Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 5 vs West

Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 5

South Adelaide regains their winning form after defeating West Adelaide by 36-points at Flinders University Stadium on a history-making Saturday night.

It was a good day to be a Panther as the women's comprehensive win over the undermanned Bloods, 9.10 (64) to 4.4 (28), snapped a 3-game losing streak and also set a historical milestone for the club.

In a historical first, Round Five is the first time that South Adelaide has recorded wins in both the SANFLW and Development League matches – with the latter side claiming their inaugural victory.

Recording a thrilling 2-goal win (17 to 29), it was the Development side's best game to date and it set the tone for a great night of footy in the process.

Kiahni Russell played a major role in helping the side bank their first win, with the Mt Compass product booting a match-high of 2 goals.

Meanwhile, Tiff Copley, Katie Whish, and Tess Huxtable were also standouts for the side. 

Likewise, the Pinktails recruit and Panther debutant, Brylee Kerin, was also named amongst the best afield during her first match in the blue and white.

As for the SANFLW match, the Panthers needed to desperately beat the reigning grand finalist to remain in finals contention – but coming into the game on the back of 3 straight losses and without their beloved captain – it looked like it was going to be tough.

However, in testimony to the saying teams don't lose talent, only confidence; the Panthers regained their confidence at the most crucial of times.

Jaslynne Smith, who re-joined the side after missing the previous week, made her presence felt within the opening minutes thanks to her impressive work rate down back.

As the Bloods kept attacking, Nicole Collie stepped up with a crucial intercept mark in defence.

From this mark, the Panthers were able to go from end to end, where the ever-dangerous Jess Waterhouse was waiting to finish it off for the side's opening goal of the game.

Then, halfway through the opening term, Shae Archbold kicked truly from afar to register her first major of the match.

While being dangerous on the offensive, Collie remained strong down back for the Panthers, with her intercept mark against 2 opponents helping keep the Bloods to just a sole goal for the opening quarter.

Finishing off the first term strongly, Caitlin Radbone's thumping goal, which came a minute before the quarter-time siren, handed the Panthers a promising buffer, 3.2 (20) to 1.1 (7).

West Adelaide opened the scoring during the second term and, to make matters worse, the Panthers lost their speedy and silky defender, Shannon Hanning – all within the first 5 minutes of the quarter.

Holding a 7-point lead and with a player down, a great show of strength by Lucy Northcott allowed her to give the Panthers a great look inside 50, where Waterhouse was able to cleverly loop it over the defenders to Archbold – who finished it for a crucial goal.

This replier forced the Bloods to play their hand but, thanks to intercepting marks by the debutant in Bessie Barrett and the returning Tamara Page, the Panthers managed to absorb it.

With the pressure mounting, Tahlia Buethke caught her opponent holding the ball in the goal square which handed her one of the easiest goals she has ever kicked.

From kicking goals to assisting them, Buethke then set up Archbold who then drilled her third goal of the day.

With the first half about to end, a crucial interception by Nikki Gore in front of the goals allowed the Panthers to disallow any more Bloods' scores for the term – which gave South a halftime lead of 6.4 (40) to 2.1 (13).

The Bloods came out after halftime full of fight – but thanks to Nari Wright and Nicole Campbell’s clever work around the stoppages and Gypsy Schirmer being "a wall" in defence, the Panthers managed to hold them to just 2 points for the quarter.

On the other hand, South found a goal through Archbold, whose gutsy mark with the flight of the footy allowed her to go back and record her fourth major of the game.

Leading 50 to 15 at the start of the final quarter, the Bloods tried to mount a comeback with their first goal since the second term. However, Buethke was there to bury the Bloods on behalf of the Panthers as the young gun recorded back-to-back goals in as many minutes.

Buethke came extremely close to kicking her third of the game, which was also a contender for goal of the year, but it collided with the post. Similarly, Archbold nearly struck with her fifth major – but it was denied due to being touched off the boot.

The side continued to run away with the match until the final siren signalled the much-needed win, 9.10 (64) to 4.4 (28).

With their season back on track, the Panthers will enjoy a week's rest before facing the Eagles at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday, 19 March, from 4:00 pm.

South Adelaide vs West Adelaide 
Round 5 - Flinders University Stadium - 5/03/2022

Goals: Archbold 4, Buethke 3, C.Radbone, Waterhouse
Best: Campbell, N.Gore, Buethke, Archbold N.wright
Injuries: Hanning (Shoulder)
Crowd: 450 

South Adelaide Dev vs West Adelaide Dev
Round 5 - Flinders University Stadium - 5/03/2022

Goal: Russell 2, Jacobs, Woodward
Best: Russell, Huxtable, Copley, Kerrin, Whish

We're ready for 2022, are you?