THREE teams backed up their first round wins with victories in Round 2 of the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) Under 16s competition, while Sturt got on the board for the first time this season thanks to a dominant second half.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 3.3 | 7.7 | 7.10 | 8.17 (65)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.2 | 3.2 | 5.5 | 6.8 (44)

GOALS:

South: J. Delean 3, S. Hoeck 2, J. Agnew, I. Churchill, S. Oliver.
Central: A. Vandenberg 4, W. O’Brien, H. Growden.

An inaccurate South Adelaide has proved too strong for Central District in the first match of Round 2, having 25 scoring shots to 14 during the 21-point victory. The Panthers moved to 2-0 and sit second on the table, but did most of their work in the first half, slotting 7.7 to 3.2 to lead by 29 points at half-time. To the Bulldogs’ credit they hit back in the second half, slotting 3.6 to the Panthers’ 1.10 to cut some of the deficit, but not enough, going down, 8.17 (65) or 6.8 (44). At one stage the Bulldogs drew within 11 points with an early last quarter goal to William O’Brien, but the Panthers would hold firm, though six of those 10 behinds were rushed in the half. The stats were fairly even across the board in terms of ball-winning, but the Panthers dominated the marks (48-28), tackles (93-78) and inside 50s (45-24), and won the clearances (31-23) despite the hitouts heavily going in favour of the Bulldogs (48-17), and the Central defence holding up (37-17).

Jack Delean led the way in a standout performance with 23 touches, six marks – one contested – three tackles, two clearances, four inside 50s and three goals, while Tom Wheaton laid a massive 16 tackles to go with 20 disposals, five clearances and four inside 50s for the Panthers. Phoenix Hargrave was inaccurate in front of goal with four behinds, but had an impact with 17 disposals, four marks, three tackles, two clearances and five inside 50s, as Sebastian Hoeck slotted two goals from 11 touches, three marks and three inside 50s. Isaac Churchill (17 disposals, four marks, three inside 50s and a goal), Sid Draper (16 disposals, three marks, seven tackles and three inside 50s), Blake Rodrigues (15 disposals, four marks, four tackles, five inside 50s, two inside 50s and three rebounds) and Benny Barrett (13 disposals, two marks, six tackles, two clearances and six inside 50s) were also among the best. For the Bulldogs, Thomas Cochrane was outstanding in defence with 22 disposals – 21 kicks – three marks and 12 rebounds, teaming up well with Hunter Thompson (10 disposals, five rebounds). Jayden Matz (12 disposals, three marks, seven tackles and 43 hitouts) dominated the ruck, whilst Angus O’Brien (17 disposals, four marks, five tackles, three clearances, three inside 50s and four goals) was a key player up forward.

South Adelaide travel to take on West Adelaide to Hisense Stadium on Sunday, while Central District host Norwood at X Convenience Oval on Saturday.

WEST ADELAIDE 1.4 | 2.6 | 4.10 | 7.14 (56)
WWT EAGLES 1.2 | 4.2 | 6.4 | 10.4 (64)

GOALS:

West: C. Haysman 2, P. O’Donoghue, J. Hansen, M. Downs, M. McKenzie.
Eagles: J. Capogreco 2, J. Haley 2, I. Niemann 2, A. Charles, G. Falidis.

Woodville-West Torrens Eagles sit atop the SANFL Under 16s ladder after a narrow eight-point win over West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles came from two points down at quarter time, and lead by a straight kick at the final break, but managed to make the most of their chances to boot four goals to three in the final term and win, 10.4 (64) to 7.14 (56). Despite having seven less scoring shots (14-21), 35 less disposals (294-329) and 13 less hitouts (33-20), the Eagles managed to capitalise when inside 50, scoring at a 71 per cent accuracy and holding up firm with five more rebound 50s in defence (37-32).

William McKay (25 disposals, eight marks and seven rebounds) and Jedd Thomson (25 disposals, four marks and five rebounds) stood up as repellants in the defensive 50, while Riley Davey (24 disposals, nine marks, five inside 50s and four rebounds) found plenty of space in transition. Harry Dodd (19 disposals, seven marks, four inside 50s and two rebounds), Archer Charles (17 disposals, four tackles, four inside 50s and a goal), Brody Mair (17 disposals, four marks – two contested – four clearances and four inside 50s) and Josh Capogreco (15 disposals, five inside 50s) were other players who drove the ball forward consistently, For the Bloods, Lukas Zvaigzne had a match-high 29 disposals to go with five marks, two tackles, two clearances, four inside 50s and two rebounds, whilst defender Oscar Talbot had a game-high 10 rebounds to accompany 20 disposals and seven marks. Also picking up plenty of the ball were Bailey White (21 disposals and eight marks) and Darcy Hudson (20 disposals, six inside 50s and five tackles), whilst Jack Wilson and Marcus Pavlic combined for 29 disposals and 30 hitouts in the loss.

The Eagles take on North Adelaide at X Convenience Oval on Saturday morning from 11am, while West Adelaide host South Adelaide at Hisense Stadium early on Sunday morning.

