Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 1 South vs North 1

Daily Grind Women's Match Report

South Adelaide vs North Adelaide
Round 1 - Coopers Stadium - 26/02/2021

Goal: Campbell
Best: R.Moon, Schirmer, Campbell, Flanagan-Sjoberg, Griffen, Hooper

The new-look Panthers were no match for the reigning premiers as they fell to a 21-point loss under the lights at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

Wearing the navy blue for the first-time and bleeding seven debutants, South Adelaide struggled under North Adelaide's pressure and squandered many chances while on their way towards the 1.6 (12) to 5.3 (33) loss. 

The Panthers looked lively early on as they dominated the inside 50 count during the first term, but as would be the theme for most of the night they struggled to convert their chances.

With every failed attack inside 50 came a chance of a dangerous rebound by the Roosters, but most of these early attempts were thwarted thanks to some clever ball reading by Montana McKinnon as well as the 2020 GSFLW Best and Fairest and Goolwa debutant, Renee Moon. 

The Panthers collected eight inside 50s during the first term but only managed three behinds.

This left the door open for the Roosters who, despite only having two inside 50s for the term, struck with the first major of the match to take the lead.

Jaslynne Smith stepped up by taking a mark between two opponents at half back to prevent an almost certain North goal yet the Panthers could not strike at the other end and headed into the first change with a 0.3 (3) to 1.0 (6) deficit.

Former Eagle and North Adelaide recruit, Jaimi Tabb and Rooster young-gun Hannah Ewings, continued to cause headaches for the Panthers as the reigning premiers threatened to take away the game early.

A very costly free kick opened the scoring for the Roosters early into the second term. However, through back-to-back intercept marks by Sophia Flanagan-Sjoberg and some composure by debutant and father-daughter player, Jaimi Griffen, the Panthers were able to hold off the Roosters.

With the defence holding firm, Nicole Campbell collected the ball out of the pack and snapped South Adelaide's first goal of the 2021 season yet this would prove to be the Panthers final goal of the game.

The Roosters would nearly triple the Panthers inside 50 count during the second term, and after some holding out, South's backline started to show cracks under the immense pressure as North booted two late goals.

Trailing 1.3 (9) to 4.2 (26) at halftime, the third term was much more defensive with many numbers around the ball and repeated stoppages.

The sole goal of the term came via a costly Panther turn over which gave South Adelaide the daunting task of having to boot four goals against a tough Rooster defence.

Tahlita Buethke showed her fitness as she continued to run out the final term with a high pace, yet most the damage had already been done.

At the defensive end, the Panthers were able to keep the Roosters scoreless during the final term, but this was failed to capitalise on as South could only muster three behinds.

Despite finishing with just one less scoring shot, the difference in experience, composure and efficiency showed as the final score line read, 1.6 (12) to 5.3 (33).

Renee Moon was impressive on debut with twenty-three disposals and five clearances while Gypsy Schirmer finished with twenty-one touches and nine tackles, and Sophia Flanagan-Sjoberg gathered nineteen touches and five marks.

South Adelaide will look to bounce back against Norwood as the girls return home to Flinders University Stadium on Friday 5 March, from 6:30pm.

Show the Girls that your are #SouthProud in 2021!