FootyGoss :: All the Latest AFL and WAFL Breaking News

South Adelaide shows grit

A gritty South Adelaide found an explosive mix of hunger and heart to pull off a morale boosting eight-point win over North Adelaide at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday.

The young Panthers ran, tackled and threw everything possible at their opposition to scratch back from an 11-point deficit seven minutes into the final term to claim a 12.9 (81) to 10.13 (73) victory.

South ran away like a seasoned performers after being genuinely challenged in the third term when the Roosters seized the lead for the first time 15 minutes into the quarter.

North then failed to sealed the contest, missing five goals from inside 50 for the rest of the quarter.

In contrast, unheralded Panthers’ young brigade including James Boyd, Mitch Sandery, Peter Rolfe, Andy Otten and James Turner lifted when desperately needed and showed a glimpse of the future.

However, the final term heroics would not have been possible, but for the inspiring leadership of best-afield South skipper Jason Torney.

The AFL veteran proved how valuable it is to have football smarts, toughness and a never-relenting team-oriented approach, finishing with 26 possessions, four crunching tackles and kicked a crucial running goal 12 minutes into the last quarter.

South’s ruck combination of Craig Parry (22 hit-outs) and Power-listed Brendan Lade (19) dominated the aerial duals.

Ball magnet James Allan (29 possessions) was industrious and Clint Alleways (17 possessions, 13 marks and 2 goals) starred, but the rest of the Roosters’ players were their own worst enemies.

The loss also sent North Adelaide’s finals plans spiraling into chaos and out of the top five following Port Adelaide Magpies’ victory. 

Stephen O’Loughlin/The Sunday Mail