Australian Football

Match Report

In the final match for the weekend, we head down south to the Hickinbotham Oval in Noarlunga where the Panthers faced the Bloods. The Panthers haven't caused any headaches for the Bloods for nearly four years, the blue & whites last defeating Westies back in early 2009 by 10 points at Noarlunga. The following 10 matches were all red & black, the Bloods coming close to defeat only once when they won by a point in late 2012 at Richmond. They found themselves at complete opposite ends of the win/loss scale last weekend, the Panthers taking a pounding and the Bloods inflicting a pounding. In fact, speaking of poundings, the last time these two met the Bloods inflicted a frightful pounding at Noarlunga in Round 3 when they won by 106 points. Some mid-week departures at South would no doubt be putting the Panther faithful off a bit as well, but to everyone's surprise the Panthers had come out to play.

Despite them having a horrid first term in front of goal, the Bloods would only be ahead by four points at the first break after they kicked 2.2 to 1.4. The match was already becoming an arm-wrestling contest from here, the Panthers keeping within striking distance. The Bloods did manage to stretch the gap, but only by two points after kicking 2.3 to 2.1. Many West fans would no doubt be asking themselves, where the hell has our attacking prowess gone? The Panthers would draw the deficit back somewhen play resumed, they scored 2.3 to the Bloods' two goals to bring the gap back to three points at three quarter-time. South's final quarter would just manage to overwhelm the visitors and in a 116-point turn around from the Round 3 encounter, the Panthers bagged 4.2 to West's 2.1 to run out 10-point winners to end the losing streak.

Nick Liddle was voted best afield for South, while the Bloods named Chris Schmidt as their best.