West Adelaide Marches Into SANFL U18 Grand Final
It was a dramatic weekend in the SANFL Under-18 finals, where passion, pressure, and a little bit of history all collided on the field. West Adelaide has given its fans something to cheer about by booking a place in the 2025 Grand Final, ending an 11-year wait for another shot at the flag.
The Bloods, who entered the match against minor premiers Sturt as underdogs, came out firing from the very first bounce. Four unanswered goals gave them the perfect start, and by early in the second quarter, their lead had stretched to 25 points after Mitchell Marsh converted truly. That early burst put the Double Blues under pressure, and although they steadied through Jonah Lagana’s first goal in the second term, the tone of the contest had already been set.
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West Adelaide refused to surrender their advantage at any stage. Each time Sturt made a push, the Bloods responded with their own steadying goal. In the final quarter, a late surge from Sturt—sparked by young Taj Garrett’s second major—had the margin cut back to just eight points with more than six minutes left. But Oliver Charlesworth answered with a calm finish, ensuring the Bloods would march on to their first Grand Final since 2014.
The numbers told the story of a complete team effort. Ruckman Lincoln Pitt was influential with 23 hit outs, 14 disposals, and six marks, while Fletcher Dillon and Joseph Raphael provided valuable support. Marsh ended with a game-high three goals, and teammates Diego Bueti and Lucas White added two each. For Sturt, tall defenders Gillon Wakelin and Blake Thredgold battled hard, while Garrett and Harvey Chapman showcased why they’re among the brightest young talents, despite still being eligible for Under-16s.
In the other semi-final, Woodville-West Torrens kept their premiership defense alive in a nail-biter against Central District. The Eagles, trailing at both quarter-time and half-time, found resilience when it mattered most. Captain Jevan Phillipou was pivotal, kicking three goals to go with his 23 disposals. Jack Cook was immense too, racking up 32 touches and seven clearances.
Central District, missing Aidan Schubert who was called up to senior duties, fought bravely. A late goal by Jack Ryan gave the Bulldogs hope, trimming the deficit to just four points in the dying minutes. But the reigning premiers held strong, sealing a five-point win and a spot in the Preliminary Final against Sturt next weekend.
So now the stage is set. West Adelaide has a chance to snap more than a decade of waiting and bring home the Under-18 premiership, while Sturt and Woodville-West Torrens will battle it out for the remaining Grand Final place. One thing is certain—the SANFL U18 finals are delivering every bit of drama and excitement that South Australian footy fans could ask for.
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