SANFL 2018: South Adelaide outlasts Adelaide Crows in wild and windy conditions

SOUTH Adelaide only kicked nine goals but it was enough to beat Adelaide in a game hampered by a strong, swirling breeze and watched by only 857 brave fans.

South Adelaide’s Matt Rose tries to evade Crow Jackson Edwards. Picture: Deb Curtis.

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IT was certainly not a match for the purists but South Adelaide did enough to overcome Adelaide — and a very strong, swirling breeze — at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday.

Players from both sides struggled to adapt to the conditions, particularly early, and the breeze constantly pulled the ball to the outer side, where large chunks of the game were played.

Given goals were hard to come by, the Panthers’ three majors in succession from the end of the second quarter to the start of the third proved decisive.

They kicked another three consecutive goals — in less than three minutes — midway through the last term to seal the 20-point victory.

South coach Jarrad Wright was pleased his side was able to bounce back from last week’s 48-point loss to Norwood.

“It was a pretty tough day at the office from a playing and coaching perspective,” Wright said. “Obviously conditions didn’t make it a pretty game but it was good to fight it out.”

South started well and kicked the first two goals of the game, through Tom Fields and Sam Overall.

Adelaide fought its way back into the contest and led by a goal midway through the second term

South’s Keegan Brooksby marking over Adelaide’s Harry Dear. Picture: Deb Curtis.

But after South’s Connor Fairlie slotted his first major, the Crows never regained the lead. Joel Cross (28 disposals) and Nick Liddle (21 disposals, seven inside 50s) were typically prolific but it was Abe Davis who had the biggest impact on the match.

The big-bodied midfielder finished with 27 touches, eight marks and eight tackles.

“I thought our mids were terrific all day,” Wright said.

“Abe Davis was really strong in the clinches for us and Brad Crabb, coming in for his first game of the season, was terrific down back.”

Andy Otten was impressive for Adelaide, while Riley Knight (25 disposals, seven tackles) found plenty of the football.

Crows coach Ryan O’Keefe praised his team’s endeavour and intent but said basic fundamentals hurt it.

“We let ourselves down, really,” O’Keefe said.

“For all our hard work, we didn’t get reward.”

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SCOREBOARD

SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.2 4.3 6.6 9.6 (60)

ADELAIDE 3.1 3.3 4.3 6.4 (40)

BEST — South: Davis, Cross, Liddle, Fields, Crabb, Brooksby, Cailotto.

Adelaide: Otten, Lonergan, Launer, Jarman, Davis, Hill.

GOALS — South: Fields, Overall, Fairlie 2; Davis, Liddle, Rankine.

Adelaide: Hunter, McMahon 2; Davis, Himmelberg.

INJURIES — South: Raitt (corked thigh)

Adelaide: Nil

UMPIRES — Bryce, Crosby, Burke

CROWD — 857 at Noarlunga Oval