Playing in the First Semi Final, South Adelaide unfortunately saw their AAMI Talent League Boys U16s season come to an end against West Adelaide at Allied Waste Stadium.

Neither side was able to establish a clear advantage, with the lead changing hands multiple times in the second half before the Bloods kicked the final four scores to take the win.

South Adelaide had early control of territory but struggled to generate meaningful opportunities on goal.

The Panthers created a neat passage of play from a turnover, with strong overhead marks from Rajabu Waziri and Archie Wheaton helping to put Fergus Vogt in range.

Eight minutes had passed in the first quarter without a score before Vogt pushed his set shot wide.

West Adelaide managed to settle the game down and hold possession, putting through the first two goals.

In search of momentum, Billy Brind took a contested mark deep inside 50 and converted for the Panthers’ first.

Tommy Aldridge then picked out Waziri on a lead, who went back and composed himself to level the game before quarter time.

Two Bloods goals in the next quarter, while keeping South Adelaide goalless, left the hosts in the better position heading into half-time.

Lining up for the decisive second half, Joel Dias-Cocks won the tap down into the hands of Liam Bell, who burst from the stoppage to show the Panthers’ intent.

His kick found Vogt, but the chance evaded him again as he pulled his set shot to the right.

Wheaton was then dragged down without the ball, his straight kick bringing the margin back to 3 points.

The Bloods restored their two-goal buffer soon after, leaving South Adelaide desperate to hold on to the work they had put in to keep the game alive.

It led to some chaos ball with the rebound back inside 50, with Bell showing his class to mop up and find Ashton Steinmuller with a chip pass.

He spotted Kyan Kemp-Laundy closer to goal, who marked and went back to finish.

Coming out from a kick-in, South Adelaide worked the ball forward, with Vogt holding his mark out the front of the contest before putting the Panthers ahead with one quarter remaining.

A tense fourth term followed as the Bloods edged in front again, before Wheaton’s second goal brought the margin back to a single point.

However, West Adelaide would steady, as they ran out the game eight-point winners, moving on to face the Roosters next week.

Aldridge was one of the Panthers’ best with 24 disposals, nine marks, eight tackles and six inside 50s.

He was well supported by the skipper Bailey James, who had 25 disposals and five marks out of defence.

Bell battled for 23 disposals and six clearances, while Wheaton made a scoring impact with two goals.

The South Adelaide Football Club would like to thank all of its loyal members and fans for their unwavering support throughout the 2026 season.