Eagles Win U18 Torrens University Cup Grand Final

By ZAC MILBANK

Woodville-West Torrens celebrated its third U18 Torrens University Cup Grand Final win in four years after upsetting minor premier Glenelg by 17 points at Adelaide Oval.

Despite being without star playmaker Jase Burgoyne, the Eagles started brightly to lead by nine points at the first change and 13 at half-time as State U17 captain Adam D’Aloia claimed the Alan Stewart Medal as best afield.

Unlike the Second Semi-Final when the Eagles faded in the second half to lose to the Tigers by 52 points, this time Shane Reardon’s charges held firm whilst playing a team-orientated, direct style of football.

Creative Eagle Charlie Blair kicked a goal either side of the main change to give his side a 19-point advantage early in the third quarter as the Bays tried to work their way back into the contest.

Glenelg’s Harry Tunkin kicked three of the next four behinds for his side, trimming the margin to 15 points but Eagles captain Jordan Lukac imposed himself on the contest with two goals in succession to extend the buffer to 27 points.

D’Aloia, still eligible to play Under-18s next season, was a strong influence for the Eagles through the midfield with 29 disposals, eight clearances and a goal.

The Eagles’ load was spread evenly through the centre square as William Neumann had 21 disposals, Blair had 19 and Charlie Adams, Dustin Launer, Mattaes Phillipou and Brock Thomson each had 18.

Sam Nicholls booted three goals for the premiers as Lukac, Blair, and Jay Watson kicked a pair each.

Glenelg, seeking its first U18 premiership since 2016, had Harrison Kaeslar lead the way with 29 disposals while Lewis Rayson had 27 and Hunter Window 25.

Key Tiger forward Jack Harding kicked a team-high three goals while Jakob Ryan landed a beauty from outside 50m in the third term as he collected 20 disposals.