South Adelaide Reserves @ Sturt Reserves
Round 16 - Wigan Oval - 23/07/2022

Goals: Megins 2, Bedford, Bogle, Bradley, Douglass, Flett, Gill, Tucker
Best: Megins, Collins, Bradley

South Adelaide Reserves rattled the ladder leaders but ended up falling 14 points short during their clash at Wigan Oval on Saturday. 

It was another sign of what the Panther Reserves are capable of achieving. The Panthers, despite being tipped by many outsiders to suffer a big loss, took the right to the top of the table Double Blues and were able to match it with them for most of their narrow defeat, 9.7 (61) to 10.15 (75).

Oliver Megins led by example with a fantastic display. Megs was busy throughout the match and ended up collecting 26 hit-outs, 15 disposals, 5 clearances, and 2 goals.

Also impressive for South were Jacob Collins, who had 19 disposals, 12 tackles, and 7 clearances; Fraser Turner, who collected 28 disposals and 9 marks; and Luke Bogle, who had 21 disposals, 7 tackles, and a goal.

Coming into a match that many had tipped them to lose: the Panthers didn’t seem to take notice. Putting plenty of pressure around the footy – which helped see the home side squander several scoring chances – the Panthers looked like a top-placed side.

Megins registered the first of the day for South Adelaide. But 2 late goals by the visitors gave South a 15-point deficit at the first break, 1.2 (8) to 3.5 (23).

This deficit was soon cut down when – on the break – Angus Bradley was able to crumb and goal for the team’s second goal of the day. The Panthers’ ability to rebound and break the lines was a staple of this challenge.

And one such rebound ended in Scott Bedford’s first goal for South Adelaide. This second gamer's thumping kick managed to sneak past the defenders for a much-needed goal.

This major score put the pressure back on the home side and soon the Panthers would have another goal, this time courtesy of Bogle.

Then – despite having seconds left – the Panthers were able to sneak another goal in. This time it was from Jack Flett, who was able to collect the footy and spin around to kick his first of the day.

This extremely late goal brought the Panthers to within 2 points of Sturt at halftime, 5.3 (33) to 4.11 (35).

However, a string of 3 goals within 4 minutes by Sturt seemingly broke the game open – and in the end, this surge would prove to be the difference maker. Nonetheless, the Panthers kept fighting.

Megins was able to intercept the footy and go back to kick his second of the day. Then, after flicking around the footy, Brian Gill was able to register his first of the day.

This brought the final break deficit to 6 points, 7.7 (49) to 7.13 (55). And soon, Aaron Douglass would strike to level the scores.

However, once again the home side managed to string together 3 goals within 4 minutes. This blitz was only momentarily disrupted by a huge mark by Zac Dumesny.

Midway through the quarter, Darnell Tucker would strike from the boundary to bring the lead to within 3 goals. And Riley Jones would take a huge fly down back to help keep the footy within South hands.

But the blue and white would end up running out of time. And the siren would sound to signal the hard-fought loss, 9.7 (61) to 10.15 (75).

The Panthers Reserves are back in action after the bye against West Adelaide on Saturday, August 6 at Hisense Stadium.