Villi’s U18s & U16s Match Report – Round 18

UNDER 18s

The Under 18s lost our final round match against South Adelaide by 12 points in a low scoring tough encounter at Maughan Thiem KIA Oval.

South started well and had us on the back foot most of the day winning the territory battle and although the ball spent a long time in the South forward half we managed to score a couple of goals against the flow and took an 8 point lead into quarter time.

The Panthers hit the scoreboard in the second quarter with 4 goals including 2 late ones, taking an 11 point lead into half time.

Both teams struggled to score in the third quarter, each kicking just the 1 goal and it was definitely game on at three quarter time as we remained 11 points behind.

After Jack Mumford kicked the first goal of the quarter we certainly gave ourselves a chance and although we kept working hard we couldn’t bridge the gap with both teams kicking 2 goals for the quarter and we were 12 points adrift at full time – the scores were South 7 g 13p (55) to Eagles 6g 7p (43).

Joel Hill found plenty of the footy in our midfield and across half back, Lachie Marshall-Bates was a tower of strength in defence with 9 marks including 7 intercept marks, Jack Mumford continued to have an impact up forward with 9 marks and 3 goals, Jensen Frantz was another good defender for us and Luke Russel and Max Farrugia battled hard for us all day.

We have qualified for finals with a 10 win season and all the players did well to help us navigate a tricky last part of the year.

We will kick off in a fortnight against Central District in a First Semi Final.

Shane Reardon – U18 Coach

UNDER 16s

The Eagles Under 16s closed out its season on Saturday with a home clash against South Adelaide at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval.

It was a competitive first quarter from both sides, with our boys defending admirably against repeated forward entries from South. Whilst our backline worked hard to repel attacks, the visitors were on top in the clearances and created more scoring opportunities, building a 23-point lead at the first change.

The second quarter followed a similar pattern. We did however lift our tackling pressure, but South Adelaide continued to win the ball at the source and generate repeat inside 50s.

After the main break, the contest continued along the same trajectory. South Adelaide’s dominance in both aerial and ground contests translated to a clear scoreboard advantage.

Our better players included the ever-reliable Bayden Fenech and Jackson Galley in defence, Mason Papps and Jed Remphrey through the midfield, and Pharell Prokos, who was lively up forward. The goal kickers were Papps, Remphrey and Isaac James, each finishing with one major.

The match marked the conclusion of the season for our Under 16 boys. While the win-loss column wasn’t as we’d hoped, the growth in the group’s approach to football, skill level, and game understanding was clear. We look forward to seeing the players continue their development in the in years to come.

A sincere thank you to the Eagles medical staff and water carriers for keeping our players on the park each week, to the Assistant Coaches for their guidance and support throughout the season. Special thanks also goes to our Talent Manager Darren Hams, whose organisation and leadership ensured a smooth, consistent and structured program. Finally, to the parents – your commitment and support for your sons have been greatly appreciated.

All the very best to our Under 18s and Reserves as they prepare for their upcoming finals campaigns.

Simon Maddern – U16 Coach