South Adelaide vs North Adelaide
Round 10 - Flinders University Stadium - 13/06/2022

Goals: Heaslip 3, Bogle, Broadbent, Freitag, Garthwaite, Wilkinson 
Best: Clavarino, Haines, Heaslip, Turner, Dunkin
Crowd: 1,477

The Panthers knuckled down to win a vital thriller against the ladder-leading Roosters at Flinders University Stadium on Monday.

At the midpoint of a season that has been marred by injuries and a lack of luck: South Adelaide desperately needed to win their Round Ten clash to stay within reach of the top 5. 

Facing off against the top-of-the-table Roosters – who had won their past 7 games – and having had 10 Panther players who couldn’t train during the week due to the flu: South badly needed that luck to change.

But in the hotly contested battle, it seemed as if the Panthers’ luck had once again gone missing. They looked set to lose another nail-biter. But with 61 seconds remaining, and facing a 4-point deficit, Ben Heaslip embraced the moment by slotting a set shot goal to claim the gutsy win, 8.12 (60) to 8.10 (58).

It was a solid team effort by the South boys. Oscar Clavarino (15 disposals, 13 marks) was outstanding for the Panthers down back. Joe Haines (29 disposals), Jake Summerton (10 disposals) and Harrison Gunther (14 disposals) were also impressive for South’s sturdy backline.

Likewise, Elliot Dunkin (24 disposals, 6 tackles, 6 clearances) and Fraser Turner (25 disposals, 7 marks) were amazing around the ground.

South Adelaide’s unorthodox build-up to their Round Ten clash – which doubled as Keegan Brooksby’s 100th match – only made the task of ending North’s 7-game winning streak all the more daunting.

But these fears were soon forgotten as the Panthers pounced on the Roosters during the first term.

After conceding the opening goal of the match; the Panthers blitzed the Roosters. During a 5-minute stint, Ryan Garthwaite, Eamon Wilkinson and Heaslip all opened their goalkicking accounts for the day.

Then Matthew Broadbent – with an assist by Sam Overall – iced off a quality opening quarter to give South a 4.4 (28) to 1.1 (7) lead at the first break.

The Panthers continued to showcase their rebounding skills during the second term. Minutes into the quarter, one such rebound ended in Heaslip’s second goal of the day. Suddenly the side who went into the match as the underdogs – and on the back of such a strange build-up – was suddenly looking like the favourite.

However, the ladder leaders would begin to slowly chip away at the Panthers’ lead. Unforced errors, costly turnovers, and unwanted freekicks plagued the Panthers as the momentum began to shift.

But some key actions done against the tide by Reece Milsom and Dylan Brown helped keep the footy within the Panthers’ half for the remainder of the second term.

Although the side couldn’t register a major within those closing stages; these actions helped make sure the Panthers’ held a 5.7 (37) to 4.3 (27) lead at halftime.

Showing that training can pay off: a minute into the third term, Damon Freitag collected the footy from a stoppage before quickly putting boot-to-ball to snap a much-needed goal for the Panthers.

But the momentum would soon fall back into the Roosters' favour. A run of 3 unanswered goals by the visitors put South on the backfoot for the first time since the opening minutes of the match.

Minutes later, the Panthers once again took the lead thanks to some class by Luke Bogle in the pocket. At the other end, skipper Matt Rose courageously put his body on the line to stop a certain goal.

But deep into stoppage time; a costly free-kick helped the visitors strike again. And the game was quickly beginning to mirror the Eagles’ clash from a week prior.

With just 3 points separating the sides at the final break, 7.10 (52) to 8.7 (55), the last quarter was tense.

100 Gamer Keegan Brooksby and Senior Coach Jarrad Wright share a moment after the dramatic win. Image Nick Hook Photography. Click here for the full gallery. 

Both sides had their chances to score, but the pressure was beginning to affect both sides. Carrying heavy legs and battling the aftermath of the flu – the Panthers just looked as if they weren’t able to break through. That was until a string of marks ended in a chance for Heaslip, which he stepped up and slotted.

Holding a 2-point lead with a minute remaining: the blue and white desperately tried to hold off the visitors. And with seconds remaining in the match, Clavarino took the biggest mark of his SANFL career yet to seal the much-needed 2-point win for the Panthers, 8.12 (60) to 8.10 (58).

The blue and white boys now head into the bye a win below the third spot: and they will enjoy a well-deserved break – and a hot shower – before turning their attention toward their clash with Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium, which is set for Saturday, 25 June, from 1:10pm. 

Tickets on sale now!