Heartbreak on the siren for our Reserves.

South Adelaide Reserves V Woodville-West Torrens Reserves
Elimination Final - Flinders University Stadium - 02/09/2023

Goal: Cockshell 4, Bedford 2, Heaslip, Kantilla, Kraemer, Mitton
Disposals: Collins 30, Duncan, Heaslip 22, Bradley, Hayes 20
Best: Heaslip (Thanks to Sports Power), Cockshell, Collins, Kraemer, Brown

Throughout the Season, the Reserves have shown they have what it takes to take their season deep into finals. Up against Woodville-West Torrens in an Elimination Final, the Reserves would have to leave it all out on the field. 

On their home deck, the pressure in the first term was high and both teams only managed two majors.

Koby Cockshell would get the Panthers on the board, running into an open goal and securing his first from 30-metres out.

The Eagles swiftly responded and stalemate followers as the Panthers were unable to get the ball forward. 

The Reserves found a way to get the ball up forward and into the hands of Cockshell once again who secured his second from 40-metres out. 

Heading into the first break, the Panther's were trailing by two points. 

It took until the later half of the second term for the Reserves to turn on, but once they did it was a masterclass as they kicked four unanswered goals. 

Cockshell found himself infront of goals again with a 40-metre set shot and a pure kick securing his third of the day. 

Movement out of the middle was easy and the Reserves were taking all opportunities out of stoppages. Scott Bedford registered his first of the day from a 50-metre set shot with a strong and spectacular kick, the Panthers were in the lead. 

Kim Kantilla was next to get involved after stripping the opposition of the ball and kicking a major from 15-metres out. 

The four-goal run was sealed by Ben Heaslip who managed his major from 25-metres out and gave the Panthers a 12 point lead heading into half time. 

The Eagles made a return in the third term, but goals from Bedford and Luke Mitton kept the Panthers in front. 

Mitton's set shot from 25-metres was spot on, and Bedford's gutsy mark and follow up goal from 35-metres was genuine. 

Jacob Collins was influential in this term as he collected 30 disposals, while Bedford and Angus Bradley combined for ten tackles. 

At the end of quarter, the Panthers were in the lead by 7-points, leaving the door wide open and setting up what was a spectacularly contested and intense final term of football with both teams finishing on 42 tackles. 

Nick Kraemer did well to get the Panthers up early in the last term, getting his hands on the ball after a hit out went astray, picking up with precision and kicking a great snap from 20-metres out.

The Eagles weren’t going away and made sure to bring the contest back into contention, kicking two major scores in quick succession during the term.

Cockshell would get on the end of his fourth goal in a crucial moment, his 20-metre set shot putting the panthers back up by 6-points.

It didn’t take long for Woodville to reply and bring the game back to a stalemate with little time left on the clock.

The reserves did everything in the power to get back forward and get on the scoreboard, but it wasn’t going to happen.

Devastation would hit in the 26-minute at a stoppage 30-metres from the Eagles goals. A high and loose ball floated across goals and fell across the line after coming off an Eagle's players head. The point was awarded as the siren rung, breaking the hearts of the Panthers.