MRS Property Match Report Round 13: vs Eagles

MRS Property Match Report

South Adelaide vs Woodville-West Torrens
Round 13- Flinders University Stadium - 03/07/21

Goals: Overall 2, Cross, Skinner, Tucker, Wilkinson
Best: Sampson, Broadbent, Wilkinson, Tucker

A costly second half sees South Adelaide suffer a six-goal defeat at the hands of the Eagles at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday.

The Panthers entered the halftime break facing a narrow 10-point deficit, but they would only muster one more goal during the final half while the Eagles managed six to set up the 6.9 (45) to 13.3 (81) defeat.

Wearing the stunning indigenous guernsey, it was Hayden Sampson who led the way for the Panthers with 28 disposals, 8 marks and 6 tackles. Meanwhile, the Reynella debutant Nick Kraemer, finished with 10 touches and 4 tackles.

Five minutes into the match the Panthers opened the scoring with a Sam Overall goal. But as would be the theme for the majority of the match, the side could not record back-to-back goals as the next two majors of the opening term went the way of the Eagles.

The Panthers would eventually find a steadier after the debutant Kraemer combined with Matthew Broadbent on the forward flank who then chipped it inside 50 to Eamon Wilkinson. Wilkinson then passed it off and this unselfish play was finished off nicely by Joel Cross, whose goal brought the lead to within a kick.

However, two unanswered goals by the Eagles put the Panthers on the back foot on the scoreboard while on the field, Sampson had to deal with a late hit which saw a small melee erupt in the final minutes of the opening term.

Nonetheless, the Panthers went into the first break facing a 2.2 (14) to 4.1 (25) deficit. But they would be forced to finish the match without last week's Best on Ground, Mitch O'Neill, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The opening minutes of the second term saw Wilkinson set up another teammate, this time it was Overall who went back and drilled his second goal of the day. Then, not to be outdone on the highlight reel, Joe Haines took a Mark of the Week contender in the centre of the ground to prevent a dangerous Eagles' rebound.

The defence, who welcomed back James Loneragan from injury, did their best to hold out against the potent Eagles attack with one of their defensive rebounds resulting in a Wilkinson goal at the other end.

Minutes later, Sam Skinner kicked truly from close range for his first of the day which was also the first time the Panthers had kicked back-to-back goals.

This was a rare moment for the side as the Panthers struggled to break through the Eagles defence. In total, the Panthers collected 11 more inside 50s than the Eagles but they only converted on 33 per cent of entries. The Eagles on the other hand were slightly cleaner, finishing with 46 per cent.

After dictating the play for the majority of the second term, the Eagles struck with two goals within the final two minutes to snatch the leadand the Panthers would not gain the lead for the remainder of the match.

Darnell Tucker struck with a much-needed goal for the Panthers during the opening minutes of the third term, but this would prove to be the Panthers last major score of the match.