South Adelaide vs Glenelg
Round 14 - Flinders University Stadium - 09/07/2022

Goals: Fitt, Gunther, Milsom, Bogle, Brooksby, Brown, Dunkin, Garthwaite, Kraemer, Nye
Best: Brooksby, Nye, Summerton, Heaslip, Haines
Crowd: 1,287

South Adelaide stunned Glenelg with a sensational 45-point win at Flinders University Stadium on Saturday.

Needing a win to keep their final dream alive: the Panthers produced their best performance of the season. After starting fast, South led at every change while on their way to record a stunning victory, 10.10 (70) to 3.7 (25).

Throughout the match, South Adelaide’s defence was incredible. The Panthers held Glenelg to their lowest score of the season – 5 goals less than their previous lowest score – and they also kept the visitors to their first goalless half of the year.

Among the man standouts down back that helped nullify a usually dangerous Tiger attack was Jake Summerton, who held McBean to his first goalless game of the season. Joe Haines was also strong, finishing with 28 disposals and 4 marks.

Heading into the match on the back of last week’s bitter result: the Panthers were dealt a midfield blow with O’Neill and Davis both ruled out for this clash against the third-placed Tigers. 

However, despite the key-outs, the Panthers' midfield looked like a million bucks. Thanks, on-part, to a dominant display by Keegan Brooksby, who helped marshal the new-look midfield with 52 hit-outs, 19 disposals, 9 clearances and a goal.

As mentioned, things looked nervy heading into the match. The Panthers came in as the underdogs.

They needed to win to stay within touch of finals; yes … but they had to do it against one of the competition’s strongest midfield – while being without Gibbs, Brownless, O’Neill or Davis. 

But Wright rightfully backed in his boys – and they went on to play their best footy this season.

Dunkin got things going after he pounced on a Tiger miskick and, beyond the arc, let fly a huge kick that rolled through for the opening goal of the game.

The Panthers managed to keep this early pressure on their rival – but they couldn’t turn it into scoreboard pressure.

That was until midway through the quarter when Dylan Brown was able to pierce through his first goal at the SANFL level. And this opened the floodgates for South. 

The firsts then continued when Liam Fitt finished off an end-to-end play with his first goal of the year – a play that was started by an interception by breakout defender Tate Lovering.

Then there was the dream-first: a debut goal by Nye topped off the opening quarter that saw the Panthers lead 4.2 (26) to 0.1 (1).

Nick Kraemer then capitalised on the Panthers’ forward pressure with the opening goal of the second quarter. But from here the Tigers threatened to close the gap.

However, the Panthers’ pressure saw them spray several chances and – after soaking up their attacks – the Panthers went coast-to-coast where Harrison Gunther was waiting to kick his first of the day.

This theme continued, with the Tigers gaining looks inside their forward arc only for the Panther backs to intercept and rebound. One such play ended in an eye-catching Reece Milsom goal from the scoreboard pocket. 

And with that, the Tigers' first goalless half of the season was complete. A feat that saw the Panthers grasp a sturdy 7.3 (45) to 0.6 (6) lead. 

Looking over their feats from last season, people expected to see Glenelg fightback. And this looked to be a possibility when they kicked their opening goal against the tide – 8 minutes into the third term.

But after Luke Bogle was able to steady and chip a replier, the Panthers looked to be in control again.

Not letting this win escape their grasp, Eamon Wilkinson put his body on the line to win a contest on the outer wing – a contest that he certainly came out the better of.

Meanwhile, Matthew Broadbent, Daniel Sladojevic and Matt Rose continued to be resolute down back.

While Ben Heaslip and Hayden Sampson continued to be strong through the middle.

However, eventually, the Tigers managed to break through again during stoppage time. Yet once again South had an answer. This time the answer was Ryan Garthwaite who drilled his first goal for the day within the dying minutes.

Holding a 9.8 (62) to 2.7 (19) lead, Brooksby topped off his performance with a major score. And Brown nearly topped off the day with a contender for Mark of the Year.

But ultimately, the day was topped off by the sounding of the final siren that signalled the comprehensive win, 10.10 (70) to 3.7 (25). Amazingly, the Panthers' 10 goals came from 10 different players.

South Adelaide will continue to have their destiny in their hands when they face off against Norwood at Flinders University Stadium on Sunday, 17 July, from 2:10pm. Click here for tickets.