Coaches Report U16’s & U18’s

Match Report – Round 17
West Adelaide vs Central Districts
Saturday, August 9 – X Convenience Oval

In arguably our most consistent four-quarter performance of the season, our Under 16 boys ran out impressive 49-point winners against ladder leaders Central Districts.

The first quarter was a tight contest, with both sides kicking two goals apiece. We held a slender one-point lead at the first break, setting the tone for what was to come.

The second term saw us take control of the game. Our pressure across all lines was relentless, and we linked up superbly by hand and foot. This dominance translated to the scoreboard, as we kicked 6.1 to Central’s 1.2, giving us a handy 30-point lead at the main break.

The third quarter was more of an arm wrestle, but our boys maintained their intensity. We locked the ball inside our forward 50 and made it difficult for Centrals to transition. We added 2.2 to their 1.2, extending the margin to 36 points heading into the final term.

We finished strongly, producing a disciplined and defensive final quarter. We restrict Centrals to just four points, while we added 2.5. The final margin of 49 points could have been greater if not for some inaccurate goal kicking.

We were thrilled with our control of the game across all four quarters. We won the possession count by 94, clearances by 8, and registered 12 more inside 50s than our opponents. The evenness and consistency across the team made selecting best players a challenge, it was truly a case of an outstanding team effort. The chemistry, cohesion, and maturity displayed by the playing group was exceptional.

Next week, we travel to Thomas Farm’s Oval for our final minor round game against Sturt. A win could secure us a double chance heading into finals, depending on other results. However, our focus remains on continual improvement, working hard for each other, and refining our fundamentals and football craft to be the best versions of ourselves, both individually and as a team.

Best Players: L Andriani, S DePalma, C Freund, D Sullivan, A Comakis

Goal Kickers: C Jones 3, P Burgoyne 2, S DePalma 2, L Andriani, I Labastida, N Martinson, T Seagar, H Williams

Under 16 Coach

Jeff Socahcki

Round 17 Match Report – Centrals vs West Adelaide

On Saturday afternoon, we travelled to X Convenience Oval to take on Central District in perfect conditions for our Round 17 clash. The side was relatively settled from the previous week, with just two changes to the line-up which was nice.

The opening term was evenly balanced early, with our boys competing strongly in the contest for the first 10 minutes. Unfortunately, Centrals were able to gain the ascendancy late in the quarter, capitalising on their opportunities and gaining the upper hand on the scoreboard.

The second quarter proved challenging. We were well beaten in the contest and didn’t defend strongly enough, allowing Centrals to kick four goals to our two in what was a one-sided term. At the main break, we challenged the group to lift their defensive pressure and improve in the contest.

There were some improvements defensively in the third quarter, but our contested work still didn’t match Centrals’ intensity, and they again took control. In the final term, pleasingly, we saw periods where our contest work improved, showing the fight and resilience we know this group has.

It was a tough day, but there were plenty of lessons for our playing group to take forward. We now turn our attention to our final minor round game against Sturt at Thomas Farms Oval, another exciting challenge and a great opportunity for growth.

It was difficult to single out standouts given the even contribution across the side. However, Logan McCabe’s ability to deliver quality forward entries and set up scoring opportunities was a highlight. Lincoln Pitt battled against two ruckmen for most of the day, showing great competitiveness. Josh Goldie was judged our best defender, while Ryan McCauley and Fletcher Dillon also produced solid performances.

Goal kickers – Mitch Marsh and Jock Millar with two while Ky Burgoyne, Lachlan Mintoff and Ryan McAulay all kicked one each.

Russell Godson

U18’s Coach and Talent Manager (Male Programs)