The Panthers draw, and the Reserves were out-muscled in the wet.

South Adelaide V Port Adelaide
Round 17 - Flinders University Stadium - 19/08/2023

Goals: Fitt, Freitag, Shillabeer 3, Schuback 2, Brooksby, Gibbs, Sproule, Wilkinson
Disposals: Mutch 30, O'Neill 28, Haines 23, Tucker 20, Sampson 19
Best: Brooksby (Thanks to Betta Home Living McLaren Vale & Victor Harbor), Shillabeer (Thanks to Sports Power), Haines (Thanks to Jimmy Deane's), Freitag, Fitt
Injuries: Kraemer, Skinner, Jones
Crowd: 1,380

Coming off a 2-point loss to Norwood in Round 17, the Panthers were looking for a win against Port Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium for the last time in Season 2023. 

The Panthers revealed Player #1820 in Jacob Collins (Tasman Football Club) who earned his debut after his consistent and impressive form in the Reserves since joining the Club.   

The first quarter set the tone for the rest of the contest, and it quickly became clear this was going to be a high scoring affair.

Port started strong with three major scores, but the Panthers responded in respectable fashion.

Damon Freitag was first on the board for the Panthers. Taking a strong mark at the top of the square, the kick from 20-metres was solid and the Panthers registered their first. 

It would dry up after this as the league side struggled to move forward freely, the corridor completely closing up.

Ben Shillabeer would prove his importance with two major scores late in the term. The first was a quick snap in front of goals after putting his body on the line, and the second a beautiful set shot from 45-metres out. 

The first term ended with the Panthers in a two-point deficit but the boys looked strong and up for a fight.

The second quarter triggered an offensive blitz with seven major scores, and multiple players putting their name on the board. 

Liam Fitt started the siege early as his dribble kick while on the move was impressive, resulting in a lead change favouring the Panthers. 

Zachery Sproule would manage to kick his set shot from 20-metres out after a strong mark.

The Panthers looked in control and did well to find Freitag and Jonti Schuback in quick succession, elevating the lead further.

The clearance work was immaculate, and it was a major reason for the goal kicking barrage in the second term.

Eamon Wilkinson and Bryce Gibbs working well to get forward and secure their first within moments of each other. Getting free from their defenders and making them pay for it.

Schuback finished the job for the Panthers and gave them a 35-point lead at the end of the half.

Nothing was getting in their way despite the miserable conditions. In the third term the contest was brought back into dispute.

With the pressure still high, Liam Nye found himself amongst it with 10 tackles. 

Shillabeer and Freitag both registered their third goal, while Fitt would join the multiples with his second. 

Port managed to get back into the game kicking six major scores, three of those coming late, a tough blow considering the fourth term was still to be played out. 

Going into the fourth quarter up by 12-points it was still anyone’s game. Unfavourably Panthers were now limited to two players on the bench resulting from injuries to Nick Kraemer and Sam Skinner.

Port Adelaide weren't giving up and Fitt did well to stop the bleeding, his third coming from a 50-metre bomb while on the move.

It was clear the Panthers had what it takes to get the job done, their skills were classy in the conditions but struggled to convert in front of goals. 

Keegan Brooksby was able to kick his first at a crucial point of the game. Port weren't backing down and had themselves a two point lead. 

Missed opportunities in front of goals equalised the Panthers and Port Adelaide. 

As per usual, Kobe Mutch was busy around the ground with 30 disposals. 

The Panthers will turn their attention to the final game of the Season against Glenelg at Stratarma Stadium on Saturday August 26 from 2:10pm. 

South Adelaide Reserves V Sturt Reserves
Round 17 - Flinders University Stadium - 19/08/2023

Goal: Bradley, Hayes, Kantilla
Disposals: Duncan, Lovering 21, Birt 20, Heaslip 18, Kirkland 17
Best: Birt (Thanks to Sports Power), J. Skinner, Heaslip, Douglass, Kirkland

Coming off a tough contest against Norwood in Round 16 the reserves were looking to not only find some form, but to get one over Sturt. 

With finals all but certain on the cards for the Reserves, it was time to get to work and build towards the end of the year.

With the rain, wind and fog setting in, the conditions were less than ideal. But on the home deck for the last time in the minor rounds, it was set to be a tough contest.

The first term was strong from the Reserves, inflicting high pressure on their opposition. The Panthers managed to move the ball around well and made it a challenge for Sturt in their air. 

Despite the pressure and ball movement, it would take a while for a major to be scored. A high ball beaming towards the top of the goal square was hotly contested, Lachlan Hayes got free and read the contest with precision, getting the ball onto his boot, and securing the first goal for the Panthers.

The unfavourable conditions made it a task to take marks and both sides were making it a point to tackle with force.

The Reserves did well to get the ball  forward for another opportunity later in the term. Angus Bradley made the most of his chance with a set shot from just shy of 50-metres out.

After the first quarter the Reserves were in the driver’s seat and looking like the better side.

The second term was a complete stalemate with neither side able to hit the scoreboard with a major, a plethora of minor scores would arise and it was clear the conditions had gotten the better of the contest.

Ben Heaslip made sure to keep the pressure up, ending his day with a team high 12 tackles.

The first half would end with the Panthers in the lead by 16-points, and with plenty of time left to play a continued effort would be needed to get the job done.

In the third quarter the Panthers struggled, allowing Sturt to kick away, five major scores would find there way through the home sides defense. 

After trying all game to keep the intensity high one quarter unfortunately brought it all down.

The Reserves were unable to reply in this term as they struggled to stay in possession of the footy.

Looking at the final quarter ahead, the Panthers needed to bring it back quickly. Isaac Birt did his best to contribute to a comeback ending with a game high 9 marks and almost team high 20 disposals.

It was too much for the Panthers as Kim Kantilla was the only player able to kick a major in this term, his set shot from 40-metres out was crisp.

Charlie Duncan led the team with 21 disposals in the contest.

It wasn’t the Reserves day as they would go down by 8-points in a wet weather battle.

The Panthers will turn their attention to their last match of the home and away season against Glenelg on Saturday August16 at Stratarama Stadium from 11:30am.