Australian Football

Match Report

Game number four for opening weekend sends us down to the outer southern suburbs and into the newly-minted Magain Stadium in Noarlunga for the Southern Derby between the Panthers and the Double Blues. From their two clashes in 2024, the Blues were victorious in both outings. First in Round 2 at Noarlunga, the Blues tore apart a woefully inaccurate Panthers outfit to win by 65 points, then at Unley in Round 13 by 21 points. Again inaccuracy stuffed the Panthers, their third quarter could have overturned the result if not for scoring 3.8 and then dropping their bundle entirely in the finish with a single minor score. The Panthers finished ninth, while the Blues were made to suffer a straight sets finals exit. The feeling out process began in earnest in the opening term, with both sides scoring 2.2 each to tie the game up at quarter-time. South dropped their concentration in the second term as the Blues scored four goals to one, along with some missed shots the visitors would go into the sheds at half-time with a 17-point lead. The Panthers reversed the roles when play resumed for the second half, bringing the deficit back to within a single straight kick ahead of the final change. South scored 3.2 to 1.2, just five points separating the sides at three quarter-time. Unfortunately for the blue & whites, they couldn't keep up the pressure as the Blues shook off the shackles and kicked clear, scoring 5.4 to 2.1 in the final term to run out 26-point victors. Will Coomblas was Sturt's best on ground with 28 disposals, 13 marks and winning five free kicks. For the Panthers it was Oliver Davis with 20 disposals along with five each in the clearance and free kick columns.