Despite Sturt overturning a 21-point deficit, South Adelaide dug deep in the closing stages to secure the win at Magain Stadium by 6 points.

The result preserved the Panthers’ perfect record against Sturt at Noarlunga since entering the competition, with all meetings at the venue ending in South Adelaide victories.

With both Chelsea Farr and Madison Brown unavailable, and Lauren Clifton selected by Melbourne in the first-ever AFLW Pre-Season Draft, the door opened for Taryn Vizgaudis (#137) to debut for the Panthers.

Her sister, Layla Vizgaudis kicked the first after she drifted into space to take the mark, finishing her set shot which just about travelled the distance.

South Adelaide’s leading patterns inside 50 helped them to generate a high volume of scoring opportunities.

Conversion let them down however, as Esther Schirmer and Melissa Anderson both missed set shots from similar positions in the same pocket later in the quarter.

A quiet second quarter produced just one goal, with the Double Blues unable to withstand repeated South Adelaide forward entries as Emma Charlton dished the ball off to Hope Taylor, who snapped truly.

Jess Chyer got to work around the ground, as did her teammates, with the Panthers dominating possession.

With not long to go in the half, a rare venture forward for Sturt went unrewarded as they ended scoreless going into the main break.

Sturt showed greater intent early in the third quarter, until Anderson injected herself into the game with her attacking run and carry, helping set up Layla Vizgaudis for her second.

It took eight minutes into the second half for the Double Blues to register their first goal, with Madeline Nuss finally breaking through.

Tabitha Prosser used her body to will the ball back into South Adelaide’s possession, winning a free kick that kept play locked inside the Panthers’ forward 50. Another turnover forced by Olivia Evans created a chance, but she rushed her shot amid the chaos.

Ticking into time on, Sturt were able to find something late as they had their best run for the game. Goals to Georgia King and Amy Brooks-Birve in two minutes gave the visitors sudden momentum. 

Carly Milsom dropped back to take a crucial contested mark on the last line, which prevented South Adelaide from losing the lead.

Debutant Taryn Vizgaudis had been quiet but made a timely impact as she dispossessed her opponent on the wing, starting an important scoring chain. 

She handed the ball off to skipper Tiffany King, who found Laquoiya Cockatoo-Motlap inside 50, but her kick floated to the right for a behind.

A spot up from Charlton soon found Anderson on the lead, but she too was unable to convert, leaving the margin at a straight kick.

Signs of desperation were evident from both teams, as a defensive lapse from the Panthers allowed Madeline Nuss to run out the back into an open goal square to level the game.

The ball then remained locked inside the Double Blues’ forward half for what felt like an eternity, with South Adelaide narrowly avoiding conceding a behind. Zoe Flesfadar then vitally smothered what would have been another potential score.

Layla Vizgaudis, influential in the final quarter, combined with Schirmer to win a clearance from the congestion, with the kick sitting up for Cockatoo-Motlap, who won out in a one-on-one ground ball.

She then found Taylor running at full pace, who grabbed onto the mark deep inside 50. Any score would have put the Panthers back in front, and she kicked the most important score to save the day.

The ball returned to the centre, but time had run out as the siren sounded immediately after.

Kicking two goals and playing a key role in the game-winning play, Layla Vizgaudis finished with 29 disposals and nine clearances.

Chyer and Schirmer were busy around the contest, laying ten tackles each, while Charlton controlled the midfield with ten clearances.

South Adelaide now enters the bye for the upcoming State Game, before returning to face West Adelaide at Richmond Oval in Round 5 on Saturday, 23^rd May at 4:50pm.