Australian Football

Match Report

The final game for the weekend takes us down south to the Flinders University Stadium in Noarlunga where the Panthers clashed with the Magpies. Their last match was one that well and truly got away from the Magpies in Round 2 at Alberton, the Panthers winning by 10 points after the inaccuracy bug paid a late visit into the Port camp. The 'Pies led by 10 points at three quarter-time, but in the final term their goal-kicking radar went on the fritz as the Panthers overtook the home side to take the points in one of the highest scoring matches of the season. 59 scores were registered, 31 of them being goals. The Panthers' hopes of a finals berth were given the fatal blow last week at the hands of the Bloods at Richmond, while the Magpies have been out of contention for ages and they were dealt a 31-point defeat by the Blues. With only pride to be salvaged from this encounter, Port looked to jump from the blocks early but despite keeping the Panthers to just three behinds would manage just 2.2 for themselves. At quarter-time, the Magpies were ahead by 11 points. The Panthers finally found the big sticks part-way through the second term, but despite pulling the 'Pies back at one point they got away again late in the quarter. A trio of goals in time-on among their 4.3 to South's 3.1 had the visitors out to a three-goal lead going into the long break. The kicks, handballs and marks would end up in South's favour, but something was missing while the Magpies were in the lead. There was some fierce defending from at least one Panthers back-man, who would stop a swag of Port attacks. He was probably used to good effect in the third term as the Panthers started clawing back the Magpies' lead, by the final change it was back to a single straight kick. South scored 3.3 to Port's 1.2, the 'Pies still up but now by only five points. Two quick-fire goals to the Magpies in the first four minutes saw their three-kick advantage restored, but then the move of a particular back-man to the attacking zone would prove to be the masterstroke. The visitors were silenced from here, the Panthers scoring 4.2 to win by nine points. The man I was talking about in back and then up forward would end up being best afield, the Panthers naming Ryan Garthwaite as their best with 20 disposals, four tackles and three goals. Two of those were the match sealing goals. Sam Mayes was Port's best, with 36 disposals, nine marks and seven tackles.