SANFL 2006 ROUND 15: GLENELG
v SOUTH ADELAIDE
South's ambitions dampened
By SHAUN HOLLIS
A FRUSTRATING loss for
Although the eventual margin of 42 points indicates a heavy loss, the
game was actually in the balance up until the final stages of the last quarter.
South even hit the lead kicking into the strong breeze half way through
the quarter, but the Tigers banged on an incredible seven unanswered goals to
seal victory.
In an otherwise even encounter throughout, South's inability to adapt
to the wet and windy conditions proved the difference.
With use of the strong breeze in the first quarter, the Panthers had
much of the play but squandered opportunities in front of goal.
What's more, a high handball style of game finished off with a
penetrating kick into key forwards Ben Warren and Damian Cupido
was initially working, but as the ball got more slippery the handballs came
unstuck and the marks went to ground.
Coach Robert Pyman conceded his players were
slow to change their game.
“It took us too long to register that we needed to adapt better and
start using our foot skills instead of our hand skills,” he said.
“We view it as a learning opportunity, probably the first time this
year that we've played in conditions as bad as that and we've just got to make
sure that we adapt a bit quicker and better next time.”
On the other hand, when the Tigers got their chance with the wind, they
kicked long and with deadly accuracy. Scoring shots were even at half time, but
Glenelg led 9.5 to 5.9, a 20-point margin.
In the third South again squandered scoring chances, trailing 6.16 to
10.5 at one stage.
It seemed the Tigers had the game won at the start of the last quarter,
with a 19-point margin and a strong breeze at their back, but the Panthers
obviously hadn't read the script.
Alwyn Davey
hit a purple patch and assisted in most of his team's next four goals for South
to hit the lead by two points – 11.16 to 12.8.
Then Davey missed a set shot and what
appeared to be a South mark in front of goal was paid as a Glenelg free – even
Bays fans were scratching their heads at that. From there the Tigers rushed the
ball forward and the Panthers were, as they say, history. To rub salt into the
wounds, former Panther Matthew Clarke (who left the club “in the lurch”
according to Pyman) dominated all day in a best on
ground performance.
He received two staples in a thick gash to his head at the end of the
third quarter, but soon returned to inflict further damage on field.
SCORES: Glenelg 2.1 9.5
11.5 19.10 (124) defeated
BEST: Glenelg - B. Backwell,
M. Clarke, M. Graham, J. Mcconnell, D. Mitchell, B.
Moore; South - G. Bennett, J.
Wright, S. Mcglone, M. Smith, R. Archard,
S. Kenna.
GOALS: Glenelg - J.
McConnell 4, M. Duldig 2, M. Graham 2, B. Gibbs 2, A.
Rogers 2, B. Moore, T. Allen, M. Ruwoldt, D.
Mitchell, D. Kirk, M. Clarke, B. Backwell; South - S. Kenna 3,
A. Davey 2, B. Warren 2, C. Parry, J. Sampson, D. Iljcesen, J. Wright.