Lumin Sports Match Report: Round 8 vs West Adelaide

South Adelaide vs West Adelaide
Round 8 - Flinders University Stadium - 28/05/2022

Click here for the full Gallery thanks to Nick Hook Photography.

Goals: Garthwaite, Wilkinson, Menzie 3, Kantilla, Freitag 2
Best: Brooksby, Dunkin, Davis, Menzie, Ramsay

South Adelaide stormed home in the second term to take down West Adelaide by 30 points at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday.

After a tough first half, the reinforced Panthers clicked into gear and registered 8 goals to 3 during the second half to claim a much-needed win over West Adelaide, 13.11 (89) to 8.11 (59).

Keegan Brooksby continued to show the benefits of having a ruckman as the influential tall had 36 hit-outs, collected 17 disposals, and took 6 marks.

South Adelaide’s defensive duo of Elliot Dunkin (19 disposals, 16 tackles) and Joe Haines (33 disposals, 9 marks) were also among the standouts.

This match also marked the return of Panther skipper, Matt Rose. Playing his first game of the season, Rose finished with 21 disposals, 7 marks and 3 tackles.

Heading into the match against the winless Bloods, many tipped the Panthers to win comfortably – but after last year’s close win at Hisense Stadium – the Panther faithful were weary.

Playing on a wet deck, the sides clashed heads but neither could get the first breakthrough score. There were no goals scored during the opening quarter.

The only major highlight was Jye Menzie’s gutsy mark with the flight of the ball – a sign of his impressive day to come. 

A sole point separated the Panthers from the Bloods at the first break, 0.3 (3) to 0.4 (4). But the next quarter was the complete opposite of the first.

After the goalless opening term, the teams combined for 10 goals within the 30-minute-long quarter. And it was Ryan Garthwaite who kicked things off with the opening goal of the game.

Minutes later, the Bloods were on the board for their first. Then, after winning the ball from the centre bounce, Eamon Wilkinson was able to assist Kim Kantilla for his first goal of the game.

Continuing the second term goal surge – the Bloods registered back-to-back goals to hand South a worrying 7-point deficit. However, an end-to-end play mixed with some Kantilla forward pressure saw the famous surname help steady the side with a much-needed goal.

Once again, the Bloods responded with back-to-back goals – this time within 2 minutes. The visitors then continued to pepper the goals as the margin grew to 13 points late into the second term.

Thankfully the Bloods could only muster a couple more points before the boys in the blue and white could mount a rebound attack, which was spearheaded by Mitch O’Neill. This coast-to-coast play was finished off by a much-needed Damon Freitag goal.

Minutes into the third term, a goal by Freitag kicked off a mini goal kicking frenzy for the Panthers. A Brooksby interception 3 minutes later helped set up Menzie for his first – he then repaid the favour 2 minutes later by setting up Wilkinson for his second goal of the day.

The Bloods eventually broke the Panthers' run of 5 straight goals thanks to a costly free-kick. But an eye-catching goal out of a forward stoppage by Garthwaite soon had the Panthers back on the run.

Continuing to kick goals with flare, the Panthers then had Menzie kick the ball mid-air to register his second goal of the day. This was the Panthers’ fifth goal for the term, and it sent the Bloods into defensive mode.

With plenty of Bloods’ players behind the ball, the Panthers had to slowly work their way through the numbers.

After chipping away for a while, Sam Ramsay let loose with a thumping kick inside the arc which put immense pressure on the Bloods’ backline.

Garthwaite was able to capitalise on the visitors' fumbles by booting his third goal from close range. 

Garthwaite’s goal set the margin at three-quarter-time to a promising 22 points, 11.6 (72) to 7.8 (50). 

South enjoyed the majority of the play during the final term, and they could have greatly extended their lead. But after being efficient in front of goal for most of the game – the side recorded 5 behinds in the final term.

With the likes of Reece Milsom and Oliver Davis picking off the Bloods’ attempts to rebound, the pressure finally broke the visitors and Kantilla was able to set up Menzie, who out bodied his opponent and strolled into an open goal.

Minutes later, Dunkin assisted Wilkinson for his third of the day: by this stage, the Panthers were home.

A goal by the Bloods during junk time cut the final winning margin to 30 points, 13.11 (89) to 8.11 (59). This made the victory the Panthers' biggest win so far this season and – more importantly – this win has kept them in touch with the top 5.

The Panthers will now turn their attention toward their clash against Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval on Sunday, 5 June, from 2:35pm. 

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