SANFL 2006 ROUND 12: PORT ADELAIDE v SOUTH ADELAIDE

 

Hitting new heights

 

By JAI BEDNALL

 

SOUTH Adelaide gave the Panther army parked on the hill plenty to beep about in a record-breaking 107-point win over Port Adelaide at Noarlunga on Sunday.

A crowd of over 3800 people watched the Panthers demolish an insipid Magpies outfit, the final margin was South's biggest ever against Port – surpassing the previous best of 51 points recorded in 1939.

The Panthers dominated from the outset, and has now replaced Glenelg in the top five.

South was too fast, too skilled and more desperate than Port, and its discipline to stick to team structures never waivered.

Given the scoreline, the Panthers backline could have been forgiven for wanting to venture forward in search of a goal, but they resisted the temptation, and the forwards, led by Ben Warren (5 goals) reaped the rewards.

South finished with 12 individual goal-kickers in what was its most complete performance under coach Robert Pyman this year.

“I thought the way the players went about their football today was exceptional,” Pyman said.

“If we click and get it right, we can match it with the best of them.”

South was led by on-ballers Archard and Sampson, while Bennett and Thewlis continued their stellar form in defence.

The decision to allow cars into the ground was a winner and had CEO Ben Kavenagh patrolling the outer with an unmistakeable smile on his face.

Pyman said the initiative had been “fantastic”.

“It was a big day for the club full-stop it was the biggest crowd they've had here in over five years.

“All credit goes to Ben Kavenagh for pushing to get the cars in. We've reaped the rewards today.”

 

SCORES: South Adelaide 5.8 8.16 20.17 24.18 (162) defeated Port Adelaide 1.1 2.2 3.4 8.7 (55).

 

BEST: South - Archard, Bennett, McGlone, C.Sampson, Warren, Thewlis; Port - Ah Chee, Butcher, Elstone, M.Clayton, Kingsley.

 

GOALS: South - Warren 5, Sampson, Davey 3, Archard, McGlone, Iljcesen, Twomey 2, Cupido, Kruger, Smith, Neagle, Handby; Port - M.Clayton 3, Gates 2, Morrison, Lokan, Jenner.