WA State 18s win thriller over South AustraliaSaturday, May 23, 2015 - 2:58 PM - by Chris Pike

WESTERN Australia have opened the 2015 NAB AFL under-18 Championships in style with a thrilling one-point victory over South Australia at Lathlain Park on Saturday.

WA kicked the opening three goals of the game and while South Australia only pulled ahead briefly by a point in the last quarter, the Black Swans held sway for much of the contest and held on in the finish for a thrilling 11.7 (73) to 9.18 (72) victory to open the 2015 Championships.

There were a host of impressive performances from WA players as well with Marshall Jones the star up forward kicking four goals from 10 possessions and five marks.

Levi Ridley also booted two goals from 12 disposals with Jake Waterman also kicking two from 11 touches and 10 marks.

Tom Bennett was prolific through the middle for WA finishing with 21 possessions to go with a couple of clearances and inside-50 entries, and a goal.

Brayden Hackett was another to impress with 19 possessions, six marks and four rebounds from the defensive 50 while Sam Petrevski-Seton was terrific with 18 disposals, six tackles and three clearances.

Captain Greg Clark also picked up 18 touches while taking seven marks with Dylan Smith finishing with 16 disposals, eight marks and a goal, and Callum Ah Chee, Declan Mountford and Noah Hura all 14 touches apiece.

Luke Partington was South Australia's standout player in the game finishing with 28 possessions, nine inside 50s, six clearances and a goal.

Hugh Haysman also worked hard for 21 touches and two goals while Wayne Milera kicked two also and Riley Bonner gathered 24 disposals, Will Snelling 19 and Oliver Markov 18.

WA got off the perfect start kicking the opening three goals of the game in the first 20 minutes with Ridley, Bennett and Jones all kicking truly for the Black Swans.

South Australia did get a goal back just before quarter-time thanks to Mark Quinn, but then again WA got off to a fast start in the second quarter opening up a handy lead once again.

However, the Croweaters were able to fight back and by half-time it was a tight affair with the Sandgropers leading by just the three points.

WA again came out and kicked the first two goals of the second half but South Australia kept peppering the goals and then were able to kick a couple during the middle periods of the third term to get back to within a straight kick.

South Australia had its chances throughout the second quarter but only managed to kick 2.7 with WA still leading by six points at three quarter-time.

A goal inside the first two minutes of the last quarter for South Australia from Partington saw scores level and the Croweaters did move ahead by a point, but Jones' fourth goal and then another from Powell-Pepper was enough to see WA hold on and win by a point.

WA will next play Vic Country next Sunday at Medibank Stadium.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA        3.2    6.3    9.7    11.7    (73)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA        1.2    5.6    7.13    9.18    (72)

WESTERN AUSTRALIA – Goals: Jones 4; Waterman, Ridley 2; Bennett, Smith, Powell-Pepper.
Best: Bennett, Petrevski-Seton, Jones, Hackett, Clark, Smith.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA – Goals: Haysman, Milera 2; Partington, Hewett, Quinn, Francis, Dew.
Best: Partington, Haysman, Bonner, Milera, Parella, Hewett.