Daily Grind Women's Match Report: Trial 2

Daily Grind Women's Match Report

South Adelaide vs Eagles
Trial 2 -Thebarton Oval - 13/02/2021

Goals: Huxtable, Rogers, Buethke, Peters, Page

The fast-finishing Panthers pounce late to beat the Eagles by eight points during Saturday morning's trial game at Thebarton Oval.

Trailing at every break, South Adelaide booted two goals during the final four minutes of play to overcome the new-look Eagles, 5.6 (36) to 4.4 (28). 

Despite beginning the match by kicking against a favourable breeze, the Panthers managed to get their first look inside 50 early on. However, as would be the theme for majority of the match, the Eagles managed to rebound the ball with dangerous pace.

One such rebound saw the Eagles manage to bring the ball inside their forward 50, and at the fifth minute mark they cleared the ball out of the pack and snapped the first goal of the match. Three minutes later they struck again, putting the Panthers on the backfoot early.

Montana McKinnon was the standout in the blue and white early, but even with her strong pack marking the Panthers couldn't find their first major of the game, and they entered the first break facing a 0.1 (1) to 2.1 (13) deficit. 

The second term saw the Eagles threaten to extend the lead further and would have to if it wasn't for an intercept mark by Emily Brockhurst deep in the back pocket. However, after five minutes of play, the Eagles managed to break through for their third goal of the match courtesy of a 'down ground' free kick.

Despite enjoying the wind advantage, the Panthers' backline were still the ones being put under immense pressure. 

Some of this pressure was finally eased thanks to a massive clearance kick by Reynella product, Ella Besley. This kick would eventually result in the Panthers first score of the second term, yet they struggled to find the centre of the sticks booting two behinds in two minutes.

This inaccuracy was overcome when Tamara Page stepped up and answered the Panthers prayers with a thumping goal, their first of the match.

South Adelaide continued to push for another major before halftime, and they managed to trap the ball down their end of the ground thanks to two intercept marks in as many minutes by Tahlita Buethke. Buethke would go onto finish off her own handy working by kicking truly on the run from long range, cutting the Panthers deficit to 2.3 (15) to 3.1 (19) at the main break.

Coming out after halftime, the Panthers once again won the centre clearance, yet the Eagles continued their routine of rebounding it. However, this time Jaslynne Smith, with her signature defensive IQ, was there to intercept it at half forward.

In a promising sign, South Adelaide's first goal of the third term came via Tess Huxtable, who kicked from a tight angle to record her second goal in as many weeks, and one that also gave the Panthers the lead for the first time. 

With only six minutes left until the final change, the Eagles managed to do what they were threatening to do all match, as they rebounded from a kick in and went end to end to score, sweeping the lead out from under the Panthers in the process.

Trailing by five points but finishing with the breeze, the Panthers came close to retaking the lead within the opening minutes, but it was rushed over the line.

At the other end of the ground, Brockhurst and Lucy Northcott were able to prevent the Eagles from extending the deficitbut still the blue and white struggled to find the allusive goal. This was until Nicole Campbell collected the ball from a throw in and quickly snapped it to Layla Rogers, who played on and drilled it from close range to give the Panthers a two-point lead.

Minutes later, Jorja Hooper was able to take a strong pack mark before sending it forwardswhere Sheena Peters, after some contact and after the siren, was able to kick truly from close range to give the Panthers a double-digit lead for the first time.

Following this 5.6 (36) to 4.4 (28) win, the Panthers now look towards their Round One clash against North Adelaide which will be held at Coopers Stadium on Friday February 26, from 6:00 pm. 

Show the Girls that your are #SouthProud in 2021!