SANFL

Woodville-West Torrens might be coming from fourth spot to defend its SANFL U18 crown but star duo Jevan Phillipou and Jack Cook are up for the challenge.

As the Eagles prepare to face Central District in Saturday's First Semi-Final, Phillipou and Cook declared they are excited to tackle the Bulldogs in a Grand Final rematch, after edging out their rivals last year.

Starting at 1.30pm, it will be the second contest of a salivating SANFL U18 double-header at Unley, with minor premier Sturt to host the vastly-improved West Adelaide in the opener from 11am.

Phillipou and Cook return to the Under-18 line-up after featuring as regulars in the Eagles' Hostplus SANFL League team in the second half of the minor round.

Prior to that, Cook relished the chance to vice-captain the SA U18 team to its first national title since 2018 while Phillipou was forced to sit on the sidelines with a broken arm.

Ironically, both of their fathers - Tim Cook and Sam Phillipou - were members of South Australia's victorious U17 Teal Cup winning team in 1991.

Both players will be aiming to put their best foot forward during the major round as they also have one eye on testing themselves as the AFL Combines in October.

He's a towering figure on and off the field, a symbol of strength for Adelaide's SANFL League Team.

So it is only fitting that the club's most decorated State League player, Kieran Strachan, will be the first to reach 100 Hostplus SANFL League games on Saturday.

The 29-year-old is the first of 241 League players to reach triple figures, having won three best-and-fairests and being selected in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year on four occasions.

But the past 12 months have been particularly challenging for the boy from Bendigo, who has had to overcome a serious foot injury which placed his immediate future in doubt.

Now fighting fit, Strachan is desperate to add the one remaining prize to his bulging trophy cabinet - a premiership medallion.

They are the queens of the Hostplus SANFLW League.

South Adelaide has well and truly stamped itself as the dominant force in South Australian women's football, claiming its fourth title from six grand finals against Woodville-West Torrens.

And now, best-on-ground Emma Charlton and acting captain Tiffany King detail the secrets to the Panthers success.

Triple premiership coach Rick Watts has been a huge driver behind the success as has special motivational tools, such as one revealed on the bus journeying to the title-decider.

Emma, just 17, details her hopes for the future such as following sister Teah into the AFLW while Tiffany, a sports psychologist, hasn't given up on her elite football dream.

South Australia's connection at the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships was well and truly on show as it romped to its first title since 2018. 

And two of the major players behind the Croweaters' fifth national crown, forward Mitchell Marsh and wing Harley Barker, have spoken highly of how close the group was under coach Tony Bamford.

The latest guests on SANFL's exclusive Checkside Chats podcast, the pair revealed their team's motto was ''you plus me equals we'' as they remained undefeated after four contests in succession.

Left-footed Marsh, the son of Crows premiership ruckman Ben Marsh, enjoyed a consistent campaign working in with fellow tall forwards Aidan Schubert and Cameron Nairn.  

Barker, who injured his ACL returning for Sturt on Saturday, displayed his athleticism and eye-catching ball use on his wing whilst using his deceptive height of 187cm to his advantage. 

The pair chat about who they have modelled their games on whilst also detailing their journeys to put themselves in a position to potentially have their names called by an AFL club in November.

The SA U18 team is flying. 

And a key feature of the Croweaters' performance at the 2025 Marsh AFL National Championships has been their unselfish nature of play.

Sitting with a 3-0 win-loss record after victories against the Allies, Victoria Metro and Western Australia, SA can win its first title with a win against Victoria Country in Melbourne on Sunday June 29.

Tune in to the latest edition of Checkside Chats to hear from SA U18 coach Tony Bamford about what makes the Class of 2025 so different while also hearing in-depth player-by-player analysis.

Bamford discusses the progress of plenty of players, including captain Dyson Sharp, tall forwards Aidan Schubert, Cameron Nairn and Mitch Marsh, as well as Richmond father-son prospect Louis Kellaway.

