MRS Property Match Report Round 16: vs Central District
MRS Property Match Report
South Adelaide vs Central District
Round 16 - X Convenience Oval - 07/08/21
| South Adelaide | 3.3 | 9.6 | 11.11 | 14.14 | 98 |
| Central District | 4.1 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 7.4 | 46 |
Goals: Haren, Horne 3, Fitt 2, Biemans, Haines, Heaslip, Overall, Tarca, Wilkinson
Best: Horne, Broadbent, Skinner, Haines, Griffiths, Schwarz
The Panthers retain the Mayors Cup: South Adelaide stormed home with a 52-point win over Central District at X Convenience Oval on a clean-swept Saturday.
Trailing by four points at quarter-time, the Panthers kicked away with six second-half goals to record an impressive Mayors Cup win, 14.14 (98) to 7.4 (46).
There were many standout players in the blue and white as eight collected 20 plus touches. But it was Joe Haines who led the way with a team-high 28 possessions and 12 marks. Also impressive was Jason Horne who finished with 22 touches and 3 goals.
This win finished off the Panthers clean sweep of the Bulldogs, with South Adelaide claiming wins in the Under-18s, Reserves and League, replicating the similar result of their Round Eight clash against Central District.
However, this clean sweep did not come easy as the Panthers were forced to hold off a fast-starting Bulldogs outfit.
Matthew Broadbent helped the Panthers win the first clearance of the game, but a free-kick saw the side fall metres short of registering the first inside 50—which would instead fall the way of the Dogs.
After spending the majority of the opening minutes defending, the Bulldogs broke through with the opening major of the match.
However, just minutes later, Ben Haren made his presence felt up forward by kicking the Panthers first of the day. He would strike again just two minutes later with his second of the game.
Continuing to enjoy his time back up forward, Haren then made it three marks for three goals with the final score of his trifecta coming during the late stages of the opening term.
Yet despite having three goals scored from the once-defender, the Panthers still headed into the first break facing a narrow 3.3 (21) to 4.1 (25) deficit.
This deficit would not last long as Broadbent and Horne linked up out of the centre, allowingLiam Fitt to gain possession and send a thumping kick inside 50—which was plucked out of the sky by Sam Overall, whose goal just 45 seconds into the second term brought the lead with it.
From assisting them to scoring them, Horne then followed up minutes later by forcing a turnover and quickly snapping truly.
As the Bulldogs began to flood the Panthers forward 50, South Adelaide still managed to find some inroads, such as through Anthony Biemans thumping goal midway through the term.
Then just minutes later and sensing his opportunity to join the goalkickers, Haines gained possession, sidestepped his opponent, and kicked a huge goal as the Panthers began to run away with the momentum.
Finishing off his standout quarter was Horne, whose thumping goal gave the Panthers a 9.6 (60) to 5.1 (31) lead at halftime. However, the Panthers would have to play out the remainder of the match without Reece Milsomwho suffered a head knock.
The Panthers were provided with plenty of first looks at the footy courtesy of Bailey Griffiths, who finished with 32 hit-outs. Meanwhile, Hayden Sampson continued to show his pace while also gathering 25 disposals and 13 marks.
Central District tried relentlessly to claw themselves back into the match and they almost found the perfect start, but Biemans was able to take a desperate intercept mark deep with Dogs forward territory.
This then began a stretch of no-goals from either side, which would not be broken for seventeen minutes until Ben Heaslip gathered the bouncing ball and snapped from close range.
The Bulldogs replied just two minutes later with their first major since the third minute of the second term. Returning the favour was Fitt, who also struck for the Panthers just two minutes later.
After the dust had settled from this mini-goal kicking frenzy, the Panthers held an 11.11 (77) to 6.2 (38) lead to their name.
The Panthers continued to push on towards the win during the final term as Bryce Gibbs, 26 touches and 7 clearances, continued to provide plenty of ball movement through the middle. Meanwhile, Sam Skinner was also showing his strength down back with 12 marks.
A minute into the final term, Eamon Wilkinson joined the goalkickers, while Fitt followed up minutes later with his second of the day.
Then, midway through the final term, Jake Tarca opened his goalkicking accountant—with this goal helping the Panthers to claim the impressive final scoreline of 14.14 (98) to 7.4 (46).
The Panthers then took the long journey back down south, with the Mayors Cup and a chance at the double chance come finals time.
The Panthers will return home for the first time in a month when they face off against North Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday, 14 August, from 2:10pm.
