South Adelaide upset Glenelg in a tremendous SANFL contest at Noarlunga Oval

South Adelaide and Glenelg put on a tremendous show at Noarlunga Oval, with just four points separating the two quality outfits at the final siren.

Glenelg skipper Chris Curran looks for options. Picture: Cory Sutton

The heart and resolve of the South Adelaide footy club cannot be questioned.

As Panthers coach Jarrad Wright noted after the fighting four-point win over Glenelg in a magnificent exhibition of SANFL action at Noarlunga Oval on Sunday, his club has had a lot thrown at them in recent times.

They lost ruckman Keegan Brooksby and forward Hayden McLean in the pre-season supplementary draft, then ruckman Michael Knoll in the mid-season draft, then makeshift ruckman Alex Cailotto to injury before the contest.

The Panthers were also coming off a frustrating two-point loss to Norwood when they controlled most of the game. There were justifiable reasons for blokes to drop the head.

But Wright also mentioned, he had 21 contributors who gave total commitment in the daunting challenge against a well drilled, disciplined Tigers outfit which had been top of the ladder driving to the ground.

Malcolm Karpany celebrates a goal for South Adelaide. MUST CREDIT: Cory Sutton

Even when the Tigers escaped to a 20-point lead seconds into the second quarter when 100-gamer Marlon Motlop goalled, the Panthers kept the spirit and the fight.

“It is reward for effort and hard work,” Wright said. “We are getting a lot thrown at us at the moment and it has been a hard slog over the past month.

“The boys keeping fighting it out. To come away with a close win in a very combative game was excellent.”

The Tigers’ superior efficiency in the first term enabled them to build a 14-point buffer at quarter-time.

While the Panthers had more visits inside their 50, the Tigers looked lethal in attack with the marking power of Josh Scott, Luke Reynolds and Liam McBean.

Lack of composure in critical moments has been an issue for the Panthers and it was a problem again. And each Panthers’ goal had a response from the Tigers, until midway through the term when they started a four-goal unanswered run.

Joel Cross gets a handball away from Marlon Motlop in his 100th game. Picture: CORY SUTTON

The biggest margin in the second half was 10 points when the Panthers led late in the game, such was the constant trading of blows and desperation from both sides.

“It could have gone either way and it didn’t go our way today,” Tigers coach Mark Stone said. “We had a poor second quarter and there were some things we did not get control of.

“I felt some of their mids were cheating out the back too often and we were not able to cover them. That is footy.

“They are able to get out there and win the ball, so good luck to them.”

The Tigers conceded top spot on the ladder to Adelaide with the loss.