Australian Football

Match Report

We head on down to the Hickinbotham Oval for some Friday Night Mayhem with the match between the Panthers and the Bloods. The Panthers have had next to no luck when it comes to the Blood & Tars. The last dozen has seen Westies take all but one match, stretching from mid-2008 to late 2012. That single blemish came in the opening round of 2009 when the Panthers outlasted the visitors at Noarlunga for a 10-point win, but those results haven't been repeated since. Their last clash almost broke the drought but it ended in heartbreak as West escaped with the slimmest of wins at Richmond in Round 22 last year.

It still wouldn't be South's time after this one, the Bloods producing a five-goal run in time-on in among their 7.3 opening term to the host's 1.2 to take a 37-point lead at quarter-time. That deficit would blow out to over 10 goals by half-time, Westies adding a further 5.3 to South's single goal to lead by 64 points at the break. South's third quarter would be of little effect against West's big advantage, although the Panthers outscored the Bloods 3.4 to 2.2 the gap was still 56 points wide at three quarter-time. But the ultimate punishment was yet to come. The Bloods were ruthless in their final attack, ramming home a further 8.4 to a laughable two behinds. South coach Ron Fuller would have had some more harsh words with his men after the match as West left Noarlunga with a 106-point win.

Joel Tippett was voted best for the Bloods, while the Panthers named Josh Thewlis as their only real highlight.