Slick South Adelaide demolishes disappointing Woodville-West Torrens

SOUTH Adelaide is shaping as the real deal in 2016 after dismantling last season’s SANFL grand finalist Woodville-West Torrens in unrelenting fashion at Hickinbotham Oval on Sunday.

SANFL: South Adelaide v Eagles at Hickinbotham Oval, Noarlunga. Pictured South's Cameron De Visser. Picture: Dylan Coker

SOUTH Adelaide is shaping as the real deal in 2016 after dismantling last season’s SANFL grand finalist Woodville West-Torrens in unrelenting fashion at Hickinbotham Oval on Sunday.

The Panthers snapped an early funk to demolish the Eagles by 43 points — honouring Tarak Redigolo’s 100th game for the club in style.

The Eagles led by 24 points following Jarrad Redden’s goal at the 17 minute mark of the first term but wouldn’t register another major until the 11th minute of the third.

Meanwhile, Simon Overall would boot three in the second term and give off another to Brett Eddy (two) as the Panthers ran riot.

Nick Hayes slotted the first goal of the match before Michael Wundke booted three inside 12 minutes as the Eagles got off to a flyer.

However the goals and forward line function would dry up for Michael Godden’s men, with Wundke straining a groin and South ruckman Daniel Bass taking charge.

Having started the game in the pedestrian style, the Panthers switched on with seven unanswered goals that secured a 23-point lead at half time.

The Eagles’ early pressure evaporated in damaging, debilitating manner.

A trio of Panthers — so crucial to South’s fightback — killed off the contest in the final term.

Nathan Daniel had offered great rebound across half back all day and was rewarded with South’s 11th goal.

The Panthers were swarming forward in numbers, with the Eagles allowing uncontested possession that concerned coach Michael Godden.

Emmanuel Irra had ignited South with a series of surges in the first term.

And he was just as damaging in the last.

The Eagles couldn’t lay a hand and on the wingman as he burnt through the middle to set up Eddy’s second half way through the final stanza.

Cameron Hitchcock — now a complete on-ball force — kicked his second streaming forward for South’s 13th, while impressive Nick Liddle followed, while unattended, from 20m out.

South overran the Eagles with slick ball movement, gut running and cohesive adherence to the Gotch game plan.

“I am really pleased with our boys. We had a very even performance,” said Gotch.

“It was Redigolo’s 100th, a heart-and-soul player and the guys were always going to play emotionally for him,” said Gotch.

The coach would also have been impressed with the efforts of Brede Seccull and Xavier Gotch, who stopped James Boyd from having a matchwinning influence.

The hosts also were able to curb the defensive rebound of Jarred Allmond and Matt Goldsworthy, which is critical to the Eagles’ blueprint.