Comeback Kid: Bryce Damin made a successful return to senior footy in South's comprehensive victory over the Eagles. Image: Nick Hook Photography

Seniors Report

South Adelaide vs Woodville-West Torrens
Round 16 - Hickinbotham Oval - 12/08/17

Goals: Davis 5, Rose 3, Schwarz, Ellison 2, Cross, Damin, Liddle, Rankine, Raitt, Gulden, Durdin, Fields, Bass
Best: Cross, Davis, Fields, Gulden, Ellison, Rose
Injuries: nil
Crowd: 1438

South Adelaide have kept their finals chances alive thanks to a dominant 83-point victory over the ladder-leading Eagles at Hickinbotham Oval on Saturday afternoon.

Despite trailing at quarter time, the Panthers dominated play in the final three terms, recording a 102-point turnaround to set up a resounding 21.15 (141) to 9.4 (58) win that moves them within one win of fifth-placed Glenelg.

The Panthers again lost the toss and were forced to defend against a reasonable breeze and signs looked ominous early for Garry Hocking's men.

When Woodville-West Torrens goalled within 33 seconds through Jake Johansen flashbacks to West Adelaide and Port Adelaide's early dominance in recent weeks had many supporters feeling uneasy.

The early onslaught did not end there either, with the Eagles kicking the first four goals of the game within nine minutes.

Daniel Bass pulled one back for the home side midway through the quarter, but it would be South's only major score for the term and they would head into the first change facing a 19-point deficit.

Things did not look much better early in the second quarter, as former Crow Jared Petrenko kicked his first goal of the game in the opening minutes.

However, soon after the Panthers turned the tide at the stoppages and the flood gates opened on the scoreboard for their best passage of play for the season. 

South wrestled control of the game through the middle, with Joel Cross, Tom Fields and Adam Gulden giving the home side quality first use of the footy and, with the wind at their backs, deep penetrating entries to their dangerous forwards in the forward 50. 

The goals came thick and fast, as South booted 10.6 for the term and left the statisticians scrambling to see if such a mark had ever been hit in a single quarter at Hickinbotham Oval before.

Athletic big man Codey Ellison got things underway from a strong mark and finish, with Abe Davis opening his account soon after and Matt Rankine, Matt Rose, Cross and Matt Raitt also getting in on the scoring binge.

Petrenko did manage to add his second for the term deep into time on, but by the time the siren sounded for the extended break the Panthers had recorded a nine-goal turnaround and took a 35-point lead to the rooms.

Kicking against the breeze in the third quarter, South still maintained their dominant play, kicking the first four goals of the quarter and all but nullifying the wind advantage.

Adding even further reason to celebrate, Bryce Damin kicked his first goal at senior level after a 1538-day absence from the League side, while Luke Durdin also snuck his way forward from fullback to open his goal scoring account in the SANFL Macca's League. 

Former Panthers James Boyd and Michael Wundke did pull back a pair late for the visitors, but the difference was still extended to 47 at the final break.

The Panthers did not let up in the final term, with Davis continuing to cause match-up nightmares up forward and adding his fourth and fifth goals early in the piece.

Further major scores to Fields, Nick Liddle, a pair to Nic Schwarz and Gulden pushed the lead to 83 by the final siren and put an emphatic full stop on a memorable victory.

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Triple Knuckey Cup winner Joel Cross was again at his brilliant best (31 disposals, a goal and 11 score involvements), with his presence in the midfield helping flip the momentum in that crucial second term and playing a role in many scoring opportunities.

Similarly, the penetrating left foot of Tom Fields was a vital key to the Panthers offensive onslaught. Moved up the ground into a more attacking role, the former Carlton rookie collected 30 possessions, five inside 50s, a goal and was involved in 10 scoring chances.

Up forward, Abe Davis played arguably his best game for the club, kicking five goals from his 17 possessions and taking eight marks in the process. Codey Ellison (two goals, five marks and pinch-hitting in the ruck) and Matt Rose (23 touches, 13 marks and three goals) were also potent players in the forward line.

Adam Gulden (27 possessions, seven marks, five inside 50s and a late goal) also provided plenty of link up play coming out of defence and set up many scoring plays with his accurate disposal into the front half of the ground.

Best for the visitors was Joseph Sinor (30 touches and eight marks) and Luke Thompson, who collected 20 disposals in a defence that was under constant pressure after quarter time.

The Panthers next mission will be a crucial clash with Sturt at Peter Motley Oval from 2:10pm this Saturday, August 19.

Panther Pups: One of many current juniors or Under-18s graduates in South's Reserves, Coby Helyar gets a kick away against the Eagles. Image: Nick Hook Photography

Reserves Report

South Adelaide vs Woodville-West Torrens
Round 16 - Hickinbotham Oval - 12/08/17

Goals: Tyllis 3, Steele 2, Kreuger, Noble, Allevi, Rolfe, Ah Chee, Aurrichio, Barnes, Jolly
Best: Aurrichio, Barnes, Irra, Ah Chee, Tyllis, McKinnon

South Adelaide's Reserves played out a hard-fought draw with Woodville-West Torrens at Hickinbotham Oval on Saturday afternoon.

In a match that saw both sides enjoy dominant periods of play, it was almost fitting that the margin finished where it started and locked on 13.7 (85) a piece.

The draw sees South fall out of the top five, but remain still just half a game back from as high as fourth on the ladder.

After taking a goal advantage into the first break, things started looking dire for the Panthers in the second term as the Eagles took full advantage of the breeze and outscored the home side 7.4 to 1.0 and set up a 34 margin at halftime.

However, South returned the favour in the third, kicking 6.3 to 0.0 to set up a tense final term.

The Eagles kicked the first two major scores of the fourth through Cooper Gaffney and Damien Schmusch, before Alex Aurrichio and Mark Noble returned South to the lead.

Woodville pushed themselves back into the lead in the 20th minute thanks to Jack Lukosius' fourth goal for the afternoon.

A handy point from Roland Ah Chee locked the scores four minutes later.

Given a free kick at half forward with 30 seconds to play, the Eagles had one last roll of the dice to snatch a late victory.

However, young defender Jesse McKinnon drifted back with the flight of the ball and took a courageous mark to secure at least a point for his side.

Big man Aurrichio continued to be a competitive and physical force at the stoppages, going toe-to-toe with the experienced Marc Borholm in the ruck, while also kicking a goal and laying 10 tackles.

Meanwhile, Rigby Barnes responded magnificently to being sent back to the Reserves, with 29 touches, five tackles and a goal.

Youngsters Robert Irra (20 possessions, seven marks and six desperate tackles), Joseph Tyllis (three goals) and McKinnon (13 touches ans seven marks) all starred in their roles.

Big bodied midfielder Roland Ah Chee also enjoyed one of his better games for the season, racking up 21 disposals, kicking a goal and the decisive behind.

The Reserves are back in action this weekend with a vital clash against fourth-placed Sturt from 11:30am, Saturday, August 19 at Peter Motley Oval.