Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 3 vs Glenelg

Daily Grind Women's Match Report

South Adelaide’s final quarter surge falls 9-points short of the reigning premiers during Sunday night’s clash at Flinders University Stadium.

Celebrating the Indigenous Round, the Panthers managed to hold Glenelg goalless for 2 quarters but were unable to undo the Tigers fast start and, ultimately, they fell to a 4.3 (27) to 5.6 (36) defeat.

Best afield in the blue and white was Jess Waterhouse, who booted 4 goals from her 18 touches, and now leads this year’s SANFLW goal tally. 

Gypsy Schirmer was also strong, finishing with 12 disposals and 6 tackles.

In the earlier Development League game, Bessie Barrett’s performance was the main highlight from an otherwise tough match as the Panthers suffered a big loss, 0.1 (1) to 10.8 (68).

Likewise, the Panthers were also put on the backfoot early during the League game after the Tigers kicked the opening goal of the match after just 2 minutes of play.

Then Nikki Gore, who returned to her spiritual home ground, got things going for the Panthers as she caught an opponent holding the ball – before then setting it up to Waterhouse who finished it off for South’s first.

However, the Tigers, who were spurred on by their skipper’s 50th SANFLW game, strung together 2 unanswered goals to finish the quarter which handed the home side a 1.0 (6) to 3.2 (20) deficit.

It was a numbers game during the opening stages of the second term, with Tahlita Buethke, wearing the number 1, combining with Gore, in the number 2, to thwart a dangerous-looking Tigers attack.

Minutes later, this play of numbers proved valuable for the Panthers as Waterhouse struck with her second goal of the game. From here, the Tigers enjoyed the majority of the footy but, through some Panther brilliance, they managed to keep the yellow and black goalless.

Keeping the reigning premiers goalless was no easy feat. It took moments like Shae Archbold’s gutsy mid-air collision and Sam Pratt’s clever intercept in the centre circle, to help keep Glenelg away from the goals.

But, while the side remained strong on the defensive end, the Panthers struggled to get their looks up forward and, when they finally did, they were beaten by the siren.

Facing a 2.0 (12) to 3.3 (21) deficit at halftime, the Panthers once again had to defend against repeated inside 50s by the Tigers during the opening minutes of the third term.

For much of that quarter, the Tigers enjoyed most of the attacking and would go on to win the inside 50 count, 34 to 23.

It was not until the dying minutes that, after a crucial mark on the wing by Holly Ifould, the Panthers recorded a rare look inside 50. But besides this, it was the Tigers who continued to dominate the forward entries, albeit for little reward.

Thanks to the backline’s effort, the Panthers headed into the final term with a chance to steal the victory, but this was made harder as the visitors registered their first major since the opening term.

Looking down and out, Waterhouse stepped up by stripping the ball from her opponent and drilling a goal from a tight angle to swing the momentum back into the Panthers favour. But this newfound momentum was short-lived as the Tigers struck once again.

Having to put up with some rough treatment, Nicole Campbell did her best to give the side a late push while, playing in a new position, Esther Schirmer helped keep the Panthers in the game by keeping her nerve under immense pressure down back.

These efforts ended up being rewarded with the goal of the game after Waterhouse out bodied her opponent, took several bounces, and drilled an eye-catching goal from afar. 

Unfortunately, this goal of the game was also the final score of the match, with the siren sounding a minute later to signal the 4.3 (27) to 5.6 (36) defeat.

This was the side’s second consecutive loss by under 10 points and, while it wasn’t the result the side had hoped for, they still hold a finals position.

South Adelaide will now turn their attention towards Norwood, with the 2 sides set to clash at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday, February 26, with the Development playing from 4:00pm and the League from 6:00pm.

South Adelaide vs Glenelg
Round 3 - Flinders University Stadium - 20/02/2022

Goals: Waterhouse 4
Best: Waterhouse, G.Schirmer, Campbell, N.Gore, Ifould
Crowd: 750 

South Adelaide Dev vs Glenelg Dev
Round 3 - Flinders University Stadium - 20/02/2022

Goal: -
Best: Barrett, E.Radbone, Rivalland, Boileau

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