After leading at every change, South Adelaide was overrun in a tight final quarter by a fast-finishing North Adelaide, falling short in its ANZAC Round clash by seven points at Magain Stadium.

The opening minutes of the first quarter set the tone for the entire afternoon, with both sides fighting for loose balls and showcasing their tenacity around the contest.

Despite the ball bouncing between the arcs on several occasions, it was a moment of composure from North Adelaide that resulted in the opening goal of the match.

South Adelaide benefited from brilliant tackling pressure, with Luke Bogle’s strong run-down tackle in the middle of the ground setting the foundation for Noah Howes’ short-range response.

The ever-dangerous Corey Grocock nearly made something out of nothing minutes later, with his dribbling effort while being tackled just trickling through for a behind.

Competing against 200-gamer Mitch Harvey in the ruck, Olivier Northam continued his outstanding start to the season, providing quality hit-outs and winning clearances through sheer strength.

South Adelaide’s dominance around the contest started to bear fruit, with Brad Jefferies and Grocock both converting from point-blank range to extend their side’s lead to 12 points.

Needing a response, the away side battled through immense pressure to register the next two goals of the game and regain a slender advantage.

Rooster defenders found it impossible to contain Grocock, who threaded the eye of a needle with a snap across his body to convert his second of the afternoon.

After providing silver service to his midfielders, Northam nearly produced one of the highlights of the match—bursting out of the stoppage and unloading from 70 metres—only to register a behind.

The in-form ruckman made up for his minor score moments later, converting a set shot from 45 metres to extend South’s lead to two goals and cap off a fantastic individual quarter.

South’s lead could have stretched to more than three goals after Isaac Birt’s flying shot from distance smashed into the goalpost just before the first break.

Despite being challenged throughout the term, the home side enjoyed a 14-point lead heading into quarter-time.

North Adelaide came out firing in the second quarter, kicking the first three goals of the term to turn a three-goal deficit into a four-point advantage.

Oliver Davis continued to stand out in the midfield for South Adelaide, even when momentum wasn’t going his side’s way. He found the ball with ease, registering several tackles and clearances.

After only scoring one behind in 20 minutes, Damon Freitag showcased his clean hands, taking a strong mark on the lead inside 50. Desperately needing a goal, the post once again denied South.

Leaders Sam Skinner and Jake Summerton stood tall in defence against several of North Adelaide’s dangerous forwards, with the former also providing strong rebound out of the back half.

North threatened to extend its lead late in the quarter. However, Will McCarthy made the brave decision to leave his direct opponent to impact a 50-50 contest and win the ball for his side.

McCarthy’s individual effort resulted in a quick rebound and an eventual mark in the forward pocket to Grocock, who composed himself and threaded through his third to give South a three-point lead.

South Adelaide continued its late-quarter dominance, with Davis firing a bullet pass inside 50 to find a leading Howes, who celebrated as soon as the ball hit his boot.

At the main break, South had weathered the away side’s best efforts to hold a nine-point lead.

Much like the start of the second term, North Adelaide began brightly, kicking the first goal of the quarter and nearly adding another to regain the lead.

Phoenix Hargrave showcased his strength and composure in the contest, shrugging off a would-be tackler and snapping from long range—only to miss to the near side.

After a strong first half, Howes continued to be a handful for North defenders, marking a shanked set shot from Blake Rodrigues. His left-foot snap once again extended South’s lead to nine points.

The impressive key forward nearly registered his fourth major moments later after taking a flying mark across defenders. However, the goalpost once again proved to be a frustrating obstacle.

Jaiden Magor and Tom Wheaton provided promise on the outside of the contest, with the latter quickly getting boot to ball to nearly produce a late response to an earlier North major.

As the siren sounded, there was little separating the two sides, with South’s lead at just five points.

Despite being competitive in the midfield—especially through Northam’s immense presence in the ruck—South Adelaide once again started a quarter slowly.

North Adelaide kicked the first goal of the term and added two further behinds to regain the lead and apply significant pressure on the home side to respond.

After several stoppages, Bogle was rewarded a free kick and an opportunity to put his side back in front. His set shot incredibly hit the goalpost, marking South’s fifth of the match.

Goals were worth their weight in gold in the final term, and there were no better hands to have the ball inside forward 50 than those of the in-form Grocock.

Following a contested mark on the wing from Davis and a delightful pass inside 50 from Freitag, Grocock composed himself and converted a clutch set shot near the boundary to regain the lead.

With minutes remaining, an opportunistic snap over the shoulder from former Gold Coast Sun Oskar Faulkhead hung in the air for an eternity before finally drifting through to put North back in front.

