Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 3 vs Central District

Daily Grind Women's Match Report

South Adelaide vs Central District
Round 3 - Coopers Stadium - 12/03/2021

Goals: Kirk, Hooper 2, Haylock
Best: Griffen, Schirmer, McKinnon, Hooper, Buethke, J.Smith

South Adelaide claims their first win of 2021 after defeating Central District in a five-point thriller at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

In true testament to the 'tale of two halves', the Panthers booted five second-half goals to snatch the win from the Bulldogs jaws, 5.7 (37) to 4.8 (32).

This win being the Panthers first of the 2021 season and one which lifts them to equal fourth on the ladder.

For the third week in a row, the game saw South Adelaide debut some more young talent, with Victor Harbor's Jaimee Millard and Reynella's Ella Besley joining the side.

After suffering consecutive defeats for the first-time since joining the SANFLW, there were high hopes for round three, but these were quickly threatened as the Bulldogs pushed to defeat the Panthers for the first ever time.

Things looked dire early, as the Panthers defence was put under the pump throughout the first term.

Emily Brockhurst and Jaimi Griffen helped hold the defence firm, but familiar problems plagued the Panthers at the other end of the ground.

Despite the two sides registering three scoring shots each, the Panthers trailed 0.3 (3) to 1.2 (8) at the first change.

However, things could have been much worse for South Adelaide as they only collected five inside 50s compared to the Bulldogs eleven.

If the first term looked shaky at best, the second looked bleak. Providing flashbacks to the second term against Norwood from the following week the second term of this match looked like it was going to be the nail in Panther's coffin.

Within just two minutes the Bulldogs had already amassed two behinds, then Caitlen Teague kicked her nomination for the Goal of the Year to increase South's deficit to seventeen points.

Montana McKinnon continued her standout start to the season with a massive overhead intercept-mark at half back just one of her many marks for the match.

She passed to Jorja Hooper, who let loose with a thumping kick inside 50 but the Panthers failed to make the most of it and the Bulldogs were able to clear.

This was the best offensive play for the Panthers thus far, but it did not equate to much as the side entered halftime facing a 0.5 (5) to 2.5 (17) deficit.

While things were looking bleak for the Panthers, there were some notable individual performers.

Sophia Flanagan-Sjoberg played well, finishing with a team-high total of seventeen possessions. Also impressive was Gypsy Schirmer, who collected sixteen touches and three marks before the final siren sounded.

Madison Bennett also played her best game of the season, finishing with fourteen touches and three tackles.

Coming out after halftime, McKinnon made her way into ruck, and it immediately paid dividends.

The first centre bounce of the half saw McKinnon tap it to Tahlita Buethke who, while on the run, sent the ball inside 50 with a thumping kick.

The kick eventually found Jess Kirk, who snapped from deep in the pocket for her nomination for Goal of the Year.

Jess Kirk celebrates with her teammates after she kicks a goal of the year contender. Image: Nick Hook Photography. See the full gallery.

Proving that it wasn't a fluke, the next centre bounce saw Buethke once again gain possession, send the ball inside 50, and Hooper marked it in the goal square, allowing her to kick her first SANFLW which equalled the scores.

Two goals in two minutes, the Panthers had all the momentum, and nearly struck again at the fourth minute mark but the ball just skimmed the post.

A Bulldogs goal at the eleventh minute put the Panthers on the back foot again, but Elyse Haylock was able to kick truly from close range to keep the lead in striking distance.

Just trailing, 3.6 (24) to 3.7 (25), Kirk collected the ball and struck with her first of the day to give the Panthers back the lead.

Soriah Moon began to provide plenty of much-needed physicality around the ball as South sought to keep hold off the lead.

From one Moon to another, Renee Moon was able to catch an opponent holding the ball.

This allowed the Panthers to rebound and continuing her break out game was Hooper, who finished it off with her second major of the match.

South Adelaide's thoughts rest with Katelyn Rosenzweig, who was knocked out and was stretched off the ground during the final minutes.

Following this delay, Central District struck with a seven-point play during the added minutes of play which cut the lead to five points.

Jaslynne Smith put her body on the line, showing plenty of guts she took a hard and almost dangerous hit to help keep possession for the Panthers.

This would prove crucial as the Panthers managed to keep possession for the last few minutes before the siren sounded.

The 5.7 (37) to 4.8 (32) win was not only South Adelaide's first of the season, but the first win for new coach, Andrew Brockhurst.

It was also the first win for many new Panthers who made their debut over the previous three weeks.

South Adelaide can now enjoy an eight-day break before returning home to Flinders University Stadium to face Sturt on Saturday, March 20, from 5:00pm, following the men's League and Reserve trials against Centrals.

Show the Girls that your are #SouthProud in 2021!