South Adelaide secured a hard-fought 16-point win over long-standing adversary Port Adelaide, capitalising on a six-goal opening quarter with the breeze to set up victory on Good Friday.

Etched in history, the fierce rivalry dates back to 1876, when the Panthers prevailed over the Magpies by a single goal to nil, and has stood the test of time. 

South Adelaide honoured the occasion by donning a commemorative guernsey recognising the club’s foundational blue and white colours, inspired by the jumper worn in the 1964 premiership season.

Jesse Nye, having made his Panthers debut the week prior, bobbed up for the first of the day, dribbling through a memorable first SANFL League goal.

Jack Delean booted the second, taking a strong pack mark to finish from the set shot.

Relentless pressure and efficiency in the forward half were the difference for the Panthers. Nye brought down Port’s Rome Burgoyne inside 50 and set up Ben Schillabeer, who converted to give the Panthers their first three goals of the game.

Moments like this helped the Panthers record 18 more tackles than the Magpies, a defining stat that shaped the outcome of the game.

South Adelaide looked more prepared to take the game on, linking through handball with daring movement, a stark contrast to their first quarter effort against the Eagles in Round 1.

This was highlighted by vice-captain Oliver Davis, who was everywhere in the first quarter. 

Davis won a high free and sent a chain off half-back through the corridor. The play ended on the chest of Arlo Draper, playing his first game in nearly two years, who went back and slotted the set shot.

Intensity was on full display with Max Clifton nailing Port livewire Will Lorenz with a perfect tackle as the Magpies looked to move out of defence.

Isaac Birt collected a ground ball and weaved through traffic, starting another scoring chain off turnover. Bailey Pilmore crumbed an inside 50 from Eamon Wilkinson and snapped his first goal.

Phoenix Hargrave goaled on the quarter time siren, marking the Panthers’ sixth individual goal scorer.

Port Adelaide brought a 29-point deficit down to just one by half-time, but lost key forward Ollie Lord in the second quarter after he twisted his knee awkwardly and had to leave the field.

The loss of their talisman played a part in the Magpies managing to kick just two goals in the second half.

Skipper Oscar Clavarino raced back in transition late to spoil the Magpies and deny them the lead heading into the break.

Favouring the northern end, the breeze helped the Panthers strike first in the second half, with Hargrave gracefully snapping his second goal.

Olivier Northam wrestled back after a good showing in the first half from ruck opponent Dante Visentini, leading the team for clearances with 4.

South Adelaide often forced the Magpies down the line, with Clifton and Tom Gillett standing tall behind the ball.

Wilkinson lifted in the third quarter, landing a crunching tackle on Will Lorenz shortly after.

Emmanuel Ajang presented strongly to the ball, impressing with his overhead contested marking and finishing with an equal-high six inside 50s for the game.

Ajang kept his feet, pushing past Port captain Jez McLennan to set up Pilmore for his second.

A forward-50 spoil by Clifton fell to the feet of Finn Emile-Brennan, who floated a goal to re-establish the Panthers’ grip on the game.

Though the Magpies closed the gap late in the third term, South Adelaide held firm in the fourth quarter, with both sides combining for just five behinds despite having several clear chances on goal.

Leading the disposal count, Harley Sparks (29) and Seamus Mitchell (25) controlled plenty of the footy. Goals were spread evenly, with Pilmore and Hargrave the only multiple goal scorers.

Clavarino again held up the fort for the Panthers with his on-ball pressure and intercepting play totalling 12 marks, as South Adelaide played out the final minutes to secure their first win of the season.

South Adelaide will take a short break as the SANFL League goes on pause for Gather Round, before heading to Coopers Stadium for a clash under lights with Norwood on Friday, 17th April at 7:40pm.