Defending a four-point lead, the visitors gallantly shut South down whenever it threatened in the dying minutes, holding on for an impressive win away from home.

Olivier Northam was rewarded for his 29 disposal, 10 mark, 10 clearance, 16 hit out and a goal performance, winning the Frank Barry medal.

Following a heartbreaking loss, South Adelaide will look to get its season back on track when it faces Central District at X Convenience Oval on Saturday, 3 May at 2:10pm. 

South Adelaide came up against a red-hot North Adelaide, losing its ANZAC Round clash by 40 points at Magain Stadium.

The away side wasted no time applying scoreboard pressure in the opening term, converting a set shot within the first minute of play to set the tone for the afternoon.

Despite weathering several dangerous forward entries, half-back Hayden Kernahan continued to showcase his dash and kicking skills in an attempt to spark counter-attacks.

Cody Lowe proved to be an aerial presence, forcing his direct opponent to concede a free kick just inside 50 after a long ball from Jacob Collins. However, his set shot could only register a behind.

Defenders Lachlan Scott, Dayne McGary, and Jacob Sheean were under constant pressure throughout the first term, with North Adelaide generating countless dangerous forward entries.

South’s midfield found it difficult to compete against the away side’s many dynamic ball movers.

Lowe’s missed set shot would be the closest the home side came to a goal in the opening term. After a dominant start, North Adelaide took a 19-point lead into the second quarter.

Needing a response, South Adelaide began to slowly even up the contest around stoppages, with Ben Ashley-Cooper laying several strong tackles to impose some physical presence.

After conceding the first goal of the term, South produced its most promising passage of play for the afternoon, ending with a clean gather and finish from Cohen Shortridge from distance.

Shortridge followed up with his second moments later after Ashley-Cooper burst from the stoppage and delivered to a contest, where the forward collected and finished from point-blank range.

The momentum had suddenly shifted South’s way. Kernahan continued to slice through North’s structure, while Oliver Goss showcased his quick hands under pressure.

North Adelaide’s lead was quickly cut to just eight points after Tommy Barrett’s immense defensive pressure led to Charlie Duncan gathering and slotting a clinical goal.

However, following the home side’s five-minute purple patch, North regained ascendancy and flexed its muscle across the ground.

The next four goals of the game went North Adelaide’s way, stretching its lead to 33 points and deflating the spirits of a gallant South Adelaide.

After a messy couple of stoppages, the home side entered forward 50 through Scott’s delicate pass, which was dropped by Bailey Pilmore, but soon resulted in a free kick to Shortridge.

Desperate for a response, the dangerous forward slammed his short-range set shot into the goalpost, summing up South Adelaide’s afternoon.

At the main break, North Adelaide had extended its lead to six goals, leaving the home side with plenty of work to do.

Lowe once again imposed himself in the ruck contest, winning the ball and finding Duncan, who fired the ball forward to Goss, resulting in a behind in the first minute of the third.

Both sides were locked in an arm wrestle throughout the term, with neither able to recapture the free-flowing play of the first half.

Despite North kicking the first goal of the quarter, South Adelaide continued to attempt rebounds from the back half, with Sam Foley and Will Splaan prominent in that area.

The home side needed to start eating into the 39-point deficit, but North remained resolute in defence.

Frustratingly, Goss’ set shot—despite having little angle to deal with—missed to the near side, while McGary, gathering the ball out the back unopposed, sprayed his shot wide from point-blank range.

After an extended period of messy ball movement, Ethan Johnson showed his composure to find Tye Gander on the lead, who went back and converted a much-needed goal.

Shortridge had a huge opportunity to reduce the margin to four goals, but his effort on the run drifted wide, further deflating South Adelaide’s spirit.

At the final break, North Adelaide had weathered a late push from the home side to maintain a comfortable six-goal margin heading into the last stanza.

South Adelaide needed a quick goal in the final term if it was to have any chance of chasing down North’s lead. However, Shortridge’s flying shot from range registered his third behind of the day.

He made up for the earlier miss, finding Tye McManus in the goal square for the easiest of finishes. Despite the goal, North Adelaide’s margin remained at 28 points.

Lowe continued to battle strongly in the ruck, recording several of his own clearances and finding his midfielders, including Callum McCarty and Lachlan Gill.

Although the home side never gave up, North Adelaide proved too strong when it mattered most, kicking the final two goals of the game to run out comfortable 40-point winners.

South Adelaide will look to return to the winners' list when it takes on winless Central District at X Convenience Oval on Saturday, 3 May at 11:30am.