*Indicates injured last match

League Match Report

South Adelaide vs Woodville-West Torrens
Round 18 - Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval - 18/08/18

Goals: Kreuger 3, Brooksby 2, Haines, Cross, Davis, Whittlesea, Rankine, Biemans, Fields
Best: Rose, Haines, Kreuger, Liddle, Davis, Brooksby
Injuries:
Crowd: 1422

South Adelaide have secured their place in the 2018 SANFL Finals Series after a gutsy six-point Retro Round win over Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers had to hold off charges from both the West Torrens Eagles and Woodville Warriors, but held strong to claim a hard-fought 12.7 (79) to 11.7 (73) victory.

The win moves South Adelaide into fourth on the ladder and locks in their place in the Finals as the top five is now settled heading into September.

Jarrad Wright's men are now destined for an Elimination Final date with North Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in a fortnight, with neither side capable of moving higher than fourth or lower than fifth through the final minor round of games next weekend.

The Panthers booked their place in September on the back of an intense battle with the Eagles, where pressure and precision from the visitors helped secure the points.

South built their advantage in the second term, kicking an accurate 4.1 while holding their hosts scoreless to build a 26-point buffer at the major break.

Meanwhile, the Panthers showed plenty of resolve after the main break as Woodville closed within a goal in both terms.

Matt Rose was a welcome return to the League side, playing his first game since breaking his collarbone against the same opponents way back in Round 8.

Playing his trademark role running out of defence, the Panthers vice captain didn't miss a beat on his way to 28 touches and a team-high eight marks.

Equally important across half back was the game of Joseph Haines (23 touches and a goal), who's 10 rebound 50s were key to repelling many dangerous Eagles charges forward.

The hosts actually held the advantage in several key indicators, as they won the clearances (31 - 27) and inside 50 (51 - 46) battles.

However, the Panthers +15 advantage in the tackle count gives a good insight into how the match was won.

The pressure South put on around the ground, and particularly in their own forward half, forced the Eagles to over-possess the ball at times and caused several key turnovers.

Young forward Nathan Kreuger was excellent with both his forward pressure and chasing, as well as hitting the scoreboard with a game-high three goals.

He presented well all day and his long range effort in the final term helped steady the ship and secure the win.

Last chance to pre-order you Panthers Retro Round guernsey - orders close midnight tonight!

The work of Nick Liddle (team-high 30 touches and seven tackles) and Abe Davis (20 disposals, one goal and team-high seven clearances) should also not be overlooked.

Their grit and determination through the centre of the ground helped set the tone for their teammates as they went toe-to-toe with the Eagles star studded on ball brigade.

Co-captain Keegan Brooksby was also influential floating between the ruck and forward, kicking two key goals and competing in the air all afternoon.

Both sides started fiercely. South kicked the first through the returning Anthony Biemans, but majors to Matthew Goldsworthy and Jack Hayes quickly regained the lead for the hosts.

However, it would be their only lead of the game and one short lived as Panthers skippers Brooksby and Joel Cross banked two goals in two minutes to restore their advantage.

That said, Woodville-West Torrens closed the quarter with two goals and South's lead was just one heading into the first break.

The second term belonged to the visitors, as Kreuger kicked his first for the afternoon just two minutes after the restart.

A trio of long range efforts continued to build the Panthers lead. Haines leaked forward to bang one home one the run, while powerful efforts from Davis and Tom Fields made it a 26-point lead for their team at halftime.

After wearing West Torrens Eagles guernseys in the first half, the Woodville Warriors emerged from the rooms after the break and they indeed looked a different side as they kicked the first four goals of the term to close within one point.

However, late goals to Kreuger and Brooksby pushed the lead back to three kicks.

The teams traded blows in the final quarter, as Matt Rankine chased down a loose ball in the square to cancel out Tom Gray's opener for the hosts, while Scott Lewis and Kreuger traded shots from beyond the painted line.

Goldsworthy made things interesting, closing the gap to six points deep into stoppage time.

