Australian Football

Match Report

The two outermost clubs in the competition faced off at Hickinbotham Oval in Noarlunga, the Panthers meeting the Bulldogs. The Panthers have made upsetting teams a mere flash-in-the-pan incident in the past, but this year they have surprised many by making it a habit instead. One of their biggest achievements this season was their eight-point defeat of the Bulldogs at Elizabeth, bringing to an end not only a long streak of losses against their far northern opponents but also a 16-match streak at the Ponderosa. Nowadays, these clubs play off for the Mayor's Trophy at the behest of the Playford and Onkaparinga councils but many SA footy-heads are calling it the "Integrity Cup" due to the stance both clubs took in the AFL reserves debate.

An evenly fought first term greeted the hardy supporters that fronted up, both clubs kicking 3.2 to start the game. The Panthers' second term saw them take some control of the match, keeping the Dogs to two goals whilst scoring 4.2 for themselves to take a 14-point lead at the long break. The Bulldogs would remain persistent, some cheap turnovers not allowing them to close the gap but enough to not allow the Panthers to make an overwhelming impact. South would kick 3.3 to the Bulldogs' three goals as the gap crept out to 17 points at three quarter-time. The Bulldogs persistence would finally stall the Panther machine, some of that passion and fight that had been missing for most of this season rearing its head in full effect as their overran the stunned South outfit with their 4.4 to 1.1 final term to take a 10-point victory.

Again the Dogs were led by example, captain Paul Thomas taking best afield honours while the Panthers voted in Adam Gulden as their best on ground.