Lumin Sports Match Report: Reserves Round 8 vs West Adelaide

South Adelaide vs West Adelaide
Round 8 - Flinders University Stadium - 28/05/2022

Goals: Cresswell 4, Bradley, Brown
Best: Kraemer, Cresswell, McGary, Douglass, Overall
 

South Adelaide Reserves fall 12 points shy of an upset victory over West Adelaide at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday.

The bottom-placed Panther Reserves were a quarter away from causing the biggest upset of the season.

They took the fight to the ladder-leading Bloods, and they led multiple times throughout the day: but they fell short in the final term and ended up losing by 12 points, 6.7 (43) to 7.13 (55).

Impressive in the blue and white was Nicholas Kraemer, who led the way for South Adelaide with 23 disposals, 8 tackles and 8 clearances. 

Fraser Turner (38 disposals, 5 clearances) and Harry Spacie (17 disposals, 14 tackles) were also a huge presence around the contest.

While Jake Cresswell was a menace up forward for the opposition as he recorded 4 goals from his 5 kicks.

The Panthers, who have won a single game this season, looked to be in for a tough and bitter match when they met with the Bloods, who had lost just a single game for the season.

But even though the Bloods kicked the first 2 goals of the match – the Panthers could smell Blood in the water.

After coming close to scoring many times in the opening term: Kurt Abbott helped string together a passage of play that ended in Sam Overall setting up Dylan Brown for the Panthers’ first major of the day.

Facing a narrow 3-point deficit at the first break, 1.4 (10) to 2.1 (13). The Panthers took the lead early into the second term after Ben Shillabeer helped set up Cresswell for his first of four.

The Bloods’ responded with their first for the term. But the Panthers retook the lead thanks to Angus Bradley, who snapped through his first goal of Reserves footy.

Abbott continued to run amuck off half-back – with another one of his sprints off the half-back line ending in a goal, this time courtesy of Cresswell.

Cresswell wasn’t finished there either since he got on the end of a thumping kick by Max Clifton and – from the pocket – kicked a miracle goal to hand South a 10-point lead at halftime, 5.5 (35) to 4.1 (25).

The Panthers continued to push during the second half. Cooper Rogers kept putting his body on the line, and so did Isaac Birt.

The gritty Panthers kept fighting and, when Cresswell snapped his fourth of the day midway through the third term, the side looked in good spirits to snatch the amazing win.

But as fate would have it – things wouldn’t end that way. Aaron Douglass and Dayne McGary remained steadfast down back as the Bloods pushed to steal the win. Sadly, a 25-metre penalty handed the Bloods the lead – and without Megins or Birt – the Bloods were able to hold off the Panthers.

After coming so close: the siren would sound to hand the Panthers the agonising defeat, 6.7 (43) to 7.13 (55).

The Panther Reserves will now face off against Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Kia Oval on Sunday, 5 June, from 11:50am.

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