National under-18 championships: Harley Reid returns, father-son prospect shines

Some familiar names announced themselves as players to watch in South Australia’s win over Vic Country at the national champs. See who starred and the top SuperCoach scorers.

George Stevens of Vic Country. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

An Adelaide father-son prospect stole the show as likely No.1 draft pick Harley Reid returned to the field in the AFL under-18 national championships on Sunday.

Playing his first game in 36 days after suffering a concussion last month, Reid started in the forward line for Vic Country in its first match of the championships against South Australia at Ikon Park.

He booted three goals in the opening nine minutes of the game in a blistering start, but had a limited impact after that in a 19-point loss for Vic Country.

SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL SCOUTING NOTES AND SUPERCOACH SCORES

After three quarters in attack, the versatile Reid was eventually thrown into the midfield in the final quarter and showed some flashes of brilliance.

However, it was a 16-year-old for South Australia who shone brightest on the day, with Tyler Welsh bagging a game-high five goals.

A 191cm power forward from Woodville-West Torrens, Welsh was playing his first game of the championships as a bottom-age player.

The son of former AFL champion Scott Welsh provided a target across half-forward throughout the day for South Australia and hit the scoreboard in different ways.

Two of Welsh’s goals came from set shots after taking nice marks on the lead, with the other three came in general play.

He showed off his speed and skill with his final goal in the last quarter, exploding away from an opponent on the wing and running inside 50 to kick truly from 45m on an angle.

Harley Reid fires off a handball for Vic Country. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

While his father played for North Melbourne, Adelaide and Western Bulldogs, Welsh is only eligible to join the Crows as a father-son next year.

Scott played 129 of his 205 AFL games for Adelaide.

“It’s my first game, so I was a bit nervous before the game,” Welsh told Fox Footy afterwards.

“I just came out and let everything go and just focused on myself and my team.

“It was fun, actually.”

Fellow South Australian forward Jack Delean kicked four goals for a second time in three national championships matches.

Midfielder Sid Draper and defenders Will Patton and Will McCabe also impressed for the victors, while highly-rated forward Ashton Moir produced his best game of the championships so far.

Moir kicked two goals in the second quarter, including a lovely left-foot bomb from 50m tight on the boundary line after taking a diving mark.

For Vic Country, tough midfielder and captain George Stevens made his presence felt throughout the day, while 192cm forward Michael Rudd (two goals), speedy line-breaking midfielder Harry Demattia and talented midfielder-forward Zane Duursma also caught the eye.

SCOUTING NOTES ON 12 OF THE BEST

GEORGE STEVENS (VIC COUNTRY)

25 disposals (13 contested), 6 marks, 6 clearances, 9 tackles, 1 goal

The Vic Country captain was in the thick of the action throughout the day. He started across half-back before being moved into the midfield, where he made his presence felt with his hardness around the ball and ability to win the footy in congestion. He pushed forward and kicked a goal in the second quarter as part of a big game.

HARRY DE MATTIA (VIC COUNTRY)

21 disposals (9 contested), 1 mark, 7 clearances, 8 tackles, 7 inside-50s

A junior cricket star who has turned his attention to footy, the 184cm midfielder continues to impress. He provided plenty of run for Vic Country through the middle as he took the game with speed at every opportunity and broke the lines to set up forward forays for his team.

George Stevens celebrates his goal against South Australia. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

HARLEY REID (VIC COUNTRY)

14 disposals (11 contested), 1 mark, 5 clearances, 2 tackles, 3 goals, 1 score assist

The likely No.1 draft pick returned for his first game in 36 days after suffering a concussion and impacted immediately with three goals in the first nine minutes after starting forward. The versatile midfielder-forward spent the first three quarters deep in attack before being swung onball in the last quarter. Despite receiving close attention and looking underdone, it was a solid outing and something to build on in coming weeks.

MICHAEL RUDD (VIC COUNTRY)

16 disposals, 4 marks, 3 clearances, 2 tackles, 2 goals, 2 score assists

A lead-up forward from the Geelong Falcons who has drawn comparisons to Jeremy Cameron, Rudd worked hard throughout the day and was a key player in the forward half for Vic Country. He showed clean hands in the air and a nice left-foot as he kicked 2.1 during a purple patch in the third quarter, while also setting up teammates on a couple of other occasions during the match.

ZANE DUURSMA (VIC COUNTRY)

20 disposals (13 contested), 1 mark, 6 clearances, 8 tackles

The midfielder-forward started the game onball and was very lively throughout. He showed great breakaway pace from the contest to win multiple clearances and when he wasn’t winning his own ball in tight he was applying plenty of pressure on the opposition. He didn’t have his usual scoreboard impact, though, managing just one behind on the run in the second quarter.

