South Adelaide Reserves vs Central District Reserves
Round 18 - Flinders University Stadium - 14/08/2022

Goals: Sladojevic, Douglass 3, Collins, Kraemer 2, Cresswell, Gill, Bogle, Megins
Best: Kraemer, Collins, Lovering, Sladojevic, Megins

South Adelaide Reserves finish strong to defeat Central District by 14 points at Flinders University Stadium on Sunday.

After enjoying a fast start that saw the Panthers kick 6 first-term goals to 1. They were then forced to fend off the resilient Bulldogs to claim a hard-fought and character-developing win, 14.9 (93) to 12.7 (79).

Best afield in the tough battle was Nick Kraemer, who finished with 24 disposals, 8 tackles, 7 clearances, and 2 goals. Jacob Collins (24 disposals, 8 tackles, and 7 marks) was also impressive, as was Tate Lovering (21 disposals, 6 rebound 50s).

Fittingly, it was Kraemer who featured heavily during the Panthers' first few scores. The first saw him smother the footy to trap it within South’s forward half – before then gaining possession from the stoppage and kicking truly.

Collins then added a major score to his season tally just 2 minutes later. Then – after a gutsy mark with the flight by Kraemer – the Panthers went end-to-end where Daniel Sladojevic was waiting to register his first.

Continuing to dominate the first term, Max Clifton assisted Oliver Megins for his first, and South’s fourth straight, goal. Soon Sladojevic had added to the total with his second as did Brian Gill with his first.

And when the dust had settled, the Panthers entered the first break grasping a promising lead, 6.3 (39) to 1.0 (6).

However, their lead was put in jeopardy in the second term as the Dogs slowly began to reel the Panthers in.

The Bulldogs scored 3 unanswered goals to start the second before Luke Bogle could buck the trend of wasteful forward entries with a much-needed goal.

And Bogle’s steadier helped the Panthers regain the momentum late. Thanks to a juggling Riley Jones mark on the wing, South was able to have one last look inside 50 which resulted in a crucial mark – and goal – by Aaron Douglass that came within seconds of the halftime siren.

This gave the Panthers a 4-goal lead at the main break, 8.3 (51) to 4.3 (27).

However, after Sladojevic made the Dogs pay for a lack of discipline; the visitors enjoyed most of the scoring in the third term. A run of 5 goals by the Bulldogs saw them take the lead – and it looked like they were going to run away with it.

But Douglass once again stepped up late by intercepting a Dogs’ pass and turning it into 6 points to hand the Panthers a narrow lead at the final break, 10.5 (65) to 9.6 (60).

Showing plenty of resilience, the Panthers knuckled down in the final term to grind out a tough victory. The Dogs retook the lead early, but some slick play off the deck by Kraemer saw him drill the lead-taker. However, once again the Dogs replied.

Then Jake Cresswell converted from a tough angle and with the pressure mounting, Bogle caught his opponent holding the ball and – to add insult to injury – he side-stepped his opponent before setting up Collins with a crucial goal.

Then continuing his streak of late goals, a thumping goal by Douglass within seconds of the siren sealed the impressive 14-point win, 14.9 (93) to 12.7 (79).

The Panther Reserves will look to end their season with a wing against Woodville-West Torrens at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday, 20 August, from 11:20am.