Australian Football

Match Report

In the Qualifying Final this year it would be the Panthers facing the Double Blues for the right to face the minor premiers in the Eagles next week. From their two matches this season, the points would be shared. Their first encounter this year was back in Round 8, the Blues bringing South's undefeated streak to an end at Unley by eight goals. But the Panthers gave them a back-hander in Round 19 at Noarlunga, giving the Blues some late season wobbles with their 49-point win.

As far as finals go, they last met at the Oval in a 1st Semi-Final in 2014, the Panthers hammering the Blues out of the series in straight sets to the tune of 69 points. This would be the Panthers' third appearance in a Qualifying Final, with previous games in 1979 and 1981 ending with losses to Port Adelaide. The Blues on the other hand have played in 11 for three victories.

Historically, the Panthers and the Blues have clashed in premiership-winning seasons on four previous occasions, the 1935 and 1964 seasons saw South having to go through the Blues on their way to those premierships and vice-versa in 1915 and 1940. The football purists were in for quite a treat in this match compared to the opening act, both sides fighting out a pretty even first quarter with the Blues taking a two-point lead at quarter-time after scoring 2.4 to South's 2.2.

The Panthers would take the lead upon injury time, but a defensive lapse and toe-poke goal almost right on the half-time siren would allow the Blues to stay in front, but by just one point after a 2.3 to 2.2 second quarter. The Blues and the Panthers were equally committed to body and ball, tackling pressure was definitely not in short supply here, all it took was for one side to blink. 

The third quarter was a torrid affair as both sides struggled to put on further scoreboard impact. The Panthers again snatched the lead at one point after scoring 1.1, but the Blues would again put themselves back in the driver's seat by quarter's end, only inaccuracy on goal preventing them from really breaking free of South's grasp. Sturt kicked 1.3 to lead by three points at three quarter-time.

The Panthers would not nick the lead again as the Blues finally clicked into gear, something not seen from them for a few weeks as they booted home 6.3 to the Panthers' 2.3 to run out 27-point winners and set up a meeting with the Eagles next week. In a twist of fate, the Panthers will now face the Crows in the cut-throat 1st Semi-Final. Lets not forget that South also voted against the inclusion of Adelaide in the league!

James Battersby was named best afield for the Double Blues, while the Panthers named Matt Rose as their best afield.