Australian Football

Match Report

The second of the three night games takes us back into the city, over in the west side suburb of Richmond where the Bloods faced the Panthers at City Mazda Stadium. The Panthers hammered the hell out of the Bloods in both games last year, their victories in Rounds 3 and 18 adding up to a combined total of 166 points. South finished fourth, while the Bloods were left to rue a wasted season and a premiership defence reduced to ashes. The Panthers would lose several key players in the off-season, two of which they could face in opposition colours later this year much to their fans dismay, but also gained the services of former Magpies coach Garry Hocking in the wake of Brad Gotch's departure. The Bloods welcomed several new players but bid goodbye to four 2015 premiership heroes in retirement. 

The Panthers began the evening with a 5.2 to 2.1 first quarter, taking a 19-point lead into the first change. They couldn't keep it up in the second quarter, they kicked 1.3 as the Bloods reduced the gap to 16 points by the long break with their two goals in the late stages of the term. When play resumed, Westies overtook the Panthers late in the third quarter, scoring 4.1 to 1.1 to lead by two points at the final change. Unfortunately the Bloods would not begin 2017 on a winning note, a single miss on goal by West making the difference in the end as the Panthers kicked 4.1 to 3.2 to win by three points. 

Joel Cross was named best afield for South, Shannon Green took best on ground honours for West.