A three-goal final term from West Adelaide snuffed out any chance of a South Adelaide comeback, as the home side claimed an valuable 25-point win at Hisense Stadium.

West Adelaide made a fast start, slotting the opening goal within three minutes and adding two minor scores shortly after.

South Adelaide broke the scoring pattern when Patrick Carman gathered a ground ball and dribbled an effort that struck the goalpost for a behind.

SA U18 Squad members Archie Van Dyk and Kodah Edwards impressed in the wet and windy conditions, consistently winning the ball and producing several stoppage clearances.

West Adelaide’s second goal of the match pushed their lead to 13 points, but South finished the term strongly and created several chances of their own.

Two across-the-body snaps from Hudson Voigt narrowly missed, both efforts registering behinds.

With time running out in the first quarter, Mitchell Clifton remained composed and converted a late set shot, giving South some momentum heading into the break.

South Adelaide started the second term brightly, creating a scoring chance within the opening minute.

Kody Shortridge’s high snap from the boundary dropped into a contest between Carman and his opponent on the goal line. The ball spilled to ground, and Carman’s follow-up soccer attempt narrowly missed.

Across half-back, Brady McDonald was prolific. The rebounding defender used his foot skills to gain territory and launch attacking plays.

Just as South appeared to be gaining the upper hand, West Adelaide would respond with a timely goal to re-establish their two-goal buffer.

Tom Simpson demonstrated his stoppage craft, winning the ball in tight and getting away a quick snap, which drifted narrowly wide.

Quick ball movement along the wing led to South’s second goal, as Archer Price ran onto a Carman snap and finished from close range.

Carman continued to trouble the West Adelaide defence, marking a pinpoint Edwards clearance 40 metres out on a slight angle. However, his set shot faded to the near side—had it gone through, South would have taken the lead into half-time.

At the main break, West Adelaide held a slender three-point lead.

The home side opened the third quarter in similar fashion to the first, kicking a goal in the first minute and adding another shortly after to extend their lead to three goals.

South needed a response, and their key midfielders lifted. Van Dyk and Edwards capitalised on Max Savage’s dominance in the ruck to generate opportunities.

Shortridge delivered a moment of brilliance, bursting away from defenders and slotting a running goal from 40 metres to give South a much-needed lift.

Down back, Jake Wigzell continued his impressive season, competing hard and using his clean foot skills to rebound from defensive 50.

Despite their best efforts, South couldn’t add to Shortridge’s goal for the term, while West Adelaide missed several chances to push the margin further.

At three-quarter time, the deficit stood at 15 points—still within reach, though conditions remained difficult for scoring.

If South were to stage a comeback, the first goal of the final term was vital. However, as had been the pattern throughout the match, it was West Adelaide who struck first, extending their lead once again.

Jackson Blacker stood firm in defence, while Cameron Woods made his presence felt further up the ground, leading the tackle count.

Two further goals to Westies effectively ended South’s hopes, though the Panthers never gave in.

Carman continued to be a threat, but his fourth behind of the match—this time from a pressured snap—highlighted how fickle goal kicking can be in challenging conditions.

By contrast, Shortridge remained clinical, adding a second goal with a composed set shot from 40 metres on a slight angle.

South added some late respectability to the scoreboard, with Simpson rewarded for his strong individual effort by slotting a late goal.

At the final siren, West Adelaide had secured a valuable 25-point win—one that lifts them just outside the top four as the season heads into its business end.

After the bye this past weekend, South Adelaide will look to bounce back from the disappointing result when they take on Norwood at Magain Stadium on Saturday, 21 June at 11:00am.

South Adelaide fell 21 points short against West Adelaide at Hisense Stadium in wet and windy conditions, which saw just six goals scored between the two sides.

The tough weather made scoring a challenge, with the first point on the scoreboard—a behind to West Adelaide—not coming until after 10 minutes of play.

Around the contest, skipper Hudson Boal and Caleb Hyland showed their willingness to get their hands dirty, applying strong pressure and laying several heavy tackles.

Two quick goals to the home side gave West Adelaide a 14-point lead, which, given the conditions, felt even more significant.

A tumbling forward entry followed by fierce tackling pressure provided South with their first real opportunity, and Max Gregor capitalised with a clever snap to register their opening major.

Gregor’s goal was just reward after 20 minutes of hard-fought football from both teams. At the first break, West Adelaide held a narrow seven-point advantage.

Down back, Dale Shearer stood tall, competing strongly and handling the ball cleanly despite the slippery conditions.

Jayce Potter provided much of South Adelaide’s drive across half-back, racking up disposals and using his kicking skills to propel the Panthers forward.

Scoring remained difficult, but West Adelaide’s control of territory gave them several promising looks. They opened the second quarter with five consecutive behinds before finally converting to extend their lead to 18 points.

Despite going scoreless for the quarter, Boal continued to lead by example in the contest, though the Panthers were struggling to gain momentum against a dominant West Adelaide.

Between the arcs, Jayden Jameson was a standout. Whether linking up on the outside or applying physical pressure, he provided a bright spark for South.

At half-time, West Adelaide remained in control, extending their margin to three goals.

With rain continuing to fall at Hisense Stadium, both teams simplified their ball use, opting for territory gains and trusting their contested work.

West Adelaide opened the third term with a behind, but Tyler Harris responded with a quick snap from distance that just snuck in for a minor score.

Potter led all players for possessions, making the most of conditions that favoured high-disposal games. His work rate and ball use reflected a strong desire to keep South Adelaide in the contest.

Only three behinds were scored in the third quarter, and West Adelaide entered the final term with a commanding 20-point lead—one that would be hard to peg back.

Any hopes of a South Adelaide comeback were further dashed whenHamish Hudsonkicked his second goal five minutes into the final term, pushing the margin out to five goals.

Lucas Augustin showed promising signs throughout the match, collecting 18 disposals through smart positioning and earning three free kicks thanks to his desperation.

As puddles and patches of mud covered the ground, James Howley refused to give up on a forward entry. His relentless pressure caused a turnover, which he followed up with a goal of his own.

Unfortunately, that would be South Adelaide’s final score of the match, as West Adelaide’s early scoreboard pressure proved the difference in a hard-fought 21-point victory.

After the bye this past weekend, South Adelaide will aim to return to the winners’ list when they face Norwood at Magain Stadium on Saturday, 21 June at 1:30pm.