Juniors

2023 Torrens University SA U18 squad members set to shine on Gather Round

By ZAC MILBANK

South Australia’s most talented teenagers are embracing the Gather Round spotlight as selectors release a 34-player Torrens University SA U18 squad to contest the 2023 AFL National Championships in June.

The Torrens University SANFL U18 and U16 competitions will be the only ones in action throughout metropolitan Adelaide this weekend as the AFL’s Gather Round engulfs Adelaide with excitement.

Matches between North Adelaide and Sturt at Prospect (Richmond) and Woodville-West Torrens and Norwood (West Coast) at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval will be played after the AFL clinics and player appearances, with AFL club scouts likely to be spread across all matches.

Featuring four AFL Academy members and two Hostplus SANFL League rookies, the Croweaters will play four matches in four weeks with two at Thebarton Oval and two interstate.

SANFL Talent Academies Manager Tony Bamford will again coach the talented crop which includes exciting AFL Academy forwards Ashton Moir and Jack Delean, together with prominent midfielders Kane McAuliffe and Will Patton.

Glenelg’s Ashton Moir will be one to watch at this year’s AFL National Championships. Picture – Peter Argent

Composed Norwood defender Logan Evans and Woodville-West Torrens spearhead Patrick Weckert should benefit from their experiences in the opening rounds of the Hostplus SANFL League.

Eight underage players eligible for the 2024 AFL Draft have also been chosen, headlined by father-son prospects Tyler Welsh (Adelaide) and Rome Burgoyne (Port), as well as talented ruck Tom Luck and midfielder Sid Draper, the younger brother of Collingwood’s Arlo Draper.

In the coach’s box, Bamford will again be assisted by Chris Smelt, Gavin Hughes, Ben Nelson and Jack Hannath while newly-appointed SANFL Pathways Player & Coach Developer Heath Younie and former Port Adelaide SANFL mentor Matt Lokan also join the team in 2023.

South Australia will face the Allies (June 4) and Victoria Metro (June 11) at Thebarton Oval before hitting the road for contests against Victoria Country (June 18) in Melbourne and Western Australia (June 24) in Perth.

2023 Torrens University U18 Squad (* Underage player)

Player SANFL Club
Trent Tattoli Central District
Will McCabe Central District
Liam Fawcett Central District
Seb Wauer Central District
Charlie Nicholls* Central District
Ben Ridgway Glenelg
Ashton Moir Glenelg
Harry Francis Glenelg
Bodie Ryan Glenelg
Eli Redman Glenelg
Kane McAuliffe North Adelaide
Jed Dignan North Adelaide
Louie Montgomerie* North Adelaide
Alex Van Wyk (Overage Player) Norwood
Logan Evans Norwood
Jack Delean South Adelaide
Tom Wheaton South Adelaide
Taylor Goad South Adelaide
Sid Draper* South Adelaide
Phoenix Hargrave* South Adelaide
Luca Slade Sturt
Alex Holt Sturt
Loch Rawlinson Sturt
Declan Gladigau Sturt
Will Patton West Adelaide
Jack Oates West Adelaide
Oscar Talbot West Adelaide
Patrick Weckert Woodville-West Torrens
Callum Fairall Woodville-West Torrens
Patrick Toole Woodville-West Torrens
Tom Luck* Woodville-West Torrens
Tyler Welsh* Woodville-West Torrens
Rome Burgoyne* Woodville-West Torrens
Kade Herbert* Woodville-West Torrens