South Adelaide onballer Joel Cross on fire in opening-round win over Central District

South Adelaide midfielder Joel Cross has claimed two Magarey Medals and he showed how with a superb performance against Central District.

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The loss of key forward Hayden McLean on the eve of the season proved no distraction for South Adelaide as it prepared for the opening-round clash against Central District, according to gun midfielder Joel Cross.

The dual Magarey Medallist said the overriding feeling among the players was the fantastic opportunity for the youngster to be drafted by Sydney in the new supplementary list rules.

South Adelaide co-captains Matt Rose, left, and Joel Cross.

“There was a sense of disappointment we would not have him, but we were all thinking how positive it was for Hayden,” Cross said. “We understood the situation.”

There was no evidence the absence of McLean had impacted on the Panthers as they opened the season with a comfortable 59-point victory over the Bulldogs at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday.

And it was business as usual for Cross, raking up 35 possessions, bagging three goals, accumulating 11 clearances and having four tackles in a performance which earned him The Advertiser/SANFL Player of the Week honour.

“The trial form was nothing to go by,” he said. “It felt good once we got running around.”

South’s Nick Liddle and Mark Noble swarm Central’s Jordan Furnell. Picture: AAP Image/Russell Millard

The Panthers had entered the contest without a trial win in the pre-season and questions hanging over their skill level. That was immediately rectified when premiership points were on the line.

“We did not take much notice of the trial form,” Cross said. “You have your own personal trepidation going into the season because you have not played for six months.

“(Coach) Jarrad (Wright) was positive all week and we knew we could win the game, we just had to being all the plans we had. The trial form wasn’t concerning for me anyway.”

It was the first game for points Cross had roved to former Box Hill ruckman Michael Knoll, who was lured to the Panthers after star ruckman Keegan Brooksby had been picked up by West Coast in the draft.

Cross said Knoll was still learning the trade after switching from basketball.

“He listens to instruction really well,” Cross said. “He wants to learn and asks questions.”

The Panthers’ next challenge is against Port Adelaide at Alberton Oval on Saturday.

Cross said Port’s emphatic win over West Adelaide on Friday night showed just how tough the contest will be.