Australian Football

Match Report

Down to the last game for the round and we're off to the southern suburbs and into the Flinders University Stadium at Noarlunga for the game between the Panthers and the Double Blues. The Blues took out both games against their fellow southern Adelaide club last year, starting with a 22-point win at Unley in Round 5, then a six-goal victory at Noarlunga in Round 12. The Panthers were able to rebound from their loss to Glenelg, a dominating final quarter against the Dogs giving them a 44-point win at Elizabeth. The Blues also recovered from their loss to the Eagles, but had a far harder task against the Bloods at home which they won by eight points.

The Panthers' shooting on goal left a bit to be desired in the opening term, but would take a three-goal lead into quarter-time after scoring 3.6 and holding the Blues to just one goal to begin the afternoon. The shoe was on the other foot in the second term though, the Panthers held to a single behind as the Blues brought their lead down to a single straight kick by half-time. Sturt scored 2.3, with South still up by four points at the break. But that shoe was back on South's foot when play resumed, the Blues just mere spectators as the Panthers took advantage of Noarlunga's trademark winds to score 5.3 to nothing in the third quarter. At three quarter-time, the Panthers were out to a 37-point lead. South would kick two more goals in the first seven minutes of the last quarter and were then forced into all-out defence as the Double Blues attempted to make a comeback. For around 20 minutes, South weathered the Sturt charge. The Panthers would allow the Blues to score 4.2, not even close to enough for the visitors as the home side took out a 23-point win. 

Former Power player Matt Broadbent was one of the vital cogs in defence and got best on ground votes for South, while the Blues named James Battersby as their best.