Two State League’s are now back for 2022 with the SANFL joining in on the action. There will be a big watch on some draftees this week after a number shone at State League level.
VFL
This week in the VFL, a couple of young Dogs had busy games against the Bull Ants with Rhylee West leading the way with 33 touches, 11 tackles and 137 points. Lachie McNeil scored 127 points after 5 goals, 9 tackles and 21 touches and Louis Butler had 27 touches and 121 points. Tim O’Brien can’t be far off a Dogs debut either after 18 touches, 8 marks and 76 points.
The Suns could give an AFL debut to former SANFL gun James Tsitas after he had 25 touches, 9 tackles and 2 goals. New recruit Charlie Constable had 20 touches and 14 tackles as well and may put his name up for selection. In the same game, Logan McDonald kicked 4 goals and Matty Roberts had 31 touches and both players picked up 100 points. Should Tom Hickey not get up with injury, Pete Ladhams should be good to go after 17 touches, 24 hitouts and a goal.
Callum Brown notched up 115 points, along with 27 touches and 11 tackles against the Cats who had Quentin Narkle kick 2 goals and find 27 touches for his 11 points. Zach Guthrie responded to being dropped with 22 touches and 95 points, while Cooper Stephens had 25 touches and 96 points.
Tom Phillips hit back at being dropped again from the Hawthorn side, collecting 27 touches and 11 tackles on his way to 114 points. Paddy Dow did what many Fantasy coaches believed was beyond him, notch up a Fantasy tonne. He had 30 touches and kicked 2 goals for 109 points. Jarman Impey returned from injury in this game collecting 16 touches and 52 points.
In the other games, rookies Ben Hobbs (24 touches 101 points), Kai Lohmann (20 touches, 5 goals and 106 points), Finn Callaghan (17 touches, 2 goals and 79 points) and Tyler Sonsie (31 touches, 1 goal and 116 points) all put their hands up for potential debuts next week.
SANFL
The SANFL season kicked off with a Crows v Port curtain-raiser before the Showdown on Friday night. Sam Berry had a fantastic night with 28 touches, 11 tackles and a goal for 135 points, while Riley Thilthorpe showed his class kicking 3 goals and collecting 95 points.
Miles Bergman was one of Port’s best with 21 touches and 85 points as he returns from a pre-season injury. In some worrying signs for the Power, Jeremy Finlayson (66 points) and Xavier Duursma (52 points) had quiet nights after being omitted for the Showdown.
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View the top 10 state league averages here.
