Lumin Sports Match Report: Round 5 vs Adelaide

Lumin Sports Round 5 Match Report

South Adelaide vs Adelaide
Round 5 - Flinders University Stadium - 01/05/2022

Goals: Kantilla 3, Garthwaite, Gunther, Menzie 2, Brooksby, Sampson 
Best: O'Neill, Kantilla, Davis, Summerton, Brooksby
Crowd: 987

South Adelaide falls 11 points short of a fairy-tale finish during their clash with Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium on Sunday.

It was a similar story for South Adelaide. Another costly slow start, which saw the Panthers concede 4 goals in the opening 15 minutes, proved the difference-maker in their 11-point loss, 11.5 (71) to 12.10 (82).
Then there was the story of the weekend. The much-anticipated debut of Kim Kantilla, the great-grandson of South Adelaide legend David Kantilla. Kantilla finished with 18 touches, 11 marks and 3 goals to earn the Round 5 Powerade Breakthrough nomination.

Mitch O’Neill (32 disposals, 7 tackles, 5 clearances) and Keegan Brooksby (22 hit-outs, 9 tackles) were also impressive for the blue and white. Likewise, Bryce Gibbs, despite being tagged, still managed to collect 25 touches, 4 clearances and 3 tackles.

Facing off against the second-placed Crows, who had 17 AFL listed players, the Panther faithful were left gritting their teeth as the visitors registered the first 4 goals of the game within the opening 15 minutes of play.
 

The Panthers, who had registered more inside 50s during the first term, eventually broke through with their first major after a coast-to-coast play was finished off by Harrison Gunther, whose goal came within seconds of the quarter-time siren..

Kicking off the second term with a 1.4 (10) to 4.2 (26) deficit, the Panthers handballed their way to their second goal of the day, albeit with some trouble.

Jye Menzie’s goal brought the Panthers to within 10 points of the lead, but a costly turnover minutes later allowed the Crows to have an easy reply. However, despite this error, the Panthers looked to be finding their feet. Then the Crows, who were showing more fight than they did against GWS, collected Joe Haines with a late hit to hand the Panthers a down-the-ground free—which Menzie’s made them pay for by kicking his second goal of the day.

This much-needed goal swung the momentum in South’s favour. Then, after having to combat the Crows’ defensive flood, Ryan Garthwaite plucked the footy out of the air to kick his first of the day.  
In the dying stages of the second term, a forced turnover sent the Panthers surging forwards and, after a soaring grab, the ball fell into the hands of Kantilla, who welcomed himself to SANFL footy with a debut goal.

Kantilla’s goal sent the Panthers into the halftime break with a much more manageable deficit, 5.4 (34) to 6.5 (41). This score was also the Panthers’ highest halftime score in weeks.

Needing something to close the gap: the opening minute of the second half saw the Panthers win the centre clearance and set up Gunther deep within the arc, who then went back to kick his second of the day to cut the deficit to a point. Minutes later, Brooksby stepped up to hand South the lead for the first time of the day. Then Garthwaite followed suit with his second major to increase the lead to double digits.

Unfortunately, the Crows were able to respond with a steadying goal. But, after winning the footy straight out of the centre, Hayden Sampson was able to replenish the lead on the run.

After 2 goals within a 3-minute stint by the visitors, the scoring dried up from both sides. Some desperation by Matthew Broadbent helped keep the Crows at bay while a crucial holding-the-ball tackle by Brooksby, deep in opposition territory, sent the Panthers into the final break facing a 9.5 (59) to 9.7 (61).

Carrying heavy legs and being a rotation down, due to the loss of Sam Overall, the Panthers had to deep dig to come out on top—and they certainly started strong.

A chain of handpasses, which started at halfback, saw the Panthers go end to end to register the opening goal of the term to snatch the lead. Kantilla, who kicked the goal, earned a nomination for Goal of the Week for his gut running during this play.

Then the Crows, who were the highest-scoring side in the competition, pushed hard for a replier. Oliver Davis showed great composure down back to help the Panthers thwart their first attempt but eventually, a free-kick handed the visitors back the lead.

The Crows followed up again with another major to seemingly put the game away: that is if it wasn’t for the efforts of Kantilla, who popped up again to finish an end-to-end play for his third goal. Kantilla, showing his endurance and elusiveness, then took the footy for a run along the wing before managing to dodge a wannabe tackler, despite him slipping over.

He then passed it off to Sampson before getting it back seconds later. Faking out the man on the mark, Kantilla then streamed towards goal before sending it deep within the arc—however, he got crunched just after he disposed of the footy. Cries of a down-the-ground free by the fans cruelly went unheard; this would have placed Kantilla at the tip of the square—placing him in an opportune spot to claim a fairy-tale finish.

Instead, the Crows managed to run out the final minute and kick a late goal to hand the Panthers a bitter loss, 11.5 (71) to 12.10 (82).
The Panthers turn their attention toward Norwood, with their clash with the Redlegs at Coopers Stadium set for Saturday, 7 May, from 2:05pm. 

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