Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Round 7 vs Eagles

Daily Grind Women's Match Report

South Adelaide @ Woodville-West Torrens
Round 7 - Maughan Thiem Kia Oval - 17/04/2021

Goals: Hooper 2, Buchanan, Cavouras, Meyer 
Best: Cavouras, S.Moon, Meyer, Haylock, Campbell, Copley

A hard-fought South Adelaide fightback sees the third-placed Panthers bounce back with a nine-point win over the Eagles at Woodville Oval on Saturday morning.

Travelling to Maughan Thiem Kia Oval for the first time, the well-rested and reinforced Panthers managed to overcome a three-quarter time deficit to win, 5.3 (33) to 4.0 (24).

Returning from AFLW duties with St Kilda, Tahlia Meyer was instrumental for the Panthers by finishing with 25 disposals and 9 tackles.

Likewise, Czenya Cavouras was also impressed with 26 touches and 6 tackles.

Despite the final result, the match began with a few worrying minutes as the Eagles scored the first major of the day after just a minute of play.

After eight minutes of play, a clever dish out of a contest to Cavouras allowed her to kick on the run for the Panthers first major of the match.

This goal seemed to breathe new life into the Panthers who had suffered a bitter defeat during their Round Six clash.

Playing with this newfound confidence, the Panthers continued to push for their second goal of the match and came very close to doing so.

A clever spoil and intercept at half forward by Sophia Flanagan-Sjoberg allowed the side with a decent look inside 50 but the Eagles, who were well-supplied by Kiana Lee, held firm.

However, a momentary lapse in concentration saw Woodville-West Torrens manage to go end to end and score to put the Panthers on the back foot once again.

With just three minutes left until the first break, the Panthers pushed to even the scores and almost did when a chase-down tackle by Cavouras gave the Panthers possession just outside their forward 50.

But South Adelaide were narrowly beaten by the siren and were forced to enter the first break facing a 1.0 (6) to 2.0 (12) deficit.

The arm wrestle continued during the second term as both sides tried to gain a buffer over each other.

First-year Panther Jaimee Millard show signs of her composure at half back as she took on and bet two opponents.

Just two minutes after Millard's defensive action, an intercept mark by Cavouras allowed her to set up the running Meyer, who welcomed her return to the blue and white with an important goal.

Former Dual Premiership Skipper, Lauren Buchanan makes her mark in her return from retirement. Image: Nick Hook Photography. Click here for the full gallery. 

Yet by halftime, the Panthers hadn't come any closer to taking the lead nor had the Eagles managed to extend theirs, with just one goal separating the two sides at the main break.

Coming out after halftime and after just four minutes of play, Jorja Hooper celebrated her return to the side by completing a 'seven-point play' to hand the Panthers the lead for the first time.

Finally taking the lead for the first time after 38 minutes of play, the Panthers became determined not to give it up.

Midway through the third term, Meyer showed her signature pace to catch an opponent holding the ball on the wing while Jaslynne Smith took a gutsy mark at halfback to help ease the pressure as the Eagles threatened to retake the lead.

After holding off the Eagles for nine minutes, it looked as if the yellow, blue and green had finally broken through but a desperate last-second tackle by Flanagan-Sjoberg caught her opponent holding the ball in the goal square, stopping a certain goal in the process.

But eventually the Panthers valiant defending let one through, as Zecevic broke through with a goal for the Eagles with only minutes till the final change.

The home side pushed to extend their lead to beyond a kick, but a chase down tackle by Layla Rogers locked the scores at 3.1 (19) to 4.0 (24).

After trailing at every break, the Panthers were provided with decent looks inside their forward 50 from the former skipper, Lauren Buchanan.

One of these entries fell into the hands of Hooper, who kicked truly to hand the Panthers the lead once again.

From attacking to defending, Renee Moon marked her return from injury by chasing down an opponent on the wing to thwart an Eagle rebound.

It was a poetic end to the match. Leading by nine points and with just five minutes left, Campbell dashed through the centre with the ball before sending it over a pack of Eagles to the waiting Buchanan who celebrated her first game back from retirement by running into an open goal to kick the sealer.

Within the final minute, an intercept mark in the centre by Tiffany Copley would all but seal the 5.3 (33) to 4.0 (24) win for the Panthers, one which sees them slingshot to third on the ladder.

The win over the much-improved Eagles was a very strong and hard-fought one, as the Panthers led for just over 20 minutes out of the 68 minutes of game time.

The Panthers will look to continue to build on this momentum when they face off against Glenelg at ACH Group Stadium on Saturday, April 24, from 4:20pm.

Show the Girls that your are #SouthProud in 2021!