South Adelaide play smart football to beat North Adelaide and go top of SANFL table

SOUTH Adelaide shot to the top of the SANFL ladder after a gritty 16-point win over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

SOUTH Adelaide shot to the top of the SANFL ladder after a gritty 16-point win over North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

The Anzac Day game was not one for the archives, as a strong breeze and first-quarter rain ensured a dour struggle.

But the Panthers played smarter, more composed football to notch their third win from four games this season.

“It was a good honest battle,” Panthers coach Brad Gotch said. “I’m very excited because it’s not easy to win here. We’re 3-1 and in a good position now.”

One of the only blights on South’s game was its inaccuracy. It finished with 9.11 and missed a handful of straightforward goals, opening the door for North.

The Roosters made their charge at the end of the third term when they kicked goals through Darren Shillabeer and Leigh Ryswyk, and trimmed the margin to eight points.

The home side had momentum and aid of the breeze going into the final term but was stopped in its tracks by a more determined Panthers and their AFL-style press.

South was able to trap the ball inside its attacking half for large chunks of the quarter by pushing forward and having players read the play well to snaffle North’s repels from defence.

Staggeringly, the Roosters finished with just 47 disposals and five inside 50s in a scoreless final term.

Gotch said he thought his side “defended really well and showed a bit of character” in the last term.

North coach Ken McGregor lamented his team’s lack of risk-taking after three quarter-time.

The Roosters were not helped by midfielder Max Thring hobbling off with a hamstring injury in the first half after having 14 disposals to that point.

“We played into their hands by playing scared footy,” McGregor said.

“We didn’t want to play brave and take a risk and run, or take a risk and come through the middle.

“I thought we could’ve played a lot better today.”

South set-up the win by using the ball smarter in the first-quarter drizzle.

While North players often resorted to unnecessary handballs under pressure, the Panthers went long to their forwards, forcing stoppages.