SANFL 2006 ELIMINATION
FINAL: SOUTH ADELAIDE v PORT ADELAIDE
Panthers power on
By DALE CLARKE
FOR the second time in as many weeks, South's season looked done in the
second quarter on Sunday, but the Panthers are alive and now looking at a first
semi-final against
South beat Port 18.12 (120) to 16.8 (104) at Adelaide Oval on Sunday,
after trailing by 38 points in the second quarter.
In last week's do-or-die round 23 clash with
Glenelg, South gave the Tigers an 18-point gap with momentum, before surging
back.
Alwyn Davey
was best afield on Sunday, but Mathew Smith created
the turning point for the Panthers.
Port had dominated most of the second quarter by being harder at the
ball and more desperate for front position in the forward lines, while South
was lacking in second efforts, with most forward 50m entries being quickly
punched out by the Magpies and rebounded.
But Smith intercepted a Port kick out of defence going back with the
flight of the ball and against the Panthers' level of aggression to that
point before chipping to Michael Handby who brought
the margin back to 32.
The Panthers had the margin back to 24 by half-time, before going up a
notch in defensive pressure in the second half to drive the win.
Davey shone most in this area,
registering six tackles, most of which resulted in a turnover.
Rhys Archard and Stephen Kenna
were both key players sending South into attack in the
second half, and Alipate Carlile
set off the biggest celebrations of the day with his goal from 50m for the
20-point lead late in the fourth. He had already played a crucial role in the
backlines, shutting down Clive Waterhouse, after the former AFL number one
draft pick had kicked Port's first two goals.
South coach Robert Pyman was quick to praise Davey's efforts after the game.
He's a tough bloke, every time he went near the ball the opposition
tried to smash him, but he just kept getting up, he's a real hard, tough
player, Pyman said.
(This win) says we've got a lot of guts and determination, and full
credit to this group they did what we asked of them.
South now plays
The Roosters are the only team South has not beaten this season, out of
three attempts.
SCORES:
BEST: South Davey,
Smith, Archard, Kenna, Carlile, McGlone, Thewlis; Port J. Clayton, Looby,
Ah Chee, Lokan, Maric.
GOALS: South Ellis 4, Warren 3, Handby, Iljcesen, Archard 2, Davey, Sinkunas, Bennett, Parry, Carlile;
Port J. Clayton 4, Waterhouse 3,
Jenner, Wait, Poulton 2, M. Clayton, Maric, King.