Glenelg staged a thrilling second-half fightback to edge out North Adelaide by seven points in a nail-biting SANFL Under 16 Grand Final at Adelaide Oval. Trailing by 14 points at the main break after a strong opening half from North Adelaide, Glenelg mounted a decisive 4.4 to 1.1 surge in the third term to grab the lead. Both sides traded blow for blow in a dramatic three-goal final term, but Glenelg held firm to claim a famous 74–67 premiership victory.
Final Scores
Glenelg | 2.2 (14) | 3.7 (25) | 7.11 (53) | 10.14 (74)
North Adelaide | 3.1 (19) | 6.3 (39) | 7.4 (46) | 10.7 (67)
MATCH SUMMARY
The opening quarter saw North Adelaide take an early lead, scoring 3 goals and 1 behind to Glenelg's 2 goals and 2 behinds, resulting in a narrow 5-point advantage at the first break. Cohen Haines was instrumental for North, contributing to their strong start, while Glenelg's efforts kept them in touch.
In the second quarter, North Adelaide continued to assert their dominance, adding 3 goals and 0 behinds, while Glenelg managed only 1 goal and 5 behinds. This left North Adelaide with a comfortable 14-point lead at halftime, showcasing their ability to control the game through effective disposals and clearances.
The third quarter marked a significant shift in momentum as Glenelg found their rhythm, scoring 4 goals and 4 behinds compared to North Adelaide's 1 goal and 1 behind. This surge saw Glenelg take the lead for the first time in the match, with their total climbing to 53 points, while North Adelaide's score increased to 46 points, setting the stage for a thrilling final quarter.
In the last quarter, both teams fought hard, with Glenelg adding 3 goals and 3 behinds to their tally, while North Adelaide managed 3 goals and 3 behinds as well. Despite North's efforts to close the gap, Glenelg held on to secure a narrow victory, finishing with a final score of 74 to 67.
Glenelg’s gritty seven-point triumph officially crowns them as the 2026 SANFL Under 16 Premiers. Led by a magnificent best-on-ground performance from Zane Rooney, alongside crucial multiple-goal contributions from Jed Petroff and Ryder Lindner, Glenelg showcased immense resilience to storm back from behind at Adelaide Oval. Despite four goals from North Adelaide star Cohen Haines and strong efforts from Harry Hobby and Reef Gillis, Glenelg's powerful third-quarter turnaround proved to be the winning move.
BEST PLAYERS
Glenelg: Zane Rooney, Jack Gallagher, Ryder Lindner, Jed Petroff, Harrison Webb
North Adelaide: Harry Hobby, Reef Gillis, Cohen Haines, Samuel Van Der Walt, Samuel Pedlar
GOAL SCORERS
Glenelg: Jed Petroff (2), Ryder Lindner (2), Jack Gallagher (1), Harrison Webb (1), Liam Sampson (1), Luca Fouyaxis (1), Nathaniel McCleary (1), Leo Mather (1)
North Adelaide: Cohen Haines (4), Jimmy Milsom (2), Diesel Arnold (1), Samuel Pedlar (1), Samuel Van Der Walt (1), Tom Laube (1)
PLAYED AT
Adelaide Oval
By Ethan Parker