Only three SANFL field umpires have reached the magical 400-game milestone and now, Corey Bowen, is set to become the fourth in Sunday's Hostplus SANFL League clash between Glenelg and North Adelaide at Stratarama Stadium. 

The 42-year-old began his journey with SANFL in 2002 before making his League debut in Round 22 of 2004, ironically a match between the Tigers and Roosters at the Bay.

Speaking on the latest edition of the Checkside Chats podcast, Bowen reveals the most challenging free kicks to pay, what is secret to bouncing the ball is and which games have been his most memorable to officiate.

Estimating he's covered approximately 25,000kms. the father of three also details how he maintains his fitness, his plans to further his coaching career and whether he will aim to chase down the all-time record of 459 games held by Richard Williams.

It's every footballer's dream - kicking the winning goal after the final siren.

But whether it becomes reality is another story.

Not for Glenelg forward Kaitey Whittaker though, as she calmly slotted through her set shot to give the Tigers their first win of the Hostplus SANFLW League season in the club's 100th SANFLW appearance.

Tune in to the latest edition of Checkside Chats to learn how the 21-year-old managed to soak up the pressure against the Bulldogs at Stratarama Stadium.

Whittaker also tells of how her footy journey began in Darwin before packing up her bags an 18-year-old to pursue life as a professional footballer in Adelaide.

Idolising Port Adelaide's Gemma Houghton, Whittaker - also known as Bling Bling due to her love of gold jewellery - is embracing the opportunity to also train alongside Houghton at Alberton whilst plying her trade at Brighton Road.

Like father, like daughter.

But if you ask Laela Ebert, she's forging her way higher up the field than dad Daniel, who played the majority of his 108 SANFL League games in the back pocket for North Adelaide.

Speaking on SANFL's Checkside Chats podcast, the 19-year-old is still coming to terms with winning the best-on-ground medal for her polished performance for the SANFLW State team in defeating the WAFLW at Adelaide Oval.

The second-year Sports and Exercise Science student is relishing her role as a play-making half-back, using her elite kicking skills to make a positive impact for the Croweaters and Roosters.

It hasn't always been easy for Laela though, she has had to fight her way back to full fitness after undergoing reconstructions on both of her knees within a 24-month period.

Younger sister Neveah is set to make her comeback from a knee reconstruction, with Laela joining Daniel in playing an advisory role in the hope she can line-up with her at Prospect this season and beyond.

Laela also speaks about her excitement for her Roosters, who are currently sitting in third spot on the ladder with a 3-3 win-loss record after collecting a rare wooden spoon in 2024.

South Adelaide's Jaslynne Smith loves to fly under the radar but that comes to an end on Sunday when the triple Panthers' premiership defender becomes the first SANFLW League player to reach the magical 100-game milestone!

Since her first game in Round 1 of 2017, the 24-year-old has been an ultra consistent member of South's back six, only missing one match due to illness. And even then, she only withdrew minutes before the first bounce!

Jas chats with SANFL's Zac Milbank about playing with the boys at Kenilworth, before moving to mighty Morphy Park to learn from the likes of Ebony Marinoff.

South's No.35, who played her first four SANFLW games with West Adelaide, will reach her magical milestone against Sturt at Thomas Farms Oval on Sunday morning.

Friday night's clash between Glenelg and Port Adelaide was a long time coming for the Lyons brothers.

Corey and Jarryd had only played in one senior trial match, for the Brisbane Lions, together so to finally line-up with each other at Alberton Oval was a memorable occasion.

In the latest edition of the Checkside Chats podcast, Jarryd details the emotion he let out when kicking his first return goal for the Tigers, as he threw both hands in the air before being mobbed by his new teammates.

The 32-year-old chats openly about his decision-making process to rejoin the Bays, where he played 37 games from 2011 to 2013 while on Adelaide's AFL list.

Corey, who is six years younger than Jarryd, talks about his older brother being a great role model for him growing up, as well as their fierce battles in the backyard while dodging bouncers in the driveway.