SANFL 2018: South Adelaide v Port Adelaide | Round 9 match report

SOUTH Adelaide has tightened its grip on a SANFL top-five berth after comfortably downing Port Adelaide by 35 points at Noarlunga to record its third win in four games.

South Adelaide’s Nick Liddle shone in the Panthers’ victory over Port Adelaide at Noarlunga. Picture: Tom Huntley

SOUTH Adelaide has tightened its grip on a top-five berth after comfortably downing Port Adelaide to record its third win in four games.

A five-goal-to-none opening term laid the foundation for the Panthers’ 35-point victory at Noarlunga Oval on Sunday, which moved it level on triumphs with fourth-placed Norwood.

The hosts were more efficient inside 50 and more disciplined throughout, as teenager Liam Fitt’s four goals helped it cruise to success.

Port got back to within nine after kicking four of the first five majors in the third term.

But six fourth-quarter goals sealed a 16.10 (106) to 10.11 (71) win for the Panthers, for whom Nick Liddle (29 disposals, one major) was at his inspirational best.

South coach Jarrad Wright said his side’s lightning start was the catalyst for a strong all-round display.

“It pretty much set the game up for us,” said Wright, of the first-term blitz which handed South a 29-point quarter-time buffer.

“We lost the next couple of quarters.

“But once we started to regain a bit of control and momentum, it was pretty much just down to a little bit of composure with the ball.

“To come away 35-point winners against a quality team is always pleasing.”

South Adelaide’s Matthew Rankine and Port Adelaide’s Jack Strange compete for the ball. Picture: Tom Huntley

The sides had 23 inside 50s each and Port edged disposals 173-145 in the first half.

But South was far more damaging with the footy and took a matchwinning advantage to the main break.

Captain Keegan Brooksby (21 possessions), youngster Cody Szust (two goals, eight tackles) and Abe Davis (22 disposals) were strong for the Panthers, who moved to 4-1 at home.

For the second-bottom Port, the defeat extended its winless streak to six matches.

The Magpies were stung by ill-discipline, as South booted seven of its 16 goals from free kicks.

Experienced North Melbourne recruit Lindsay Thomas kicked four majors for the visitors, while skipper Steve Summerton (27 possessions) and Dom Barry (29) stood up well.

Magpies mentor Matthew Lokan said there were positives to take from the loss.

“I thought we improved a lot this week compared to the last two weeks,” Lokan said.

“Today we had patches in the game where we played some really good footy and played the style of footy that we expect from our guys.

“To South’s credit they were able to capitalise on turnover a little bit better than we were.

Joel Cross of South Adelaide tackles Will Snelling of Port Adelaide. Picture: Tom Huntley

“We probably wasted a few opportunities in front of goal, but I was happy with the guys’ effort and workrate today.”

The hosts held a decisive quarter-time edge after blowing Port away in the opening stanza.

Fitt punched through the first major of the day on the run following a slick team move by South, before Dom Barry was called for holding the ball and Szust converted.

Szust slammed through his second, while Liddle showed his class with a jinking run and fine snap home to get the Panthers off to a flyer.

Anthony Biemans kicked truly from 50m against his old club, but the Magpies sprung to life in the second quarter.

Sam Hayes finally got Port on the board in the ninth minute of the period with a composed set shot from an angle.

Kane Farrell and Summerton goaled for the visitors either side of a Matthew Rankine major for South, to cut the home side’s buffer to 14 points.

But another text book conversion by Biemans and a Davis long bomb late in the quarter gave South the ascendancy.

The Panthers’ Ben Heaslip attempts to get a handball away under pressure. Picture: Tom Huntley

Port clawed its way back to within three straight kicks of South at the last change after a gutsy third term.

Jack Kluske and Thomas were on target for the Magpies early, before Fitt booted a beauty on run for the Panthers.

The Magpies grabbed two goals in a minute through Thomas and Barry to reduce the deficit to nine.

But Fitt converted a free kick from straight in front for his third to keep South’s nose in front.

The 19-year-old took advantage of another Port indiscretion to goal from 25m early in the fourth.

Majors to Ben Haren and Tom Fields iced the victory for the Panthers.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 5.2 8.4 10.6 16.10 (106)

PORT ADELAIDE 0.3 3.7 7.7 10.11 (71)

BEST – South: Liddle, Brooksby, Fitt, Szust, Davis, Biemans, Rankine. Port: Summerton, Barry, Thomas, Trengove, Snellng, Pittard.

GOALS – South: Fitt 4, Szust, Biemans 2, Liddle, Rankine, Davis, Haren, Heaslip, Brown, Kreuger, Fields. Port: Thomas 4, Hayes, Farrell, Summerton, Kluske, Barry, Davis.

UMPIRES – M. Schramm, M. Harris, T. Medlin.

At Noarlunga Oval