MRS Property Match Report Round 14: vs Adelaide

MRS Property Match Report

South Adelaide vs Adelaide
Round 14 - Victor Harbor Oval - 10/07/21

Goals: Fitt 3, Broadbent, Gibbs, Haren, Horne, Milsom, SKinner, Tarca, Tucker, Wilkinson
Best: Gibbs, Sampson, Juckers, Broadbent, Haren, Fitt

South Coast SANFL Showcase: The Panthers pounce on the Crows with a hard-fought 17-point win at Victor Harbor Oval on a sunny Saturday.

Making the journey to deep within South Adelaide's country zone, the main event of the SA Country Football Championships certainly did not disappoint as the Panthers managed to outlast the Crows, 12.15 (87) to 10.10 (70).

Liam Fitt celebrated his 50th match with three goals, while Hayden Sampson collected an equal game-high of 28 touches.

It was a poetic end to the match as Bryce Gibbs, who was playing on the same oval as his father, registered the final major score of the day. Gibbs Best on Ground performance included 27 disposals, 7 clearances and 6 tackles.

But before Gibbs was able to put the icing on the cake, the Panthers had to battle it out with the Crows all day. 

Just a minute into the match, Reece Milsom drew first blood with the first major of the match. From here, the Panthers managed to keep the Crows at arm's length and stay in the lead for the remainder of the match.

This fast start saw the Panthers dictate the majority of the first term, with James Loneragan and Matthew Broadbent helping keep the back six strong. 

Unfortunately, on the offensive end, the side registered six straight behinds within twelve minutes. 

After some close calls, Fitt was able to gain possession on the wing, fend off his opponent, and send the ball deep inside 50 where Jake Tarca was able to take a double-grab, go back, and kick a much-needed goal to close out the opening term. 

Holding a 2.6 (18) to 1.2 (8) lead, the Panthers were dealt a blow with Joel Cross getting ruled out for the remainder of the match due to injury. At this stage, Crossy already had 7 disposals and 2 marks to his name.

After a clever side-step, Jason Horne opened the scoring during the second term. By this stage, the Panthers had begun to put heaps of forward pressure on the Crows, and it paid off as their turnovers allowed Eamon Wilkinson to dribble through a classy goal.

In total, the Panthers finished with 62 inside 50s compared to Adelaide's 37.

Midway through the quarter, Horne displayed his pace by breaking away from a pack before then steadying and hitting up Darnell Tucker who went back and drilled his first of the match.

By the time Fogarty struck for the Crows, the Panthers had raced away with a 21-point lead.

In a flashback to Round One, Fitt closed out the half with two goals in three minutes to hand the Panthers a 7.8 (50) to 3.6 (24) lead at halftime.

Adelaide big names, Lynch and Fogarty, both struck during the early stages of the third term. While for the Panthers, Fitt was able to get on the end of a Tarca assist to register his third major of the game.

After defending well for the majority of the match, Ben Haren managed to cut off a Crows pass, do a quick 1-2, then let loose from outside the arc with one of the better plays of the day.

Following this momentum-creating goal, Danny Juckers was able to intercept on the forward flank, and his efforts would eventually see Sam Skinner open his goal-kicking account for the day.

Juckers, who was playing his first league game of 2021, finished with 21 disposals and 8 marks.

From kicking goals to setting them up, Horne then put his body on the line trying to prevent a Crows' goal during the latter stages of the third term.

Holding a 10.12 (72) to 7.7 (49) lead at the final break; the Panthers were forced to fend off the Crows who threw everything they had left at the boys in the blue and white.