However, the Panthers held firm in the dying stages to claim an important win and their return to Finals action.

While the first round of Finals matches might be locked in, South now focus their attention on a tough test against minor premiers Norwood this Sunday.

Get down to Hickinbotham Oval on Sunday, August 26 (Reserves 11:30am, League 2:10pm) to support the boys in blue and white as they look to close the season with a big scalp.

The 'Boot Full of Beer' competition is back again this weekend. Park inside the ground for your chance to win!

Reserves Match Report

South Adelaide vs Woodville-West Torrens
Round 18 - Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval - 18/08/18

Goals: Overall 3, Hall, Illingworth, Heaslip, Sampson, Steele, Redigolo
Best: Moyle, Fairlie, Heaslip, Helyar, Overall, Sampson
Injuries: 

South Adelaide's Reserves have kept their finals hopes alive thanks to an incredible comeback win over Woodville-West Torrens at Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval on Saturday afternoon.

The Panthers found themselves 38 points down at quartertime, but managed to keep the Eagles to just one goal after the first break and claw their way back to a 9.11 (65) to 7.11 (53) victory.

They will need some results to fall their way, but South are still capable of slipping into the finals.

Currently sitting seventh on the ladder, the Panthers will need to beat Norwood next Sunday, hope Centrals and Sturt both lose and close the percentage advantage the fifth-place Bulldogs currently hold to jump into fifth.

The season looked over for Michael Handby's men when they allowed Woodville-West Torrens to pile on the first six goals of the game.

It took until the sixth minute of the second quarter for Jayden Hall to kick the Panthers first for the afternoon.

However, South would hold the Eagles goalless in both the second and final terms as they cut their host's lead to 22 at halftime, 14 at three quarter time and would eventually hit the lead as Sam Overall kicked his second midway through the last.

The win came thanks to the tireless work of the Panthers midfield to turn the advantage at the stoppages. The Eagles controlled the first term, but it was all South Adelaide from then on.

Alex Moyle and Connor Fairlie combined for 68 possessions, while the work of Ben Heaslip (24 touches, six inside 50s and seven clearances) and Coby Helyar (23, eight and six) helped put the clearance (39 to 22) and inside 50 (53 to 33) battles to the Panthers favour.

Meanwhile, Overall worked his way into the game to finish with three goals as he continues to push for a return to the League side.

Exciting youngster Hayden Sampson also responded well to being sent back to the Reserves, gathering 17 possessions and slotting a goal.

With their finals chances hinging on a win this weekend, get out to Hickinbotham Oval early on Sunday, August 26 to support the Reserves as they take on Norwood from 11:30am.

Last chance to pre-order you Panthers Retro Round guernesy - orders close midnight tonight!

Under-18s Match Report

South Adelaide vs Glenelg
Round 17 - Hickinbotham Oval - 18/08/18

Goals: Freitag 3, Sladojevic, Clifton 2, Beeche, Tarca, Colwell
Best: Lovering, Bogle, Manuel, Clifton, Spicer, Freitag

Our Under-18s locked in a top two finish thanks to a come-from-behind win over Glenelg, claiming a 10.12 (72) to 8.9 (57) victory at Hickinbotham Oval on Saturday afternoon.

This week we played Glenelg at home in average conditions. They are sitting out of a finals race, but their Reserves had a bye and they got a few players back into the team.

We also had a few changes this week with Tate Coleman and Tate Lovering back from the Reserves, James Grimley back from college football and Jake Spinks, Reece Milsom and Jonty Manuel returning from Injury.

We also had Jason Horne play his first game for the Under-18's after playing Under-15's and Under-16's for South Adelaide, as well as SA State Under-16's this year.

It was an important game for us. We entered the round in a position where if we lost our last two games we could miss the finals, but win this one and we could lock away a top two finish.

We lost the toss and were kicking into the wind, with Glenelg kicking with about a three-goal breeze. The Bays came out with a good intensity and had the first couple of shots at goal but missed. We got it down the other end and kicked the first through Max Clifton.

