2020 U18 Torrens University Cup Grand Final Preview

Norwood will tackle Sturt in the 2020 U18 Torrens University Cup Grand Final  from 11.30am on Saturday at Thebarton Oval.

The highly-anticipated title-decider will be contested by the top two teams after the minor rounds, with both the Redlegs and Double Blues finishing with 10 wins from 14 matches.

The Double Blues’ talented midfield of Torrens University Cup MVP Tom Powell, Mani Liddy and Will Spain will be confronted by a strong Redlegs combination of Cooper Murley, Nathan Hearing and Henry Nelligan.

Nelligan was outstanding in the Second Semi Final against Sturt a fortnight ago as he collected 25 disposals and four clearances while also playing a fantastic negating role on Powell.

Powell was reduced to his season lowest disposals tally in that game, 18, so it will be interesting to see if the Redlegs go with the same tactic as they ended up winning the match by 52 points.

Murley has been one of the league’s best midfielders this year, averaging 26.6 disposals and 5.1 clearances per game.

Sturt will also have to be weary of Norwood’s tall timber in attack, Finn Heard, who booted five goals against the Double Blues in the Second Semi Final.

Heard has 20 goals to his name from his six Torrens University Cup appearances.

Both sides have had a good spread of goal kickers with Sturt’s Jordan Opperman kicking 20 goals and Murley kicking 18 from the midfield for Norwood.

It will be a very interesting decider as Sturt hopes to claim its first U18 title since 2017, while the Redlegs are looking for their first U18 triumph since 2015.