Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 5 vs North Adelaide

Daily Grind Women's Match Report

South Adelaide vs North Adelaide
Round 5 - Flinders University Stadium - 26/03/2021

Goals: Bennett, Peters, Rochow
Best: Campbell, McKinnon, Whiteley, Cavouras, Wish, S. Moon

South Adelaide's last quarter fightback against North Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium ends with the Panthers first ever SANFLW draw.

Coming off back-to-back wins, the Panthers were forced to make five changes to the side that would face the ladder leading Roosters. The same side that handed the Panthers a twenty-point loss just four weeks prior.

Yet despite these changes, the Panthers were well supplied by their inclusions and would end up grinding out a hard-fought draw, 3.3 (21) to 3.3 (21), the Panthers first in the SANFLW and just the third in the competition's five-year history. 

However, the game didn't start as close as the final scores would reflect with the Roosters enjoying an early dominance.

Within the opening two minutes, Montana McKinnon gave us a glimpse of what was to come as she took a strong intercept mark at half back. But even with this effort the Panthers struggled to get the ball past the centre circle. 

Saving the Panthers twice within a minute was Sarah Wright, whose intercept marks in the goal square stopped two certain goals.

But eventually the pressure proved too much for the backline, and the Roosters finally broke through with the first goal of the match, courtesy of former Eagle Jaimi Tabb.

The Panthers came close to scoring their first major of the match at the ninth minute mark, but it struck the post. However, this meant that Alannah Rochow's goal just minutes later equalled the seven point play the Panthers needed to take the lead.

Then, playing in her first match of 2021, Layla Rogers showed her pace with a run and carry through the centre before sending it deep into South's forward 50. This time it was the Roosters who were under the pump, and their costly mistake allowed Madison Bennett a tough shot from the boundary, which she kicked.

North Adelaide threatened to close the gap before the first break, but an intercept mark at half back by Jaimee Millard thwarted their final attempt and handed the Panthers a 2.1 (13) to 1.0 (6) lead at quarter time.

This lead would be short lived as the Roosters would score a goal after just twenty-nine seconds of play. This would prove to be the only goal of the second term as both sides' backlines held firm.

The Roosters, who were well supplied through Lauren Daniel and Jaimi Tabb, continued to push for another major but could only muster two behinds. Yet this still meant that they led 2.1 (13) to 2.2 (14) at halftime.

This halftime score line was a sign of how much the Panthers had improved since Round One, as their first clash saw the Roosters lead by three goals at the main break. 

However, the scoring certainly wouldn't increase during the third term as just one goal was kicked which went the way of North to bump their lead up to seven points.

But scoring aside there were some other highlights to come from the Panthers third term efforts, mainly in the form of Katie Whish's run along the wing to help ease the pressure on the backline during the final minutes. The courageous Jaslynne Smith once again put her body on the line for the Panthers.

The Panthers continued to be well-supplied by Nicole Campbell during the final term, as the side looked to snatch the win.

The sides continued to trade blows and just as it looked like the Panthers were finished, the side managed to force a turnover, counter a North rebound, and the ball was eventually marked on the line by Sheena Peters.

Her goal brought the Panthers to within a kick, and a behind just minutes later levelled the scores.

With just a minute left, Jess Kirk managed to collect the ball and snap a behind despite having numerous opponents around her which handed the Panthers the lead.

At this stage, the match was shaping up as a repeat of the previous clashes. The 2019 match saw the Panthers go end to end in the final minute to kick a goal to win the game, while 2020 saw North repeat the same thing in their favour.

Things looked worrying as the Roosters pushed for the game-winner, and after receiving a costly free on the wing it looked like they had pulled it off, yet the kick swung through for a behind. 

The siren would sound just three seconds later to signal the 3.3 (21) to 3.3 (21), the Panthers first draw and the first in the SANFLW that didn't involve Norwood.

Mckinnon finished with twenty-five touches and eight marks, while Czenya Cavouras collected nineteen touches and five tackles. Lisa Whiteley also impressed down back with sixteen touches and four tackles.

This win sees the Panthers enter the top four, and the side will look to continue this form against West Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, April 3, from 3:45pm. 

Show the Girls that your are #SouthProud in 2021!