Live stream: South Australia v NSW Academy U18 state trial match (SANFL State U18)
The SA Under-18s kicked off their nationals campaign in emphatic fashion, with several draft-eligible stars doing their chances a world of good. Watch the full replay here.
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The signs are good for the Croweaters, as SA warmed into their national championships campaign with a comfortable victory over the best of the Giants/Swans academies.
The South Australians proved they have attacking threats across the park, rotating through their entire squad at Thebarton Oval, in a comfortable 11.14 (80) to 6.8 (44) win over the NSW side.
RE-WATCH THE MATCH IN FULL IN THE PLAYER ABOVE
Led by goal-scoring doubles to Jed Dignan, Patrick Toole and Phoenix Hargrave, the Croweaters led from the opening whistle on Sunday and never looked like being chased down.
The Swans/Giants refused to give up the fight, and reduced the deficit late in the final term through a goal to Charlie McCormack, but it wasn’t enough as Loch Rawlinson drove home the final nail on the final hooter.
It was a good warm-up for the Croweaters, who will look to grow on the performance next weekend in a trial against South Australia’s Young Guns (Under-20s) on Friday night, ahead of the nationals next month.
Both teams will take plenty of learnings out of what was a scrappy contest, with the only major concerns being an ankle injury to Swans Academy wing Christian Webster, which forced the 18-year-old off the field.
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The Croweaters will face a NSW Academy side at Thebarton Oval on Sunday with the game to be exclusively live streamed on KommunityTV.
A trial match ahead of this year’s Under-18 National Championships in June and July, the clash will be broadcast from 10.05am.
South Australia under-18 coach Tony Bamford said the 2023 talent crop loomed as an exciting one with football bloodlines running deep throughout the squad.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE FULL SA U18 SQUAD
MEET NSW YOUNG GUNS READY TO TAKE DOWN SA
“Last year’s under-16 group and this year’s under-17s have quite a few father-son prospects in there … I’m sure people will be familiar with more than a few of the names,” Bamford said.
“Looking at our GPS data and testing, this group is really strong in terms of leg speed and quickness.
“We think it’s going to allow us to allow us to play some fast, exciting footy.
“We’re not as tall as last year – we had a heap of players over 190cm – but we’ve got top-end players in every area of the ground.”
Tyler Welsh (son of Scott), Rome Burgoyne (son of Peter), Louie Montgomery (son of Brett), Will McCabe (son of Luke), Luca Slade (son of Matthew) Eli Redman (brother of Mason) and Sid Draper (brother of Arlo) are among the family ties in SA’s 2023 U18 squad.
However the Croweaters will face NSW – featuring representatives from the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants academies – without four of their stars.
Highly-rated Glenelg forward Ashton Moir, newly-appointed state captain Will Patton, South Adelaide X-factor Jack Delean and North Adelaide midfielder Kane McAuliffe will be away on AFL Academy duties.
Bamford said their absence would provide opportunity for SA’s other talent to shine.
“Alex Holt is one who, in our opinion, was very unlucky not to make the national academy,” he said.
“He’s continued his form and is playing really well in the reserves at Sturt under Marty Mattner and is not far off league footy.
“Logan Evans at Norwood, Callum Fairall at the Eagles and Liam Fawcett out at Central District are a few others in really strong form.”
Bamford said SA’s two trial matches in the lead up to the national championships would be key with the side set to face a state under-20 side in a clash of the young guns the following week.
That match will also be broadcast live on KommunityTV.
Coverage of the SA U18 game against NSW will begin at 10.05am ACST on Sunday.
SANFL U18 SQUAD
Central District: Trent Tattoli, Will McCabe, Liam Fawcett, Seb Wauer, Charlie Nicholls*
Glenelg: Ben Ridgway, Ashton Moir, Harry Francis, Bodie Ryan, Eli Redman
North Adelaide: Kane McAuliffe, Jed Dignan, Louie Montgomery*
Norwood: Alex Van Wyk, Logan Evans
South Adelaide: Jack Delean, Tom Wheaton, Taylor Goad, Sid Draper*, Phoenix Hargrave*
Sturt: Luca Slade, Alex Holt, Loch Rawlinson, Declan Gladigau
West Adelaide: Will Patton, Jack Oates, Oscar Talbot
Woodville-West Torrens: Patrick Weckert, Callum Fairall, Patrick Toole, Tom Luck*, Tyler Welsh*, Rome Burgoyne*, Kade Herbert*
*Denotes under-age player
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