After tasting defeat for the first time last week against Centrals, the Panthers were keen to respond against the Double Blues, a side they faced in their first trial just over three weeks ago.

The Panthers started brightly thanks to a great tap from Eva Aldridge, who knocked it forward for Madison Brown to drive the ball ahead.

After the ball moved back and forth between the arcs for a couple of minutes, a strong contest from Lily Dunstall-Bruce cut off a Sturt attack and set up the Panthers first genuine forward attack.

The ball remained in the Panthers forward half for the next few minutes before the defence again halted a Sturt attack.

Another clever tap from Dunstall-Bruce found Halle Crowe in space, who moved it on to Isabelle Cameron. Cameron gathered the ball and delivered to Jaidee-Lee Shortridge about 30 metres from goal. Shortridge unselfishly looked inboard and found Zoe Flesfadar, who converted truly from 15 metres out directly in front to kick the opening goal.

Strong defensive work from the Panthers prevented any forward surges from the Double Blues for the remainder of the first quarter.

A key spoil in the middle of the ground from Emmerson Warren brought the ball to ground, allowing Brown to gather and earn a free kick.

From the free kick she moved the ball into space to find Halle James, who brushed past a defender with ease. James steadied from 30 metres and kicked truly to register her first goal for the Panthers and extend the margin to 16 points at quarter time.

After the break Sturt began to lift and were able to slow the Panthers momentum.

Despite Millie Beens taking several important intercept marks, the Double Blues broke through for their first goal at the six minute mark, reducing the margin to ten points.

With confidence building, Sturt continued to work their way back into the contest and put the Panthers defence under pressure.

In contrast to the opening quarter it was the Double Blues gaining control. A free kick resulted in Jessie Rosser kicking truly for Sturt, cutting the margin to just two points approaching half time.

Half time gave the Panthers an opportunity to reset and regain control of the game. However it was Sturt who made the first deep entry forward, with Dunstall-Bruce rushing the ball over the line to prevent a goal but reduce the lead to a single point.

The Panthers soon rebounded the ball back into their forward line, where play again settled between the arcs.

A clever left foot kick from Brown found Chanel May, who was returning from injury. May received a 25 metre penalty and used her pace to take the game on through the corridor. Shortridge gathered the ball, worked past a Sturt defender and delivered perfectly to Molly Jenkins running behind the play.

Jenkins hit the post to add a single point. From the resulting kick in she quickly made amends, cutting off the errant kick and finding Shortridge, who converted truly for her first goal of the afternoon.

With momentum building again the Panthers regained control in defence. Late in the quarter Hope Taylor added another goal thanks to elite forward pressure, extending the lead to 15 points at the final change.

It took the Double Blues eight minutes to find a goal in the final term, but from the following centre bounce Matilda Buchanan tapped the ball forward.

Flesfadar gathered and quickly put it on the boot, allowing Shortridge to separate from her opponent. Shortridge collected cleanly and handballed to Taylor, who linked up with May.

May then found Tabi Prosser, who attempted to move the ball to Jenkins in the goal square, but a fingertip from a Sturt defender disrupted the play. Prosser gathered again and this time found Brown, who kicked the answering goal and capped off a best on ground performance.

The Panthers, now back inside the top four, travel to X Convenience Oval next Saturday to face West Adelaide in the final quad header of the AAMI Talent League Girls season.

The action begins at 1:50 pm on Saturday afternoon.