Panthers’ premiership push gains momentum in 68-point win over Double Blues

SOUTH Adelaide fans are daring to dream the club’s 50-year wait for another premiership is about to end after thrashing Sturt by 68 points.

6.9.2014. SANFL Semi Final: Sturt v South Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. South's Peter Rolfe and Samuel Overall celebrate a goal. Photo Sam Wundke.

SOUTH Adelaide fans are daring to dream the club’s 50-year impatient wait for another premiership is about to end.

The manner in which the Panthers brushed aside Sturt by 68 points in the first semi-final at Adelaide Oval on Saturday has given long-suffering supporters hope.

And why shouldn’t they be excited?

This was as comprehensive as it gets on the big finals stage. They smashed the Double Blues in all facets of the match, producing an awesome display to put another exclamation mark on a terrific season of resurrection.

Now Port Adelaide and Norwood stand between the Panthers and the Thomas Seymour Hill Trophy.

It was a disappointing finale to a season of promise for the Double Blues, who have also risen significantly in the standings this year.

They simply had no answer to the Panthers’ onslaught and their season was all but over late in the second quarter when they trailed by 50 points.

The signs were ominous from the opening minutes when Nick Murphy and Keegan Brooksby nailed goals to give the Panthers the early ascendancy.

The Double Blues surprisingly played key defender Kory Beard in attack and he got a goal back for his side 14 minutes into the contest.

But there was not to be another goal from the Double Blues until the final seconds of the second term, such was their limp challenge.

The Panthers have a quality midfield led by ruckman Brooksby and the Double Blues were overwhelmed at the stoppages.

With a flood of possession — the Panthers finished with 408 disposals to 255 — the likes of Joel Cross, Caleb Daniel, Xavier Gotch, Brent Macleod and Nick Murphy sparked raid after raid to have the Double Blues constantly under the pump.

The expanses of the ground suit the Panthers game plan under coach Brad Gotch and up forward Peter Rolfe proved a valuable ally for the main attacking weapon Brett Eddy.

Twice Rolfe snapped incredible goals.

What Brad Gotch enjoyed was the clean skills from his players in tight. The disciplined Panthers were composed when in possession, moving the ball effectively and running in numbers to create options for teammates.

However, it was the defensive work of the Panthers which also impressed.

Their tackling and harassing was relentless and unsettled the Double Blues into numerous mistakes.

The Double Blues dropped easy marks, made poor decisions and struggled to get their hands on the ball against a switched on opponent who refused to take their foot off the throat.

The decision to use Beard as a forward proved effective for the Double Blues. He bagged six goals but he had too many mates unable to have an influence.

SOUTH 3.1 9.7 14.7 21.11 (137)

STURT 1.1 2.5 5.8 10.9 (69)

BEST — South: Rolfe, Macleod, Murphy, Taylor, Cross, Fields, C.

Daniel, Overall. Sturt: Beard, Calabrese, Page.

GOALS — South: Rolfe 5, Cross, Overall, Murphy 3, Eddy 2, Seccull,

Gotch, Brooksby, Gulden, Veide. Sturt: Beard 6, Duldig, Coad, Page,

Hansen.

REPORTS — Sturt: Kurtze (striking).

INJURIES — Sturt: Kurtze (broken nose).

UMPIRES — Bowen, Deboy, Hundertmark.