South Adelaide youngster Indy Tahau wins best-on-ground medal after helping Panthers claim back-to-back SANFLW flags

South Adelaide rising star Indy Tahau was so shocked after claiming the best-on-ground medal after the Panthers’ SANFLW victory, she couldn’t help but cry with happiness.

South Adelaide rising star Indy Tahau was awarded the best-on-ground medal after starring in the Panthers’ 22-point grand final win against North Adelaide. Picture: AAP/Roy VanDerVegt

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As Indy Tahau walked back to her teammates after being named best-on-ground in South Adelaide’s 22-point SANFLW grand final win over North Adelaide, she sat on the ground and cried.

The tears of joy came after the 17-year-old was instrumental in the Panthers’ victory with 20 disposals, six inside 50s, five tackles and two goals.

But she had no idea her performance would be recognised that highly by South mentor Rick Watts who, as the winning coach, was charged with awarding the best-on-ground medal.

Tahau said the premiership and best afield honour were made even sweeter because her family, including her mother, Leesa, who had travelled from Queensland, was there watching.

South Adelaide players celebrate after winning the 2019 SANFLW grand final. Picture: AAP/Brenton Edwards

“I was overwhelmed,” Tahau, of Aldinga Beach, says.

“It was just so exciting and I was just over the moon and thought ‘wow, we’ve done it’.

“It was so amazing and I ran straight up to my mum and hugged her after the game.

“It was the best thing having all my family there supporting me.”

Tahau, a Year 11 student at Reynella College, watched the Panthers beat Norwood in last season’s grand final from the sidelines because she was only a member of their under-17 team.

The 175cm forward, who also helps out in the ruck, only began playing football two years ago after switching from rugby union.

Her rugby background was evident with a crunching tackle she laid in Sunday’s grand final on North’s Jess Eichner, who was running into attack midway through the final term.

Tahau’s two goals came at clutch times – she booted the first one on the run from 40m less than a minute into the second term, before a snap after taking the ball out of the ruck just before the half-time siren.

“Kicking those two goals made me feel pretty proud,” she says.

“At quarter-time, Rick just gave us an inspirational talk and told us to stay composed.

“It just means so much. South is amazing, we’ve got such a good bunch of girls and everyone puts in so much work to make us so much stronger.”

Tahau, who is also a member of the state under-18 squad and the AFLW under-18 championships team, will feature with SA in a match against the Northern Territory this week.

She then plans to continue training with the state squad before returning to South for pre-season in October.