Adelaide defeat South Adelaide by 45 points

SOUTH Adelaide’s standing as a finals-quality side took a scratch and dent on Saturday in a 45-point loss to Adelaide at Hickinbotham Oval.

12/7/14. SANFL: South Adelaide v Adelaide at Hickinbotham Oval. Adelaide - Riley Knight and South - Keegan Brooksby Pic Keryn Stevens

SOUTH Adelaide’s standing as a finals-quality side took a scratch and dent on Saturday in a 45-point loss to Adelaide at Hickinbotham Oval.

It was the second time this year the Panthers hosted the Crows, and the second time they failed to take the points against the eighth-ranked side.

Adelaide responded to its low-scoring loss to West Adelaide last week with an impressive win built on attacking polish and tight defence that short-circuited South’s spread on the Noarlunga expanses.

Mitch Grigg was outstanding for the Crows along with captain Ian Callinan (four goals), Brent Reilly worked hard and steadied the defence while Jarryd Lyons and Matt Crouch generated run and drive.

Luke Thompson also elevated himself in Adelaide’s search for key defenders to replace Ben Rutten with a tight defensive job on dangerous South forward Brett Eddy.

“A lot of our scoring opportunities came off the back of some really positive defence,” Crows coach Heath Younie said. “Our guys were able to defend quite aggressively and, in the end, force some turnovers and get some scoring opportunities off that.”

Adelaide coach Heath Younie talks to his players. Picture: Keryn Stevens

For South, the midfield connection of Keegan Brooksby and Joel Cross was a highlight, skipper Josh Thewlis tried his best to lift his side, Frazer Dale offered aerial excitement and Brent Macleod seemed to bob up everywhere.

The Crows threatened to run away with it as Grigg, Lyons, Crouch and Callinan all started to get on top in the second term. They booted five of six goals to skip away to a 33-point lead after the always creative Callinan converted on his left from 40m.

The Panthers responded late in the quarter but but failed to take full advantage. They scored successive behinds through Brooksby, Darcy Hourigan and Peter Rolfe before Jake Veide cashed in a brilliant pack mark to make it a 24-point game at the break.

That boost evaporated inside the first 30 seconds of the third quarter when Crouch kicked his first, and Grigg and Callinan added to the South’s pain minutes later to blow the contest.

South Adelaide faced an uphill task from the first term when the prominent Luke Durdin slipped and did the splits, straining a hamstring in the process. The Panthers were then reduced to a one-man bench for the second half when they lost Adam Gulden (knee).

“I thought we fought hard, we were just outplayed by a better side on the day,” Panthers coach Brad Gotch said. “They worked a bit harder, capitalised on our turnovers, matched us a bit more inside than what we’ve had done to us.”