Glenelg controlled the rest of the quarter having 50 more disposals and 27 more handball receives. Luckily for us they didn't make the most of their dominance and they were only 14 points up at the first change.

The second quarter we had the wind, but didn't make the most of it. Glenelg kicked the first goal four-and-a-half minutes in, before we started to get into the game. We evened up the disposals for the quarter and felt like we played most of it in our front half, but we couldn't convert kicking two goals and seven points. Even though we won the quarter, Glenelg still had the lead at halftime by three points.

After halftime we came out with great energy and kicked the first goal through Damon Freitag to take the lead. However, this was short lived as Glenelg kicked the next three to get out by 16 points half way through the quarter.

The second half of the quarter we settled. Clifton kicked his second for the game and Freitag kicked his second for the quarter we went into the last change just five points down.

Six minutes into the last quarter Jake Tarca kicked his first and we hit the lead. We controlled the quarter and again had most to the footy in our front half. Daniel Sladojevic kicked two for the quarter and once Joel Beeche kicked his first we looked home.

With the win and a couple of other games going our way we have locked in second spot on the ladder with one game left to play in the minor round.

Next week (11:00am, Saturday, August 25) we play the Eagles at Woodville for the third time this year, which will be a preview the first week of the finals. Its important we have a good game to get some confidence going into the major round.

Mark Clayton
U18s Coach

Help support our juniors with a donation to the SAFC Junior Development Fund!

To celebrate SANFL #RetroRound we are taking a look back at the highlights from some of the most influential Panthers from the 1980s.

Heroes of yesteryear do not come much more celebrated at South Adelaide than the great Mark Naley.

Mark joined South Adelaide from Sacred Heart College and quickly rose through the Club's junior and senior ranks.

A member of the 1979 Reserves Premiership team, Naley made his debut for the League side a year later and remained a mainstay in the team through to 1986. In 1987 Mark left the Panthers to play with Carlton in the VFL., where he was a regular member of the Blues side all season, finishing the year with a Premiership and 12 Brownlow Medal votes to his name (good enought for equal 10th).

After the 1990 season with Carlton, Mark decided to return to South Adelaide, where he would win the 1991 Magarey Medal (after finishing as runner-up on two previous occasions).

Mark also enjoyed a successful State career. He was selected to the South Australian State Team for the first time in 1981 and made 16 State of Origin appearances between 1981-89 and 1991-92 , winning the Tassie Medal in the 1987 National Carnival and the Fos Williams Medal as South Australia's best player in 1991. He was awarded All-Australian selection in 1986 and 1987.

Mark retired in 1993 after 236 appearances (231 goals) for the Panthers, 67 for Carlton (74) and 16 for South Australia.

He is also a Life Member, Hall of Fame Inductee of South Adelaide Football Club and Member of our "Greatest Team Ever", as well as an inaugural inductee of the South Australian Football Hall of Fame.

Panthers Past - Mark Naley

Pre-order your 80s Retro Guernsey 

To celebrate SANFL #RetroRound we are taking a look back at the highlights from some of the most influential Panthers from the 1980s.

You'd be hard pressed to find a more loyal South man than David Kappler.

Kappler was a superb servant of the Panthers throughout at 12-year career in which he played 292 senior games - the second most of any South Adelaide player!

A four-time Knuckey Cup winner, Club captain, four-time state representative and South Adelaide Hall of Fame inductee, not many were tougher or more skilled than the left footer from Morphett Vale.

Panthers Past - David Kappler

Pre-order your 80s Retro Guernsey 

To celebrate SANFL #RetroRound we are taking a look back at the highlights from some of the most influential Panthers from the 1980s.

He had the skills.  He had the mustache. Not many personified the pizzazz of 80s football like Wayne Slattery.

An evasive and skillful forward, "Slatts" kicked 230 goals for South Adelaide, topping the Panthers goal kicking twice in the late 70s.

