South Adelaide defeats Central District in tight SANFL contest at Noarlunga Oval
A RESILIENT South Adelaide lost its fifth-straight opening quarter for the season but held tough to beat Central District in a seesawing contest at Noarlunga.
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A RESILIENT South Adelaide lost its fifth-straight opening quarter for the season but held tough to beat Central District by nine points at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday.
The wayward Panthers started slow but finished strong in the 11.18 (84) to 11.9 (75) triumph to take their record to 3-2 for the year.
In the absence of Joel Cross, who missed the match following the death of his father, South’s midfield led by Nick Liddle stepped up to drive the hosts to victory.
The Dogs kicked four goals to one in the opening quarter but were then held goalless in the second as the Panthers took control.
A gusty final term highlighted by long-bomb majors from Anthony Biemans, Tom Fields and debutant Nathan Kreuger sealed the win.
South coach Jarrad Wright praised his side’s toughness to respond after quarter time.
“Our starts have been our downfall but the resilience from the boys to get back into the game after being down is really promising,” Wright said.
“We just need to look at our starts and our mindset coming into the game ... so we can break games open in the second and third term instead of having to peg sides back.”
A dour contest at times was lit up by a goal of the year contender from each side.
South goalsneak Matt Rankine kicked arguably the better of the two in the third term, taking the ball and just staying in bounds before snapping while off balance from right on the boundary.
But Dogs livewire Isaya McKenzie’s effort in the last was not far off.
The speedster collected the ball on the wing and took off, burning three Panthers while taking four bounces before a cool finish for his fourth of the afternoon.
Liddle was fantastic in the midfield for his 26 disposals, while youngster Mark Noble, Ben Heaslip and the classy Abe Davis were all prolific.
Central coach Roy Laird said his side’s execution cost them and was not up to league standard.
“Our intensity dropped off and that happens all too often with us,” Laird said.
“You have to question some people’s footy make up when you can’t understand your job is to give everything for two hours and we just don’t give it enough.
South will be sweating on a foot injury to forward Sam Overall, while Central youngster Cooper Dahms went down with a knee injury in the third term.
Amazing goal from Matthew Rankine, @southadelaideFC on a 14 point lead now! #SANFL pic.twitter.com/vNnadZ3KZe
— 7SANFL (@7SANFL) May 5, 2018
SCOREBOARD
SOUTH 1.0 5.7 8.11 11.18 (84)
CENTRAL DISTRICT 4.4 4.5 7.9 11.9 (75)
BEST — South: Liddle, Haines, Heaslip, Noble, Davis, Rankine. Central District: Hatley, Barmby, McKenzie, Presbury, F. Fort.
GOALS — South: Overall, Rankine, Kreuger, Fields 2, Fitt, Davis, Biemans. Central District: McKenzie 4, Hatley, Butcher 2, Jenner, Milne, Hanna.
UMPIRES — Philp, Morgan, Sboro.
INJURIES — Overall (foot), Dahms (knee).
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