South Adelaide has beaten Central District to open the SANFL season in style

South Adelaide was coming off lack-lustre form in the trials, but it meant little as they opened the SANFL season in style against Central District.

Pre-season trials can be such a deceiving form guide for the season proper.

South Adelaide struggled with skills and lost all three trials, Central District won two and had a narrow loss in a positive preparation.

Come the real stuff at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday and those trials meant little as the Panthers kicked off their season with a highly impressive 59-point thumping of a lack-lustre Bulldogs outfit.

The Bulldogs trailed by just five points midway through the third quarter. But it was a false reflection of the game and the Panthers had all the answers, discipline and quality to get the job done in emphatic style.

Panthers coach Jarrad Wright admitted there was a certain element of nerves after the trials, but once he posted his side on selection night he had utmost confidence in his players.

“The skills were probably our growth area last year and to see limited improvement in the trial matches was a little concerning and frustrating,” he said,

“But I knew the way we had been training and the way we structure up, if we can get it right and have a bit of cleanliness we were going to score. They showed if we get it right we can be dangerous.”

After a sluggish start, the confidence of the Panthers grew as the first quarter lengthened and their movement deep into attack was potent.

South Adelaide coach Jarrad Wright give the instructions to his players on Saturday. Picture: AAP Image/Russell Millard

The Bulldogs, outworked and lacking the passion of their opponents, added just two behinds in the second term as they struggled to combat the outstanding pressure of the Panthers.

The Panthers’ forwards worked tirelessly with their defensive actions and the home side controlled the momentum.

After being clumsy and lacking composure, the Bulldogs lifted the intensity in the third term and produced superior movement, hit targets and challenged the Panthers to climb back into the battle.

It was shortlived though. Panthers’ onballers Joel Cross, Nick Liddle and Abe Davis took control as the home side ran rampant to brush the Bulldogs aside.

Bulldogs coach Roy Laird was perplexed with the performance of his team.

“We are in shock because we know we have got a far better group than that,” he said. “We got within two goals after not playing overly well and then we were undisciplined.

“To see our defenders left vulnerable by the lack of workrate late, most of our best players were in defence.

“That was so out of character for what I am confident we can deliver.”

SCOREBOARD

SOUTH ADELAIDE 4.2 5.3 8.5 16.6 (102)

CENTRAL DISTRICT 1.2 1.4 5.6 6.7 (43)

BEST — South: Cross, Liddle, Davis, Brown, Knoll, Haren. Central: Madden, T. Schiller, Jenner, Menzel.

GOALS — South: Cross 3, Noble, Schwarz, Whittlesea 2, Overall, Liddle, Davis, Heaslip, Fitt, Brown, Cailotto. Central: Stephenson 2, Menzel, Fort, Jydon Neagle, Pisani.

UMPIRES — Burke, Hughes, Philp.

CROWD — 1770 at Flinders University Stadium, Noarlunga.