Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 6 vs West Adelaide

Daily Grind Women's Match Report

South Adelaide vs West Adelaide
Round 6 - Adelaide Oval - 03/04/2021

Goals: Kirk, Whiteley
Best: Wedding, Griffen, Whiteley, Northcott

South Adelaide records several firsts during their bitter 37-point loss at the hands of West Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

It was a tough day of firsts for the Panthers, with the side's first game at Adelaide Oval resulting in their first loss to the Bloods and by their biggest ever losing margin, 2.4 (16) to 7.11 (53).

South Adelaide struggled throughout the match to get any momentum. From costly errors and turnovers to the bounce of the ball, the Panthers couldn't catch a break.

Playing under warm conditions, it didn't take long for the players to get heavy legs, which only made facing off against a fast-paced Bloods outfit even more difficult.

This, combined with the Panthers nine free kicks to the Bloods twenty-two, only made things worse.

During the build-up to the clash, the Panthers were bolstered by the inclusion of Hannah Munyard as well as their returning U19 South Australian state players.

However, the Bloods were also benefited by their returning state players and AFLW players, especially Adelaide Crow Chelsea Biddell.

Playing under the warm midday sun and with the slight breeze favouring the southern end, it was the Bloods who looked the liveliest during the opening minutes.

As a sign of things to come, the Bloods kicked the first major of the day after just two minutes.

Yet the Panthers backline, who were well supplied by Jaimi Griffen, managed to hold out despite countless forward entries.

In total, the Bloods gained ten inside 50 entrances to the Panthers four during the opening term.

One of these forward entries saw Jess Kirk collect the ball and kick across her body at close range to hand the Panthers their first ever goal on Adelaide Oval.

The remaining minutes then turned into a slog. Jaslynne Smith once again put her body on the line down back while in a sign of how the game was going, defender Brianna Wedding led the disposal count.

A Melanie Elsegood goal in the dying minutes handed South a 1.0 (6) to 2.3 (15) deficit at the first change.

Elsegood's goal would prove to be the only one until the third term as the scoring dried up during the second quarter.

The Panthers backline continued to be put under immense pressure, pressure that was only eased through a signature Munyard run and carry along the wing.

A courageous shepherd on the wing by Sophia Flanagan-Sjoberg also allowed the Panthers one of the few chances to rebound, but for no reward.

With the scoreboard reading 1.1 (7) to 2.6 (18) at halftime, things begun to look ugly as Elsegood and Biddell combined for two goals within the opening four minutes.

Madison Bennett, who would unfortunately end up leaving the ground on crutches, nearly helped the Panthers break through as her pass to Gypsy Schirmer saw South go end to end at great speed.

Unfortunately, a dropped mark close to goal would allow West to thwart another Panther attack. This perhaps sums up how the game went for the blue and white.

Carrying tired legs, the Panthers went into damage limitation mode during the closing minutes of the third term as the Bloods amassed four behinds in four minutes.

After selling some candy, Lauren Clifton looked to help the Panthers rebound within the final minute but was beaten by the siren which signalled a 1.2 (8) to 4.11 (35) deficit.

South Adelaide's worse fears were realised during the final term when Biddell scored her second goal of the match after just fifty seconds of play.

However, this time the Panthers were able to reply after Tahlita Buethke's kick inside 50 was collected by Kirk, who cleverly set it up for Lisa Whiteley whose subsequent goal was South's first since the opening term.

From here onwards however it was all the Bloods. It proved to be a game were nothing seemed to go the Panthers way, from costly errors to the bounce of the ball, all while facing off against a classy and powerful West Adelaide outfit.

And in a game played under very warm conditions, South Adelaide struggled to gain any extra meterage as the side conceded twenty-two free kicks to the Bloods nine.

The siren would sound to signal the 2.4 (16) to 7.11 (53) defeat.

South Adelaide can now have a weekend off to recover and regroup before facing off against Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval on Saturday, April 17, from 9:30am.

Show the Girls that your are #SouthProud in 2021!