SANFL: Woodville-West Torrens beat South Adelaide at home

JUST how far Woodville-West Torrens has advanced since last year’s poor elimination final performance against South Adelaide was evident Saturday.

SANFL: Eagles v South Adelaide at Woodville Oval. Picture: DYLAN COKER

JUST how far Woodville-West Torrens has advanced since last year’s poor elimination final performance against South Adelaide was evident Saturday.

The well-coached, spirited Panthers had a serious crack at the Eagles in the Woodville mud and the home side stood up to the challenge to secure an 11-point victory and take another significant step towards the minor premiership.

“The lads are continually come up when they need to and that is the sign of a maturing side,’’ Eagles coach Michael Godden said. “What we have done is progressed with blokes like (Thomas) Schwarz, (Sam) Rowland, (Chris) Hall, (Jake) von Bertouch.

“You are always happy to win but we have not played our best footy in the past few weeks. I’m not sure if that is because of the heavier grounds.’’

Godden noted the Panthers were a quality outfit fighting for the double chance in the finals while his mob were chasing top spot on the ladder at the end of the minor round.

Those two key factors fuelled the players’ motivation and that was reflected in the contest as both sides were willing participants in a tough, hard-fought battle which provided plenty of entertainment despite being tested by the weather and ground.

Nick Hayes was ignorant to the conditions, pulling down a string of impressive marks and bagging three goals. His first was a spectacular effort from long range on the boundary 11 minutes into the game. His second came two minutes into the second quarter which enabled the Eagles to escape to a 24-point lead.

There is plenty of fight in the Panthers and they responded. Adam Gulden was the chief architect as the Panthers, committed in their attack on the body and ball, cut the deficit to just four points.

Despite the third quarter being devoid of a goal, it was an intriguing battle as the two teams locked horns. Both sides were guilty of wasted opportunities in front of goal.

The Panthers dominated the clearances but too often they would turn the ball over going deep into attack, lacking options and being outnumbered by the disciplined Eagles defence. At the other end of the ground the Panthers defenders also held firm.

When Panthers’ midfield star Joel Cross nailed a stunning goal from wide out 18 minutes into the final term, the Eagles’ lead was just six points.

“The Eagles are the best team in it at the minute, on their home ground, and we gave a good account of ourselves,’’ Panthers coach Bradley Gotch said. “We should not be too shattered by that, it was just a some little things in the end which cost us.’’

EAGLES 4.1 6.1 6.5 8.7 (55)

SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.1 4.3 4.6 6.8 (44)

BEST — Eagles: Hayes, Rowntree, Thompson, Allmond, Martyn, Borholm. South: Gulden, Gotch, Cross, Redigolo, Rose, Crabb.

GOALS — Eagles: Hayes 3, Wundke 2, Templeton, Allmond, Ainger. South: Secull, Irra, Macleod, Cross, Rankine, Veide.

UMPIRES — Hosking, Philp, Crosby.

CROWD — 1071 at Woodville Oval.