SANFL live stream: Top under-16, under-18 players to watch in preliminary finals
The Eagles shaded a cracking U16 contest before Glenelg hung on to win an U18 thriller. RELIVE an exciting day of junior SANFL preliminary finals from our LIVESTREAM.
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The SANFL’s most talented young players are set to fight it out for grand final spots in three huge live streamed preliminary finals this weekend.
Featuring recently crowned league medallists and a string of AFL Draft prospects, the under-16, under-18 and reserves finals will be broadcast by KommunityTV.
Ahead of the clashes we’ve picked out the top young guns to watch in the junior grades. Scroll down to see the full list.
The live streamed coverage will begin on Saturday when South Adelaide and the Eagles collide in the under-16 preliminary final from 11am at Thebarton Oval.
Norwood and Glenelg will then battle it out for a place in the under-18 decider from 1.15pm.
On Sunday, Sturt and West Adelaide meet in the reserves preliminary final from 11.45am at Adelaide Oval.
Replay: SANFL preliminary finals - South Adelaide v Eagles (U16)
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U18 PLAYERS TO WATCH
BENJAMIN RIDGWAY (GLENELG)
Impressive Glenelg skipper Benjamin Ridgway will be one of the key talents to watch on Saturday fresh off a significant accolade.
The influential midfielder was awarded the McCallum Tomkins Medal on Monday night for the best-and-fairest player in the under-18 competition.
Ridgway – an under-ager who will be eligible for the 2023 AFL Draft – racked up more than 24 disposals per game in 2022 as he recorded top votes in four matches and finished on 17.
Gun Sturt forward Chad Reschke and North Adelaide ball magnet Billy Dowling both collected 15 votes to tie for second.
It was the second successive season the award was won by a Glenelg player, with previous Tigers under-18 captain Hugh Stagg taking home the medal in 2021.
PHOENIX FOSTER (NORWOOD)
A mobile forward/ruckman, Phoenix Foster did his best to drag the Redlegs back into the match in their semi-final defeat to North Adelaide.
He booted three goals in the final term and looked very lively with 21 touches and 15 hitouts.
The state under-18 team member – a raw but talented prospect who has been invited to the national draft combine – will need to make an impact around the ground for Norwood if it is to a avoid a straight sets exit.
JAKOB RYAN (GLENELG)
An athletic defender, Jakob Ryan has come along in leaps and bounds in 2022 to become Glenelg’s top prospect ahead of the AFL Draft.
The attacking half-back has starred at under-18, reserves and national level this season with his aerial ability and penetrating kick catching the eye.
Ryan, who will attend the national draft combine in October, racked up 30 disposals in last week’s nailbiting two-point semi-final win over Sturt.
ALEX VAN WYK (NORWOOD)
One of the top under-18 ruckmen in the state this season, strongly built Norwood big man Alex Van Wyk was one of the Redlegs’ best a week ago.
Had 22 hitouts, 20 touches and eight clearances as he battled hard in the engine room against North.
It follows a campaign where Van Wyk led the league for hitouts and was also called up for three reserves appearances.
ARCHIE LOVELOCK (GLENELG)
Archie Lovelock is an X-factor for the Bays and showed why he will have a big influence on their finals chances with a stellar performance in the semi-final.
A player who thrives in a midfield-forward role, the state representative recorded a game-high 31 disposals against Sturt along with six inside 50s and five tackles.
Glenelg will hope Lovelock – invited to the state draft combine – can continue to find the footy and hit the scoreboard in the preliminary final like he has all season.
RILEY VERRALL (NORWOOD)
Norwood ended the home-and-away season as minor premiers and Riley Verrall’s consistency was a key part of his side’s success.
The versatile top-ager, who plays through the midfield and across half-back, ranked second in the under-18 competition for rebound 50s this year and fifth for disposals.
Verrall’s output was quieter than usual in last week’s semi-final so look for him to respond against Glenelg.
U16 PLAYERS TO WATCH
BENNY BARRETT (SOUTH ADELAIDE)
A key part of SA’s victorious Under-16 AFL National Championships side, lively South midfielder Benny Barrett added to his already impressive year by claiming the under-16 best-and-fairest medal on Monday night.
The Port Adelaide Next-Generation Academy prospect topped the leaderboard with 24 votes, just edging teammate Phoenix Hargrave, Glenelg’s Charlie McAuliffe (23 votes) and Sturt’s Ned Atkinson (22).
Barrett is originally from Darwin and also played junior football at Happy Valley.
TYLER WELSH (EAGLES)
Woodville-West Torrens’ star forward appears like he will take some serious stopping on current form.
Tyler Welsh – son of former Adelaide forward Scott Welsh – booted a bag of seven goals in the Eagles 56-point semi-final victory over North Adelaide.
He also collected 18 touches and took seven contested grabs. The Panthers will need to put in plenty of work to quell his influence.
PHOENIX HARGRAVE (SOUTH ADELAIDE)
Phoenix Hargrave almost got the Panthers over the line in last week’s one-goal defeat to Glenelg and they will need him to be on song again against the Eagles.
The gun onballer was named South’s best in the loss after 19 touches, six tackles, five clearances and a goal.
Hargrave, who tied for second in the league best-and-fairest count behind Barrett, has been on of his side’s most consistent performers in 2022.
TOM LUCK (EAGLES)
Tom Luck, the state under-16 ruckman, will likely have a big say on proceedings in Saturday’s preliminary final due to his dominance at stoppages.
Luck has averaged 21 hitouts, 16 disposals and nearly five marks per game for the Eagles this season.
He was a big influence in his side’s last meeting with South in round 18 where he recorded 29 touches, 27 hitouts, 10 clearances and seven inside 50s.
SID DRAPER (SOUTH ADELAIDE)
The younger brother of Collingwood rookie and Arlo Draper, injury has interrupted Sid Draper’s 2022 campaign but he is back to make an impact on South’s finals hopes.
Draper was captain of the state under-16 team and last week made his first Panthers appearance since round 10, amassing a solid 19 disposals and five clearances.
LACHLAN LUCAS (EAGLES)
Tough tackling onballer Lachlan Lucas has been a key driver in the Eagles’ engine room in 2022.
Also ranking top 10 for disposals and clearances, Lucas has laid a league-leading 113 tackles this season at an average of 6.6 per game.
He was also one of the Eagles’ best in their semi-final triumph with 22 touches and a goal.
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