Zane Duursma on the burst for Vic Country. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

DARCY WILSON (VIC COUNTRY)

11 disposals (7 contested), 2 inside-50s, 2 tackles, 2 goals, 1 score assist

Usually a running machine on a wing, Wilson spent significant time forward and was able to have an impact from his limited opportunities. He kicked one goal in the second quarter and another in the third, both set shots which came from free kicks. Hitting the scoreboard is something that Wilson has been able to do regularly this year, having averaged 1.7 goals a game in the Coates Talent League with Murray Bushrangers.

TYLER WELSH (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

9 disposals, 3 marks (1 contested), 1 tackle, 5 goals

As exciting a performance as you will see from a 16-year-old in the under-18 national championships. The 2024 Adelaide father-son prospect had two goals in the first quarter and slotted another three after halftime to finish with a bag of five. He kicked his goals in different ways – both from set shots and general play – and took some nice marks. He’s already 191cm and a strong body, while also having some real speed.

Tyler Welsh celebrates one of his five goals. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

ASHTON MOIR (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

6 disposals, 4 marks, 2 inside 50s, 2 goals, 3 score assists

Recruiters had Moir pegged as a top-three draft prospect entering this year, but a hip injury earlier in the season meant he didn’t exactly hit the ground running and he has been slow to build form since. While he had limited touches in this game, almost everything he did touch turned to gold. A highlight was when Moir spun out of trouble during the third quarter and handballed to Welsh, who slotted a goal. A clearly talented player who can kick on both feet, has speed and can take an overhead mark, Moir is certainly one to watch in the second half of the season.

JACK DELEAN (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

9 disposals, 2 marks, 1 tackle, 4 goals

A clever 182cm forward, Delean knows where the goals and reads the play well to get to the right places to hit the scoreboard. It was the second time in his three championships matches this year that he has booted four goals, which should see the South Adelaide product rise up draft boards.

Jack Delean comes down hard after flying for a mark. Picture: Mark Brake/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

SID DRAPER (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

29 disposals, 4 marks, 4 clearances, 2 tackles, 1 score assist

A bottom-age player, Draper looks an exciting prospect for 2024 as he continues to rack up the footy. The younger brother of Collingwood’s Arlo Draper was the leading possession winner on the ground and has now averaged 26.3 disposals from his three championship matches this year. His stoppage work is super for a young player.

WILLIAM PATTON (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

20 disposals, 6 marks, 2 tackles, 3 rebound-50s

The SA captain was solid down back throughout the day. He was strong in one-on-one contests, took two intercept marks among five intercept possessions and used the ball well by foot coming out of the backline.

William McCabe (right) prepares to make a big spoil. Picture: Graham Denholm/AFL Photos via Getty Images

WILLIAM McCABE (SOUTH AUSTRALIA)

19 disposals, 6 marks, 3 tackles, 5 rebound-50s

Like Patton, McCabe was an influential player across half-back. The Hawthorn father-son prospect was good one-on-one and also picked up two intercept marks, while only one of his 19 disposals didn’t find a target. That’s good ball security in an area of the ground where you need it.

EVERY SUPERCOACH SCORE

VIC COUNTRY

179 – George Stevens

127 – Zane Duursma

115 – Harley Reid

100 – Harry De Mattia

98 – Michael Rudd

87 – Darcy Wilson

86 – Kobe Shipp

84 – Kade De La Rue

66 – Billy Wilson

60 – Angus Hastie

60 – Joe Pike

59 – Joel Freijah

56 – Archer Reid

55 – Coby James

52 – Hamish Pierson

52 – Oscar Ryan

50 – Lachlan Charleson

44 – Luamon Lual

44 – Wil Dawson

39 – Thomas Pierce

38 – Oskar Smartt

33 – Cooper Simpson

14 – Thomas Anastasopoulos

SOUTH AUSTRALIA

129 – Sid Draper

125 – William McCabe

119 – Tyler Welsh

118 – William Patton

106 – Jack Delean

90 – Kane McAuliffe

90 – Phoenix Hargrave

84 – Loch Rawlinson

78 – Ashton Moir

72 – Taylor Goad

71 – Louie Montgomery

69 – Kade Herbert

68 – Bodie Ryan

63 – Tom Wheaton

58 – Jed Dignan

57 – Tom Luck

54 – Logan Evans

54 – Patrick Weckert

52 – Luca Slade

41 – Callum Fairall

39 – Alex Holt

35 – Sebastian Wauer

32 – Benjamin Ridgway

Originally published as National under-18 championships: Harley Reid returns, father-son prospect shines