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!