South Adelaide downs North Adelaide by 37 points in SANFL

SOUTH Adelaide has given notice of its SANFL finals credentials after shocking ladder-leader North Adelaide to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

South Adelaide’s Tom Fields tackles North Adelaide’s Matt McDonough during the Panthers’ victory at Prospect Oval. Picture: Deb Curtis

SOUTH Adelaide has given notice of its finals credentials after shocking ladder-leader North Adelaide to secure back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

The Panthers made their biggest statement of a promising, if patchy, start to the campaign to record an impressive 37-point triumph over the Roosters at Prospect Oval on Saturday.

It was a success built on hunger and commitment to the cause in a scrappy contest, as the visitors overcame a two-goal quarter-time deficit to end North’s five-match winning streak.

The high-flying Roosters by contrast were sloppy and hesitant in possession, lacking the intensity which had typified their stunning turnaround this season.

South kicked five goals to one in the second quarter and held its nerve in a seesawing third term to hold an 11-point buffer at the last change.

Two final term goals each to Tom Fields (21 disposals) and the excellent Matt Rankine (four majors) secured South’s fourth win of the year.

Nick Liddle (33 possession, nine tackles), Abe Davis (35) and Joel Cross (27, two goals) shone for the Panthers in an impressive all-round team display.

South coach Jarrad Wright said his players had executed his game plan for the majority of the contest.

“As much as we had a bit of a slow start again, it wasn’t as bad as our normal first quarters,” Wright said of the 15.5 (95) to 8.10 (58) win.

“The last three quarters we really stuck to the plan.

North Adelaide’s Jared Almond holds off South Adelaide’s Joseph Haines. Picture: Deb Curtis

“Structurally we really held around the contest nicely which gave us protection behind the ball.

“Especially in those second and third quarters we just kept repelling it, which was great to see.”

North showed its confidence as it powered to a handy buffer at the first change.

Panthers teenager Nathan Kreuger took a strong mark and converted from 50m to register the first major of the match.

But Mitch Harvey capitalised on a sloppy turnover by Brad Crabb to get the Roosters’ opener, before a string of slick handballs ended with Max Thring bending through a beauty.

Adam Hunter took an impressive diving grab to kick home and keep South in the contest.

A spectacular one-handed Matt McDonough mark and clever finish from a tight angle, as well as a composed kick from the pocket by Callum Wilkie, put the hosts in the driving seat.

South roared to life in the second term to hold a nine-point buffer at the main break.

Liam Fitt, Rankine and Cross goaled within a blistering three-minute spell early in the quarter as the Panthers lifted their effort and efficiency.

Roosters skipper Thring kicked his side’s first of the period against the run of play.

But Rankine did brilliantly to convert under pressure, then dished off unselfishly to Cody Szust to kick into an open goal.

The Panthers had an 11-point advantage as the sides turned for home.

Cross pounced on a loose ball early in the third to snap his second for South

But Lewis Hender finished off his own strong work after a swift exchange with Harvey and a brilliant kick on the run by Jarred Allmond pulled North back to within five.

Nick Liddle, a standout for South Adelaide, is challenged for the ball by North Adelaide skipper Max Thring. Picture: Deb Curtis

Panthers captain Keegan Brooksby took a towering mark and kicked truly, before Mackenzie Slee was pinged for carrying the ball too far and Fitt slotted the free kick from close range.

Alex Spina kept the hosts in touch as he hit the target in time on.

But Fields goaled twice in the opening exchanges of the fourth period to edge the Panthers towards victory.

Rankine was on target twice more to seal a deserved triumph for the visitors.

North mentor Josh Carr said his side was well beaten.

“South were a lot more desperate in the way they approached the game and their contested footy,” Carr said.

“The first quarter we were up, but then after that they stepped it up and we were on the back foot for most of the game.

“We broke down around centre forward and finding that link play to get the ball inside 50.

“Credit to South, I thought their backs were really good and their mids with their spread got outside us and worked us over.”

SCOREBOARD

NORTH ADELAIDE 4.3 5.5 8.6 8.10 (58)

SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.2 7.2 10.5 15.5 (95)

BEST — North: Craig, Schwarz, Smith, Thring, Allmond. South: Liddle, Davis, Rankine, Cross, Brooksby, Fields, Rose, Heaslip.

GOALS — North: Thring 2, Harvey, McDonough, Wilkie Hender, Allmond, Spina. South: Rankine 4, Fitt, Cross, Hunter, Fields 2, Kreuger, Szust, Brooksby.

INJURIES — South: Kreuger (shoulder).

UMPIRES — J. Broadbent, M. Schramm, M. Scott.

At Prospect Oval