NORWOOD 1.0 | 5.3 | 7.3 | 11.4 (70)
GLENELG 3.7 | 5.9 | 8.15 | 10.16 (76)

GOALS:

Norwood: W. Rowlands 5, B, Rachwal 2, J. Newton, J. Jones, H, Krawczyk.
Glenelg: A. Moir 3, C. Hillier 2, T. McKay 2, L. Delaney, B. Hawke.

In the battle of two Round 1 winners, Glenelg survived a nail-biting encounter with Norwood to get up by six points to remain undefeated. Charlie Hillier became the hero in the final term, slotting his second major after Norwood had drawn level five minutes earlier with a behind. Four minutes into the final quarter, the Bays looked home and hosed with a lead of 9.16 (70) to 7.3 (45). The 25-point margin looked good enough, until William Rowlands decided to take it upon himself to turn the game, slamming home three majors in a quarter to finish with five – as Jacob Newton also slotted a goal, of which three of the four majors came in the space of five minutes. Luckily for Glenelg, the inaccuracy did not come back to bit them, as Hillier kicked the winner with the final score of the day. Norwood won the hitouts (37-31) and rebound 50s (37-19), which helped given Glenelg dominated the inside 50s (47-32).

Anders McShane (18 disposals, four marks and six inside 50s) and Izayah Kean (17 disposals, four marks, six inside 50s) both drove the ball forward to keep the pressure up, as Benjamin Ridgway (20 disposals, 10 tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s) led the team for disposals. Billy Hawke was solid around the ground through the ruck with 15 disposals, 13 hitouts, four clearances and a goal, while Lucas Camporeale (13 disposals, three tackles and four inside 50s) was also good. Hillier finished with the 2.2 from 11 touches, two marks, three tackles and three inside 50s, while Ashton Moir was a contested marking star, clunking seven contested grabs from 10 marks, as well as booting 3.2 and having 13 disposals. For Norwood, Connor Butcher was the clear standout through the middle with 21 disposals, nine clearances, four tackles and four inside 50s, while Rowlands’ five snags up forward were accompanied by his 11 touches, four marks – two contested – and two tackles. Other impressive players included defender Kade Madigan (13 disposals, four marks and seven rebound 50s) and Rohan Bailey (13 disposals, three marks, three tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s).

In Round 3, Norwood will travel to X Convenience Oval on Saturday to face Woodville-West Torrens Eagles from 11am, while Glenelg locks horns with Sturt on Sunday at Hisense Stadium from 4.45pm.

NORTH ADELAIDE 4.6 | 4.8 | 5.9 | 6.10 (46)
STURT 2.2 | 5.9 | 8.12 | 12.14 (86)

GOALS:

North: J. Dundon 2, D. Smith, M. Boxall, J. Dignan, K. McAuliffe.
Sturt: C. Reschke 3, D. Gladigau 2, G. Pope, N, Atkinson, J. Sampson.

Sturt has bounced back from a Round 1 loss to post a big win over the winless North Adelaide and move up to fourth on the table. The Double Blues found themselves in trouble early, trailing by 16 points at quarter time, but then found their kicking boots with a dominant 10 goals to two after that break to run away with the contest, 12.14 (86) to 6.10 (46) at Cooper Stadium on Sunday. Jack Dundon‘s second goal five minutes into the third term drew the Roosters to within a point of the Double Blues, only for Sturt to pile on six consecutive goals over the half and secure the big win. Statistically the teams were fairly even, with the inside 50s count being the lopsided one in favour of the Double Blues (52-37). North Adelaide won the hitouts (27-17), clearances (24-21) and rebound 50s (38-31) but could not not contain Sturt in the second half.

Despite being in a losing team, Angus Tully had a competition-high 36 disposals, as well as eight marks, five clearances, six inside 50s, three tackles and three rebounds. He teamed up with Roosters teammates, Kane McAuliffe (28 disposals, eight marks – four contested – six tackles, four clearances, nine inside 50s, three rebound 50s and a goal) and Luke Harvey (22 disposals, seven marks – two contested – five tackles, six clearances, three inside 50s and three rebound 50s). Other Roosters who stood out include ruck DJ Smith who kicked 1.4 from 12 disposals, eight marks and seven hitouts, and defensive duo, Cooper Underwood (16 disposals, six rebound 50s) and Max Daniell (13 disposals, three marks and five rebound 50s). The winners had an even spread of contributors, led by top ball winners, Brodie Maloney (20 disposals, three marks, three inside 50s and eight rebound 50s) and Lachlan Murphy (20 disposals, four marks, five tackles, three clearances and four inside 50s). Kobe McEntee was fierce on the inside with six clearances from 18 disposals and three inside 50s, working hard with Luca Slade (17 disposals, five marks, four clearances, six tackles and three inside 50s), while Declan Galadigau slotted two goals from 15 disposals, five marks and four inside 50s.

In Round 3, Sturt lock horns with Glenelg in the final game of the round at Hisense Stadium, while the Roosters face the Eagles at X Convenience Oval from 11am.

Picture credit: West Adelaide