Lumin Sports Match Report: Round 7 vs Glenelg

Lumin Sports Round 7 Match Report

South Adelaide vs Glenelg
Round 7 - ACH Group Stadium - 21/05/2022

Goals: Menzie 2, Bogle, Clavarino, Freitag, Garthwaite, Kantilla, Sampson 
Best: Broadbent, Summerton, Haines, Dunkin, Bogle

Crowd: 2225
 

South Adelaide’s relentless attack against Glenelg ended in a 34-point loss at ACH Group Stadium on Saturday.

Facing off against a relatively full-strength Tigers team, the undermanned Panthers were one quarter away from snatching a Carey-Darley Cup victory – but a fourth term surge by the opposition sealed the Panthers' 34-point fate, 8.9 (57) to 12.19 (91). 

The Panthers' backline remained steadfast throughout the day. Joe Haines (24 disposals, 7 marks, and 4 tackles), Matthew Broadbent (25 disposals, 11 rebound 50s), and debutant Daniel Sladojevic (12 disposals) were among defensive standouts.

Around the ground, Mitch O’Neill (24 disposals, 6 tackles) and Keegan Brooksby (22 hit-outs, 5 clearances) were also key contributors.

But even with some strong displays – it was never going to be an easy battle for the Panthers. Facing off against last year’s Grand Finalists – and without the experience of Heaslip, Gibbs, Overall, Rose, Fitt or Wilkinson – the side came in as the heavy underdogs.

Yet despite not being backed by most: the Panthers fought hard against Glenelg.

The first term saw the Panthers kick into a strong northerly breeze and – despite having more forward entries – the side entered the first break trailing by 13 points, 0.3 (3) to 2.4 (16).

The second term was a little different for the Panthers. Minutes into the quarter, Damon Freitag flicked a quick handpass to Ryan Garthwaite who then calmly banked the Panthers' first major score of the day.

Then Sladojevic, who looked at home in the league backline, welcomed himself to league footy with a strong intercept mark in defence to help keep the Tigers at bay.

But, because there was an immense amount of pressure put around the footy, scoring was no easy task. 

No team would score another goal after Garthwaite’s until late into the term when a costly free-kick handed the Tigers their first of the quarter. The Tigers, who had then snatched back the momentum, pushed for another but – as their numbers surged forwards – the tide of play was switched after Elliot Dunkin intercept the ball at half-back. 

Dunkin’s interception resulted in a coast-to-coast play by the Panthers which was finished off beautifully by a running Hayden Sampson. Minutes later, Damon Freitag took a strong contested grab before then registering his first of the day to cut the deceit to 4 points. 

Unfortunately, despite having the lead within sight, a combination of fumbles, errors, and free kicks saw the Tigers score back-to-back goals to extend their margin.

Needing something before halftime: Jye Menzie read the ball perfectly to take an uncontested mark in close range. His goal – which came after the siren – set the halftime score at 4.4 (28) to 5.8 (38).

The third term began with an unsportsmanlike hit on Luke Bogle – which was only matched by the heckling from beyond the fence – but Bogle soon silenced them with a set shot goal.

Debutant Jake Cresswell then got involved in a string of touches that was finished off by a rare Oscar Clavarino goal – his SANFL first.

Sam Ramsay and Bogle kept causing havoc through the middle as it began to feel like the Panthers were in control. Which Kim Kantilla capitalised on with a much-needed goal to extend the Panthers’ lead.

South Adelaide then pushed again for another late goal but – after a holding-the-ball tackle was ruled too high – the Tigers rebounded and broke their shackles with a goal. This goal then opened the floodgates for Glenelg who scored 2 more majors to end the third term.

A narrow of 7.9 (51) to 8.11 (59) deficit at the final change meant it was a case of do or die for the Panthers. But after South gained the first few looks inside 50 – a costly error in defence allowed the Tigers to kick a goal from a free.

Glenelg then went on a mini scoring spree and the Panthers’ winning hopes looked lost. That was until Tate Lovering intercepted the footy and sent the Panthers rebounding off half-back. This ended in Menzie’s second goal of the match – but sadly, it also doubled as the Panthers’ final goal of the game.

The undermanned Panthers kept fighting but they couldn’t match it with the Tigers – who would score a couple more goals during junk time to hand the blue and white a bitter loss, 8.9 (57) to 12.19 (91).

South Adelaide will return home to Flinders University Stadium to face West Adelaide on Saturday, May 28, from 2:10pm.

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