be desperate to show recruiters why they should be on their radar.
Key draft contenders on display will include Eagles pair Patrick Weckert and Adam D’Aloia, West Adelaide’s Kobe Ryan, whose availability will depend on senior state selection, Will Patton and Darcy Minchella, Glenelg’s Archie Lovelock and South Adelaide’s Nic Schroder and Tom Wheaton.
SANFL U18s SURVIVE TOUGH SWANS/GIANTS ACADEMIES TEST
They have been regular league players this season.
Exciting Panthers key forward Noah Howes, who has AFL interest, is expected to line up for the state under-18s side as its over-age player.
SANFL head of talent Brenton Phillips said the game would give some of the state’s most highly-credentialed youngsters the chance to push their draft cases.
“A lot of the boys who will be on show are playing some pretty good league footy at the moment,’’ he said.
“And this is another great representative game where they not only get to play another rep match but also have the chance to be viewed again in terms of draft prospects.
“That is the whole idea of it, to expose them as draftable players. We expect a big turnout from AFL recruiting staff at the game because the way lists are going at the moment (with injuries and retirements), there might be quite a few players taken at the mid-season draft.’’
For the under-18 team, the match will be used to fine tune preparations for the national carnival, which kicks off on May 26.
Key members of SA’s under-18s team include top national draft hopes Sid Draper (South), twins Ben and Lucas Camporeale (Glenelg) and Tyler Welsh (Adelaide).
The Camporeale boys are eligible to be taken as father-son selections by Carlton while Welsh is a Crows father-son prospect.
“This week’s game gives our under-18s players the chance to play against good, strong, bigger body opposition, so when we front for the national championships we are fully prepared for the contest at hand,’’ Phillips said.
“So the reason for the game is two-fold. It will give our under-18s a real solid hitout in the lead-up to our national championships while for the under-20s it is another chance to showcase what they have got in front of the national recruiting people.’’
Both squads will consist of 23 players with quarters lasting 25 minutes, with no time-on.
