Under-18 Match Report: Round 1 vs Norwood

Under-18 Match Report

South Adelaide vs Norwood
Round 1 - Flinders University Stadium - 02/04/2021

Goals: Duncan 3, Cockshell, Draper, Hoeck 2, Brown, Roberts, Treloar
Best: Hoeck, Bradley, Birt, Jones, Draper, Roberts

A very Good Friday for South Adelaide's U18s as they knock off the reigning premiers by thirteen points at Flinders University Stadium.

After overcoming a slow start, the Panthers cruised towards a stunning season opening win over reigning premiers Norwood, 12.7 (79) to 10.6 (66).

The side was well-supplied by Arlo Draper and Matt Roberts both finished with 25 touches, while Charlie Duncan kicked off his season with three goals.

Fittingly, it was Duncan who opened the scoring for the Panthers by kicking the side's first goal of the 2021 season.

Yet this wouldn't give the Panthers quite the dream start that they would have hoped for as the visitors booted three unanswered goals to end the opening term.

Facing a 1.1 (7) to 3.3 (21) deficit at the first change, things began to look worse as the Redlegs added to their lead with the first goal of the second term.

Duncan would step again with a much-needed goal for the Panthers, and in a great show of strength the home side began to claw themselves back into the game.

Skipper Dylan Brown booted his first goal of the season midway through the quarter, while Duncan followed up minutes later with his third of the day.

By the time the halftime siren rang, the Panthers were leading 6.5 (41) to 5.3 (33).

After putting together a 23-point turnaround, the Panthers became determined to not let it slip.

Hugo Hoeck kicked his second goal of the match after just forty-six seconds of play while Draper would add a goal to his name midway through the third term.

Unlike the visitors, the Panthers managed to make the most of their chances inside 50. By the final siren South Adelaide had amassed 34 inside 50s compared to the Redlegs' 45.

This was shown when Draper kicked his second of the day after just a minute into the final term.

However, the reigning premiers threatened to snatch the lead with two unanswered goals in quick succession.

After many tense minutes, goals by Koby Cockshell and Roberts during the dying minutes of the match all but sealed the strong start to the season for the Panthers.

South Adelaide's U18s will look to continue this winning performance when they face off against North Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday, April 10, from 11:00am.

Show that you are #SouthProud in 2021!