Pictured - The 2016 State Under 16 Team
The McDonald’s SA Under-16 team has finished off its 2017 AFL National Championship campaign with a 28-point victory against Victoria Country at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday.
After losing their opening two matches against Western Australia and Victoria Metro, the Croweaters were determined to finish on a good note under the guidance of coach Darel Hart.
SA set up its victory in the third term, booting four goals to Vic Country’s one. That didn’t stop their rivals from closing the gap to just one straight kick two minutes into the fourth quarter before the Croweaters went on a rampage to kick four of the next five goals to win in comfortable fashion.
Key defender Karl Finlay was named SA’s MVP of the tournament after his consistent performances playing in the backline, with his strongest performance coming against Vic Country with a best afield display.
SCOREBOARD – GAME 3
SA 3.6 6.7 10.10 14.14 (98)
Vic Country 4.3 7.6 8.9 10.10 (70)
BEST – SA: Karl Finlay, Brodie Arriola, Cameron Taheny, Will Gould, Dylan Stephens, Harrison Magor, Jackson Mead, Kysaiah Pickett.
GOALS – SA: Callum Park 3, Kysaiah Pickett, Brodie Arriola, Daniel Sladojevic 2, Dylan Stephens, Riley Davis, Damon Freitag, Corey Durdin, Dale Pearce.
SA MVP – Karl Finlay (North Adelaide)
The McDonald’s SA Under-16 team has suffered a 64-point defeat to an impressive Victoria Metro outfit at Metricon Stadium on Monday.
Put on the back foot from the first bounce, the Croweaters trailed by 30 points at quarter-time before clawing back some respectability by outscoring their rivals in the final term.
Midfielders Dylan Stephens (23 disposals), Cameron Taheny (20 disposals) and vice-captain Jackson Mead (17 disposals) were the strongest contributors for coach Darel Hart’s outfit, while Daniel Sladojevic was the only multiple goalkicker with two.
SA will now confront Victoria Country in its final match of the carnival at the Gabba on Friday.
SCOREBOARD – GAME 2
Vic Metro 6.2 10.5 16.7 17.10 (112)
SA 1.2 3.3 4.5 6.12 (48)
BEST – SA: Dylan Stephens, Jackson Mead, Cameron Taheny, Joshua Shute, Tex Dowdell.
GOALS – SA: Daniel Sladojevic 2, Cameron Taheny, Riley Davis, Joshua Shute, Harry Schoenberg.
The McDonald’s SA Under-16 team has lost its first match of the AFL National Championships, succumbing to Western Australia by just six points in Perth.
Despite leading at every change, the Croweaters were overrun in the final quarter by the Sandgropers who managed four goals compared to the visitors’ two at Leederville Oval.
North Adelaide ruckman Dyson Hilder was the standout performer for SA, also managing to contribute on the scoreboard with a goal.
Vice-captain Jackson Mead, the son of Power defender Darren Mead, was another rated in the Croweaters’ best while multiple goalkickers Kysaiah Pickett (two) and Daniel Sladojevic (five) also tried hard.
The loss now puts the Darel Hart-coached SA on the back foot in the short AFL National Championships campaign, with just two more games to come against Victoria Metro at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast (July 10) and Victoria Country at the Gabba (July 14).
SCOREBOARD – GAME 1
WA 1.3 5.6 8.11 12.13 (85)
SA 4.4 7.5 9.10 11.13 (79)
BEST – SA: Dyson Hilder, Kysaiah Pickett, Dylan Stephens, Jackson Mead, Aaaron Douglass, Daniel Sladojevic.
GOALS – SA: Daniel Sladojevic 5, Kysaiah Pickett 2, Callum Park, Anzac Lochowiak, Dyson Hilder, Corey Durdin.
The McDonald’s SA Under-16 team will be looking to defend its crown by starting its AFL National Championships campaign with a win against Western Australia on Sunday.
After winning their fourth title in seven years last year, the Croweaters will take centre stage against the Sandgropers at Leederville Oval.
Speaking on SANFL Radio, McDonald’s SA Under-16 coach Darel Hart said it was vital to start with a win given just three matches are played for the tournament.
Glenelg utility Will Gould will captain SA with Eagles midfielder Jackson Mead, the son of Power defender Darren Mead, to be the vice-captain.
The squad’s other father-son, Tiger Luke Edwards who is the son of Crows great Tyson Edwards, has been ruled out of the carnival with a broken arm.
Another player to watch is South Adelaide’s Damon Freitag, with the Kangaroo Island teenager measuring in at 195cm and 89kg.
After Saturday’s clash across the Nullarbor, SA will tackle Victoria Metro on Monday July 10 at Metricon Stadium and Victoria Country at the Gabba on Friday July 14.
McDONALD’S SA U16 TEAM v WA
Sunday June 25 at Leederville Oval, Perth
F: Brodie Arriola, Daniel Sladojevic, Cameron Taheny
HF: Kysaiah Pickett, Damon Freitag, Anzac Lochowiak
C: Harrison Magor, Jackson Mead, Dylan Stephens
HB: Joshua Shute, Karl Finlay, Will Gould
B: Mitchell Carroll, Tex Dowdell, Aaron Douglass
R: Dyson Hilder, Jordan O’Brien, Jed McEntee
INT: Callum Park, Corey Durdin, Harry Schoenberg, Dale Pearce, Riley Davis
EMG: Skeet Manuell, Oliver Grivell
Last Modified on 14/07/2017 19:31