An enigma in South's forward line, Slattery played 170 games over two stints with the Panthers between 1977 - 81 and 1983 - 86.

Panthers Past - Wayne Slattery

Pre-order your 80s Retro Guernsey 

Experienced trio in for Retro Round

South Adelaide have added an experienced threesome to the line up set to face Woodville-West Torrens on Saturday afternoon.

Hard nut Anthony Biemans is a sure starter, named in a forward pocket after laying a monster 15 tackles in his return from injury with the Reserves last Sunday.

Meanwhile, the versatile pair of Ben Haren and Matt Rankine find their way onto an extended interchange.

Father son prospect Hayden Sampson has been sent back to the Reserves after notching two League appearances.

The Panthers will be donning 80s inspired Retro Round guernseys as they clash with the Eagles, who will wear West Torrens kits in the first half and switch to Woodville Warriors jumpers at halftime.

Replica Panthers guernseys are available for pre-order now (with options for custom numbers), while match-worn tops will be auctioned following the game.

See the full teams below - brought to you by Hilton's Betta Home Living - McLaren Vale.

Key forward Sam Overall will be given at least another week to build match fitness in the Reserves after kicking two goals in his comeback game against Sturt.

Meanwhile, young forwards Blake Carter and Joseph Tyllis also return.

Get into the spirit of Retro Round by pre-ordering you own Panthers Retro Guernsey!

Round Details

What: SANFL Round 18 - South Adelaide vs Woodville-West Torrens
Where: Maughan Thiem Hyundai Oval
When: Saturday, August 18 - Reserves 11:30am; League 2:10pm
Entry: $14 adult, $8 concession, Free Under 18s
Watch: Live on the South Adelaide Digital Pass

League

In: Biemans, Haren, Rankine
Out: Sampson (omitted)
New:
Milestones: 

Reserves

Baker, Carter, Elmes, Fairlie, Gurney, Hall, Helyar, Hoey, Illingworth, Irra, McGree, McKinnon, Millman, Moyle, Neville, Overall, Redigolo, Sampson, Snelling, Taylor, Telfer, Tyllis

In: Carter, Sampson, Tyllis
Out: Biemans (League), Haren (League), Rankine (League), Lovering (Under-18s)
EMG: 

Don't miss a minute of the Retro Round action with a South Adelaide Digital Pass - now just $4.99!

Round Details

What: South Adelaide vs Glenelg
Where: Hickinbotham Oval
When: 11:00am Saturday, August 18
Entry: Free 

Under 18s

1 Billy Wade
3 Joel Beeche
4 Max Clifton
5 Phoenix Spicer
6 Jake Tarca
7 Jason  Horne
9 Job Colwell
10 Luke Bogle
12 Jake  Spinks
13 Shannon Jones
14 Tate Coleman
16 Jonty Manuel
17 Mackenzie Short
21 Danny Juckers
22 Harry Spacie
23 Reece Milsom
24 Aaron Douglass
25 Ronan Wood
26 Tate Lovering
27 Boyd  Austin
28 James  Grimley
35 Nicholas Kraemer
36 Damon Freitag
39 Bailey  Marshman
40 Daniel Sladojevic

In: Horne, Coleman, Manuel, Milsom, Grimley
Out: Davies, Riddle, Coulthard, Draper, Dowling

Help support our juniors with a donation to the SAFC Junior Development Fund!

To celebrate SANFL #RetroRound we are taking a look back at the highlights from some of the most influential Panthers from the 1980s.

They couldn't find a place for him at Sturt, but when all was said and done following his switch to South Adelaide only four men would ever play more games for the Panthers than the fearless Michael Bennett.

After failing to break his way into Sturt's senior line-up Bennett crossed to South Adelaide in 1981 and by 1983 he had become a first choice League player.

He remained with South until 1992, playing a total of 267 games for the club, plus one for South Australia. He was the Panthers' captain in his final three seasons, which included the 1991 Foundation Cup success.

Panthers Past - Michael Bennett

Pre-order your 80s Retro Guernsey