Under 18s Team of the Decade

The under 18s competition started a decade ago after previously being an under 17s and under 19s competition. After looking over a list of our under 18s players since the inception of the competition in 2009 under Greg Mellor, it was clear how much talent has come through our junior ranks. We have put together an Under 18s Team of the Decade (however it is open for discussion and suggestions!)

Named as captain is Rory Laird who has gone onto become an AFL All Australian and a Best and Fairest winner for the Adelaide Football Club.

Two noteworthy players:

Sam Durdin – Both on and off the field Sam was a natural leader and such an influential player. When Sam was fit he was unstoppable at U18 level and every time he played the Bloods won. He could play anywhere – Ruck, Forward or Back. His best game for West Adelaide at any level was ironically his last for the club  – the victorious 2014 U18 Grand Final.

Ryan Dijksman – No player consistently got more of the football during a SANFL U18 season than Ryan. In 2012, he got 30+ possessions per game for 90% of the season. His work ethic to find the football was on another level to everyone else.

In our Team of the Decade:

•  15 x AFL draftees
•  1 x AFL All Australian (Laird)
•  1 x AFL Club Best & Fairest (Laird)
•  6 x SANFL League Premierships (Keough, Haysman, Snelling, Schiller, Helbig and Middleton)
•  7 x SANFL U18 Premierships (Agostino, Francis, Haysman, Snelling, Bonner, Durdin and Turner)
•  1 x SANFL U18 Tomkins/McCallum Medallist (Dijksman)
•  18 x SANFL U18 State Players
•  3 x U18 All Australians (Rankine, Snelling)
•  1 x SANFL League Best & Fairest (Snelling – PAFC)
•  1 x SANFL League Captain (Keough)
•  7 x 50+ game players for WAFC
•  3 x 100+ game players for WAFC (Schiller, Keough and Silverlock)

Unlucky: Jack Carter, Oliver Johnson, Matt Hayball, Will Day, Nick Homburg, Nick Favretto and Zac Bates

Coaches:

Greg Mellor (2009-2011 including 2010 GF) – 3 years

Jarrod Meers (2012-2015 including 2014 Premiership) – 4 years

Terry Hutton (2016 & 2017)

Paul Streatfield (2018 & 2019)

WAFC U18 Team Stats

• 1 x Premiership (2014)
• 1 x Runner Up (2010)
• 1 x 3^rd (2019)
• 1 x 5 (2009 & 2012)
• 1 x 6 (2015)
• 3 x 7 (2011, 2013 & 2018)
• 1 x 8 (2017)
• 1 x 9 (2016)

Season by Season

2009 – 10W and 11L

2010 – 17W and 7L – Grand Final

2011 – 4W and 13L

2012 – 13W and 8L

2013 – 7W and 13L

2014 – 12W and 10L – Premiership

2015 – 6W and 12L

2016 – 3W and 17L

2017 – 7W and 10L

2018 – 3W and 15L

2019 – 12W and 8L

84 wins (40.7%)

124 losses (59%)

1 draw (.3%)