U16 & U18 Match Report: Round 6 vs Glenelg

Varying results from the South Adelaide Junior sides clash with Glenelg: the U16s win a thriller while the U18s suffer a 51-point loss at ACH Group Stadium on Saturday.

The Panther Under-16s clashed with the Tigers in a see-sawing affair that ended in a nail-biting win, 9.9 (63) to 9.6 (60). Then the following match saw a costly slow by the Panther Under-18s set up a big loss, 9.7 (61) to 17.10 (112). During the under-16s match, Cohen Shortridge (19 disposals, 13 marks, 2 goals) was standout. Likewise, Phoenix Hargrave (16 disposals, 7 tackles) and Benny Barrett (19 disposals, 4 clearances) also played well.

The Panther Under-16s started well. After conceding the opening goal, the blue and white were able to steady themselves and reply with 3 straight goals. A late goal from the home side set the quarter-time margin to 3.3 (21) to 2.0 (12), in favour of the Panthers.

However, alarm bells were ringing during the second term as the Tigers piled on 5 goals to 2 which handed the Panthers a 5.5 (35) to 7.1 (43) deficit at the halftime break. Digging deep, the blue and white responded with 4 unanswered goals during the third term to take a narrow 16-point lead into the final break.

After some tense moments, including a late shot on goal, the Panthers managed to hold out against the relentless Tiger attacks to claim a hard-fought and thrilling 3-point win, 9.9 (63) to 9.6 (60).

Following this nail-biting clash, the under-18s took to the field—and it certainly didn’t start to plan.

The Tigers recorded the first 6 goals of the match. The Panthers were able to recover a bit during the latter stages of the first term, with Koby Cockshell’s first of 3 goals for the day cutting the quarter-time deficit to 21 points. But this proved too costly for the Panthers, and they would end up spending the remainder of the match playing catchup.

To the boys’ credit, they didn’t rollover. A sudden surge midway through the third term, during which they booted 4 goals in 7 minutes, attempted to breathe life into a Panthers’ comeback, but to no avail. Eventually, the siren would sound to signal the bitter loss, 9.7 (61) to 17.10 (112).

During this match, Cameron Kirkland finished with a game-high total of 26 disposals. Jaiden Magor (18 disposals, 2 goals) and Will Verrall (34 hit-outs, 7 clearances) were also strong contributors for the Panthers.

Looking ahead, the South Adelaide Under-16s will play Norwood at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday, 7 May, from 11:30am. The under-18s will follow suit from 1:45pm.

South Adelaide Under-18 @ Glenelg Under-18
Round 6 - ACH Group Stadium - 30/04/2022

Goals: Cockshell 3, Magor 2, Bottroff, Bradley, Rodrigues, Verrall 
Best: Miller, Rodrigues, Verrall, Kirkland, Amos

South Adelaide Under-16 @ Glenelg Under-16
Round 6 - ACH Group Stadium - 30/04/2022

Goals: Sterzl, Shortridge 2, Bennett, Cartwright, Darling, Hargrave, Sheean
Best: Woods, Papworth, Sterzl, Roberts, Shortridge