MRS Property League Match Report Round 7: South vs Norwood

MRS Property League Match Report

South Adelaide vs Norwood
Round 7 - Coopers Stadium - 09/08/20

Goals: Fitt 3, Wilkinson 2, Broadbent, Cross, Heaslip, Schwarz 
Best: Broadbent, Haines, Sampson, Fitt, Milsom
Injuries: Highmore (Ankle)
Full Injury List

South Adelaide suffer a heartbreaking four-point loss against Norwood at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.

Despite the Panthers having the lead at the main break Norwood's seven second-half goals to the Panthers four saw the game just slip through South Adelaide's fingers, 9.12 (66) to 10.10 (70).

Playing his first SANFL match, young Jason Horne looked at home for the Panthers with a total of nine touches and three tackles, while Ben Sawford collected ten disposals and three tackles during his first match in the blue and white.

Along with the debutants, continuing their impressive run of performances was Matthew Broadbent with 22 disposals and a team high eight marks, while Joe Haines gathered a team-high of 25 disposals.

The signs did not look good early for the Panthers as the first four scoring shots all came from the home side but luckily, only one would prove to be a major score.

But it would not be until the sixteenth minute mark that South Adelaide would score their first goal of the match, courtesy of Eamon Wilkinson.

But this was not enough to sway the momentum as Norwood would boot two unanswered goals to close out the quarter and had the Panthers an early 1.1 (7) to 3.3 (21) deficit at the first break.

Despite the Redlegs coming close to scoring a goal during the opening minute of the second term the quarter would prove to be all the Panthers, as the boys in the blue and white booted four unanswered goals during the second quarter two of which came from Liam Fitt.

Coming out of halftime with a 5.5 (35) to 3.5 (23) lead the Panthers looked to tighten their grip on the game.

But despite having four scoring shots in just six minutes, only Nic Schwarz's kick found the middle of the sticks.

Despite not getting as much of a reward on the scoreboard as hoped, the Panthers still did a strong job on the defensive end as the Redlegs only managed one goal during regular time.

However, the Panthers would take their foot off the pedal as the third term entered time on, and in just the space of five minutes Norwood had booted three goals to hand South Adelaide a five-point deficit at the final break.

The home side continued with this momentum into the final term with a goal after just two minutes of play. But sensing the game was slipping, the Panthers mounted one last fightback.

Fitt's third goal of the match brought the lead within just a kick which was capitalised on minutes later thanks to thumping goal by Broadbent. But Norwood would reply at the tenth minute mark to snatch the lead once again.

Both Reece Milsom (20 disposals) and Hayden Sampson (18 disposals) continued to look dangerous as the Panthers pushed to retake the lead.

Wilkinson followed up with second of the game to retake the Panthers lead, but the shoot-out continued as the Redlegs once again replied. Despite several shots during the dying stages, this would prove to be the final goal and the siren would sound before the Panthers could mount one last attack.

Despite losing the clearance count, 30 to 39, the Panthers were able to wrack up more inside 50s with 53 to 36 but this was not enough to change the 9.12 (66) to 10.10 (70) result.

South Adelaide will now look to bounce back against the ladder-leading Eagles at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday August 15, from 2:05pm.

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