MRS Property Match Report Round 4: vs Sturt

MRS Property Match Report

South Adelaide vs Sturt
Round 4 - Flinders University Stadium - 24/04/21

Goals: Cross 3, Skinner 2, Bogle, Cailotto, Sampson, Schwarz, Tarca, Wilkinson, 
Best: Sampson, Gibbs, Cross, Cailotto, Milsom, Haines

Lest We Forget: South Adelaide storms home to defeat Sturt by 39-points at Flinders University Stadium.

Five unanswered goals during the final term were enough for the fast-finishing Panthers to break the tussle with the Double Blues and keep their unbeaten streak alive, 11.15 (81) to 6.6 (42).

Finishing with 31 touches and 11 marks, Hayden Sampson received the Frank Barry Medal while Bryce Gibbs continued his standout start to the year by collecting 35 disposals and 7 tackles.

Despite claiming their second biggest win of the season, the final score line was a far cry from where the game looked to be heading as no more than a goal separated the two sides at each of the quarter time breaks.

The visitors put immense pressure around the ball during the opening term, and they were rewarded by doing so as the Double Blues kicked the first goal after four minutes of play.

Sturt looked to continue to build on this early lead but, as it has been so far this season, the Panthers backline remained steadfast. Jake Summerton stopped two attacks within just five minutes, a defensive action that would pay off at the other end.

After going seventeen minutes without a goal, Nic Schwarz was able to force a turnover in the Panthers forward half - this would then lead to Joel Cross crumbing the ball and snapping South's first of the day.

Trailing 1.3 (9) to 2.1 (13) at the first change, the Panthers deficit increased early into the second term on the back of a Kirkwood goal.

With plenty of numbers around the ball, the Panthers would once again struggle to break through with another major. This was until the fourteenth minute mark, when Eamon Wilkinson's thumping kick sailed through to bring the lead to within a kick.

However, this momentum was short-lived as the Double Blues kicked back-to-back goals within two minutes.

As the second term entered stoppage time and facing a fifteen-point deficit, Alex Cailotto stepped up with a much-needed goal for the Panthers.

Then Jake Tarca literally stepped up with a Mark of the Year contender, but his kick struck the woodwork.

Finishing the half with a newfound momentum, the Panthers composure inside 50 allowed them to set up Luke Bogle whose goal brought the deficit to just a single point at halftime.

Five minutes into the third term, Sam Skinner showed his soccer skills with two kicks off the ground, the last of which saw the ball cross the line for a goal, which took the lead for the Panthers.

Tarca then followed up by quickly snapping the ball out of a contest but his dribbling kick collided with the postin total the post would thwart three of the Panthers goals for the day.

Late in the third term and with the scores were locked, Cross once again popped up to drill his second of the day and hand the Panthers a one goal lead at the final change.