South Adelaide is just one win away from a place in the Grand Final after a stirring second-half performance saw them claim a 31-point Semi Final win over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

Both sides came into the clash knowing the stakes - the loser’s season would come to an end - and the opening moments of the first term typified the intensity of finals football.

Darcy Campbell-Kearney set the tone with a strong tackle early that was rewarded with a free kick, signalling the physical nature of the contest to come.

The opening minutes were nervy, with both teams making uncharacteristic skill errors.

Tyler Harris kicked the first goal of the match in brilliant fashion, recovering from a dropped mark to gather and snap truly on his left from a tight angle.

Caleb Hyland was prolific early, collecting four touches in the opening stages, while Hudson Boal and Riley Watchman were also heavily involved.

Zemes Pilot had a chance to extend South’s lead but missed to the right, before North responded with their own opportunity - only managing a minor score.

They eventually found their first major through Archie Simpson, who snapped truly from a stoppage deep inside forward 50.

Nathan Flesfadar delivered a pinpoint pass to a leading Joel Wigzell, whose shot fell short. But Pilot kept the ball alive and snapped through congestion to claim his first goal.

Oliver South was denied a major when his shot struck the post. The miss would prove costly, with North going straight down the other end to reduce the margin to two points.

South Adelaide’s tall defenders stood firm under pressure, intercepting well as North began to gain momentum late in the term.

The ball lived between the arcs in the closing minutes, with South holding onto a narrow two-point lead at the first change.

Boal was leading from the front with eight disposals, four tackles and three clearances. Campbell-Kearney, Pilot, Hyland, Jayce Potter and Tom Meaney were also rising to the occasion.

Harris wasted no time after the break, kicking a goal inside the first minute of the second term to extend the lead. Moments later, Hewston Fitzgerald dribbled one home to stretch the margin to 15 points.

Watchman was again instrumental, intercepting in defence and launching a chain that resulted in Joel Wigzell earning a free kick, though he was unable to convert.

North continued to press but were denied by a brilliant rundown tackle from Dale Shearer. However, they did manage to goal from the resulting stoppage, cutting the deficit to 10 points.

Shearer impressed once again with a strong spoil on the lead to stop a North mark from 40 metres. But Simpson soon had his second for the term - and third overall - with a composed set shot that brought the margin back to four points.

Hyland continued to work hard in the midfield, leading all comers for disposals, while Sam Walsh was resolute and Potter was providing clean, dangerous ball movement off half-back.

In slippery conditions, clean possession remained hard to come by. Pilot won a free kick inside 50 after pressuring his opponent, but his snap drifted through for a behind.

Flesfadar showed his football intelligence, soccering the ball forward before eventually winning a free kick up the ground that would result in an inside 50.

While the initial entry didn’t result in a score, but poor skill execution would open the door for Pilot, who converted for his second goal, restoring a 12-point lead.

Deklan Warren was working tirelessly in the ruck, not only giving first use to his midfielders but also providing a marking target around the ground.

With seconds remaining in the half, Simpson snapped his fourth from a stoppage at the top of the square to give North a lift heading into the main break. South led by six points.

The third quarter loomed as pivotal, and Pilot got things going with a burst from the opening centre bounce, sending the ball deep into attack.

After several stoppages, Campbell-Kearney produced a moment of magic - reading the ball off the pack, collecting cleanly, breaking a tackle, and dribbling through a brilliant goal.

North nearly responded, but a snap never bent back enough, resulting in a behind.

Campbell-Kearney was involved again soon after, his composure resulting in a mark to Fitzgerald inside 50, but the set shot was rushed through.

Wigzell missed a set shot after a bullet pass from Lucas Marshall, and North made South pay, with Simpson snapping his fifth following a missed spoil.

Oliver South answered with a brilliant set shot from a tight angle, before Pilot added his third - a long-range goal on the run - to stretch the lead to 18 points.

Henley Smith responded for North, but Oliver South kicked a near carbon-copy set shot goal to restore the three-goal buffer.

Harry Tamblyn responded for North again to keep the game within reach. South took a 12-point lead into the last change.

Boal had 18 disposals at the final break, with Pilot (17 disposals, three goals), Potter (17 disposals), and Campbell-Kearney all influential in key moments.

The final quarter would determine who advanced - and who bowed out.

South struck early, with Jayden Jameson converting from point-blank range within 90 seconds to give the Panthers breathing space.

Boal then took a strong mark under pressure and sent the ball back inside 50. Jameson was the danger man once again, snapping from the boundary to push the lead to 24 points.

North needed a response, but Kade Clark missed on the run. Then came the sealer - Pilot’s fourth goal, a composed snap on the run after quick hands from Warren and Fitzgerald.

With ten minutes to play, South began to take control of the tempo, chipping and marking around the ground to run down the clock and frustrate North.

North generated two more scoring opportunities, but even had they converted, the margin was already too great.

Hudson Croser put the icing on the cake with a set shot from close range, sparking jubilant celebrations from his teammates.

South Adelaide now moves into the Preliminary Final, where a place in the Grand Final will be on the line against West Adelaide at Thomas Farms Oval on Saturday, 6 September at 1:30PM.