South Adelaide claimed their second SANFL League win of the season with a 34-point victory over Central District in an entertaining back-and-forth contest at Magain Stadium on ANZAC weekend.

The result sees the Mayor’s Cup return to South Adelaide for the first time since 2022, played between the two clubs in recognition of the City of Onkaparinga and the City of Playford.

It was the Bulldogs who were quick out of the blocks however, with Maximus Monaghan and Tallan Rosenzweig hitting the scoreboard in the opening five minutes.

The home fans had something to cheer about when Corey Grocock fed Eamon Wilkinson, who gracefully worked his way through traffic to bend through the Panthers first goal.

From there, the teams traded goals as Rosenzweig kicked his second, leading Central District to a 13-point lead at quarter time.

The ball was locked in the Panthers’ forward half late in the quarter when Max Clifton won it back with a terrific dispossessing tackle, before Ben Shillabeer showed great awareness to stay down in the back of the pack and dribble through a goal.

On the other side of the break, Arlo Draper linked up with Isaac Birt to set up Shillabeer once again, his two majors helping spark a run of seven goals to one in favour of the Panthers.

Fast ball movement was rewarded, the corridor opening up for Phoenix Hargrave who bombed from outside 50 on the run, the ball just carrying the distance.

Shillabeer kicked his third after drawing a high free in a heavy pack contest, the Panthers riding the momentum to hit the front.

Anzac Lochowiak edged the Bulldogs back in front, only for Olivier Northam to respond promptly, using his height advantage over his opponent while resting forward.

Emmanuel Ajang flushed a sweet set shot from the top of the 50, followed by Grocock who added to the Panthers growing lead in the first half after a slow start.

Draper and Oliver Davis led the charge in the middle, with a returning Charlie Duncan providing plenty of outside run and drive. 

South Adelaide’s work in transition was a clear improvement with link-up across the ground to find the final inside kick.

Central District didn’t allow the home side to settle however, as key forward Aiden Grace came to life with two goals after half-time to give the Bulldogs back the lead.

Free kicks were awarded to Draper and then Wilkinson, his second goal allowing the Panthers to steady after the Bulldogs had fought back.

As they had done throughout the game, Harley Sparks and Riley Baldi continued to take the game on, with Ajang presenting well to the ball, all leading to Davis finishing an important goal with poise.

A third Rosenzweig goal was immediately cancelled out, as Hargrave cleared a centre ball-up and Baldi ran past to respond again for the Panthers. That passage of play ignited a decisive second run of goals for South Adelaide either side of the final change.

Smart snaps from Jack Delean and Bailey Pilmore stretched the lead further.

Throwing everything they had at the Bulldogs late in the third term, Delean lit up Magain Stadium as he so often does with a wonderful soccer out of mid-air as the siren sounded.

Never looking back from there, Grocock kicked two in quick succession to start the fourth quarter and put the game well out of reach.

Pilmore benefited from another chain of transition play to slot his second. The goal was created by a Baldi tackle, which allowed him to play on and set up Pilmore to finish from the top of the square.

Tom Gillett capped off the day as the Panthers produced their twelfth individual goal kicker.

South Adelaide ended with 19.5 (119), their first score of 100-plus since Round 13 last year and their best return since posting 17.15 (117) against Port in Round 7, 2024.

Awarded best on ground for the Panthers with the Frank Barry Medal, recognising the performance that best reflected the ANZAC spirit, was Arlo Draper, whose 27 disposals, nine marks and a goal were core to the team’s success.

Davis had 29 disposals and seven clearances, and after responding to a knock in his game, he also hit the scoreboard with a goal for the second time in as many weeks.

Playing from half-back and the wing, Sparks collected 27 disposals, nine marks and six tackles. He was followed closely by Duncan, who had 25 disposals and five inside 50s of his own.

Arie Schoenmaker served as the Panthers’ primary rebound option and handled several kick-in duties, finishing with 20 disposals while dropping back to take six marks.

Shillabeer and Grocock both kicked three goals, with Delean, Pilmore and Wilkinson adding two each. Singles went to Ajang, Baldi, Davis, Draper, Gillett, Hargrave and Northam.

South Adelaide will now turn their attention to an away trip to Stratarama Stadium, where they face Glenelg on Saturday, 2^nd May at 2:10pm.