SANFL State Youth Match live stream: SA U18 team hit by injuries to star trio ahead of U20s clash

SA’s U18 boys will ramp up their preparations for the national championships with a clash against the state U20 side – but without three key draft prospects. Watch it LIVE on Saturday.

South Australia’s under-18 boys state team has been rocked by injuries to three key players on the eve of the AFL national championships.

Gun Central District forward Dougie Cochrane (hamstring), ace Woodville-West Torrens midfielder/forward Jevan Phillipou (broken arm) and Sturt key defender Blake Thredgold (broken hand) are likely to miss most, if not all, of the prestigious carnival, with the Croweaters kicking off their campaign on June 1.

“Unfortunately we have three long-term injuries to guys who would be in our best team,’’ SA coach Tony Bamford said.

“They all happened after we picked the state squad, which was very unfortunate.

South Australia’s under-18 boys leadership group, from left, vice-captain Sam Cumming, coach Tony Bamford, captain Dyson Sharp and vice-captain Jack Cook. Picture: Cory Sutton/SANFL

“We don’t have players who can come in and replace their quality but whenever someone gets an injury there’s a chance for someone else to step up and find a role in the team.

“Every year someone does that and catches us by surprise.’’

SA’s preparations will ramp up with a key trial match in the annual state youth clash against the under-20 team at The Parade at 2.30pm on Saturday.

The match will be exclusively live streamed by KommunityTV on The Advertiser website.

Phillipou and Thredgold are eligible to be drafted this year while the younger Cochrane is eligible for next year’s draft, where he is considered a No. 1 pick contender.

Despite the significant injury blows, Bamford is confident his team will perform well at the championships.

Central District’s Dougie Cochrane is one of three key injuries for the SA U18 boys. Picture: Peter Argent

The Croweaters will then travel to Blacktown in Sydney to face the NSW Academies outfit in a trial on Sunday, May 25, before beginning their championship campaign against the Allies in Blacktown on June 1.

The SA under-18 team is headlined by leadership members, Central’s Dyson Sharp (captain), and vice-captains Sam Cumming (North Adelaide) and Jack Cook (Eagles).

Among the state under-20s they will be going head-to-head with on Saturday are AFL mid-season draft prospects Jacob Newton (Norwood), Harrison Ramm (Glenelg), Kade Herbert (Eagles) and Noah Howes and Phoenix Hargrave (South Adelaide).

“Our talent department loves the opportunity to play against the under-20s because it gives a lot of our players the chance to play against more experienced players and bigger bodies for the first time,’’ Bamford said.

South Australia’s under-18 boys team. Picture: Cory Sutton/SANFL

“It will be good to see how different players react, respond and perform in that environment because we’re still trying to find out what our best team is.

“We have a bit of an idea based on what we’ve seen the players do for their SANFL clubs in the first part of the season but you never quite know how they are going to come together, so we’re going to play every player who is fit and available this weekend.

“Ultimately we’re trying to find out what our best team looks like and how the players connect and gel together across the three different areas of the oval.’’

Originally published as SANFL State Youth Match live stream: SA U18 team hit by injuries to star trio ahead of U20s clash