MRS Property League Match Report Round 9: South vs Glenelg

MRS Property League Match Report

South Adelaide vs Glenelg
Round 9 - ACH Group Stadium - 22/08/20

Goals: Overall, Cross 3, Fitt, McCreery 2, Wilkinson, Heaslip, Andrews
Best: Cross, Haines, Heaslip, Overall, Summerton, Schwarz
Injuries: Nil.
Full Injury List

A dominant third quarter display sees South Adelaide knock-off the reigning premiers Glenelg by 41 points at ACH Group Stadium.

The 13.13 (91) to 8.2 (50) Panthers victory was built on the back of an outstanding third quarter performance in which they held Glenelg scoreless while booting six goals of their own.

Joel Cross claimed the inaugural John Schneebichler Medal following an outstanding display in which he collected a total of 25 disposals, eight clearances and three goals. Also impressive was the first-gamer Daly Andrews who finished the match with 18 touches and a thumping goal.

The Panthers began the match by kicking with the strong breeze, and it did not take them long to hit the scoreboard as an intercept by Reece Milsom (19 disposals) allowed him to set up Beau McCreery (seven tackles) at the tip of the goal square for the first goal of the day.

Then minutes later, Cross snapped his first of the match to hand the Panthers a promising two-goal head start. South Adelaide continued to pepper the goals but could only muster four behinds.

That was until Liam Fitt (12 disposals) managed to take a remarkable grab at front of a pack, which allowed him to kick truly and further extend the Panthers lead to 23 points.

However, the home side were able to steady with two goals into the wind to which Cross responded to with a thumping goal to keep the Panthers lead at a strong 4.6 (30) to 2.2 (14) at the first change

The second term saw the Panthers have to defend against the strong breeze and things looked worrying early as the Tigers booted two unanswered goals within the first six minutes.

But South Adelaide's defence, spearheaded by Joe Haines (ten rebound 50s), managed to hold Glenelg scoreless for the remainder of the second term. While Sam Overall (nine tackles) stepped up to kick the Panthers' sole goal of the quarter which handed the Panthers a strong 5.7 (37) to 4.2 (26) lead at halftime. 

After suffering three losses in a rowthe Panthers made a huge statement during the third term of this match, as the side scored 39 points while holding the Tigers scoreless.

The first goal of the third term came via Cross, while Andrews kicked truly on the run to get a debut-goal just minutes later.Fitt then followed up with his second goal of the day just a minute later to extend South's lead to five goals.

The Panthers were provided with plenty of the ball thanks to Mathew Broadbent (21 disposals), and Nic Schwarz (25 disposals,11 clearances) and the side collected 11 more inside 50s despite tying the clearance count.

As the game entered stoppage time, both Overall and McCreery followed up with their second goals of the match, while Eamon Wilkinson (four tackles) also joined the rapidly growing goal kickers list.

Despite holding a 11.11 (77) to 4.2 (26) lead at the final change, the Panthers did not take their foot off the pedal as Overall booted his third goal of the match just a minute into the fourth quarter.

Then Ben Heaslip (18 disposals) joined the goalkickers with his first of the day to extend the Panthers lead to 63 points.

However, with the Panthers legs beginning to tire and with the side defending against the breeze Glenelg would go onto score the final four goals of the match, but South's hard work during the previous quarters was enough to hand South Adelaide the impressive 13.13 (91) to 8.2 (50) win and claim third spot in the process.

South Adelaide now return home to Flinders University Stadium, and will face Central District on Saturday August 29, from 2.10pm.

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