Australian Football

Match Report

Way down south at the Hickinbotham Oval in Noarlunga we saw the SANFL's "civil war" match up between the Panthers and the Roosters. The Panthers were victorious in both matches from last season, with a 16-point win in Round 4, then a 65-point hammering in Round 13. Both sides lost their last games back in Round 9, the Panthers taking their second loss for the year against Port while the Roosters went down to the Blues by 20 points ahead of the state match bye. South still had second spot on the league ladder at this point but were now looking to justify their spot whereas the Roosters were still looking to break into the top five.

South's first term inaccuracy would allow the Roosters to be ahead at the first change, kicking 2.4 to 3.1 as the visitors went into quarter-time in front by three points. That lead wouldn't last though, the Panthers getting back into the goal-kicking swing in the next term, taking over the lead with their 4.2 to 2.2 second term. At the half-time break, the Panthers were up by nine points. From here the Panthers were well and truly in control, breaking away in the third quarter where they added a further four goals to the Roosters' lowly 1.2 to stretch their advantage to 25 points. The Roosters attempts at a comeback in the final quarter were answered at pretty much every step of the way, the Panthers adding an extra goal to their three quarter-time lead to win by 31 points after kicking 5.3 to 4.3 to finish the afternoon.

Brett Eddy kicked seven goals in his best afield appearance for South, while Thomas Schwarz was voted best for North.