|
 The
Redlegs have
squandered
a hard fought
42 point lead
to finish
with a draw
against a
persistent
South Adelaide
at Coopers
Stadium on
Anzac day.
Jamie Vlatko
was a late
withdrawal
from the named
side after
pulling up
with a tight
hamstring
following
Wednesday
Night training,
he joined
Scott Borlace
and Luke Nitschke
on the sidelines,
Heath Culpitt,
Kris Massie
and Aaron
Kite coming
into the side.
The Panthers
were by far
the better
side in the
first quarter,
however failing
to capitalise
on the scoreboard
converting
just 2-5 for
the term as
the Redlegs
struggled
to get first
hands on the
ball and when
they did poor
skills and
decision making
let them down.
You could
be excused
for thinking
the teams
changed jumpers
at quarter
time, such
was the momentum
change in
the second
quarter and
for the first
10 minutes
of the third.
The homeside
was first
to the ball,
used the ball
with skill,
flair and
poise, their
was no unnecessary
overuse, the
defence was
tight, disciplined
and rebounding,
key forwards
Walker and
Aish kicking
seven goals
between them
while Josh
Donohue pounced
on anything
loose inside
50 to collect
3 goals for
himself.
 But
then, and
just as the
Redlegs had
surged to
a 42 point
lead and it
looked "how
far",
the game took
another twist
for the next
40 minutes
to mirror
earlier games
against Sturt
and Centrals,
with the homeside
failing to
record another
major for
the game.
To there credit
and in typical
John Cahill
style the
Panthers fought
their way
slowly but
surely back
into the game
and when they
kicked a goal
at the 24
minute mark
of the final
term to level
scores the
unthinkable
had happened.
The defensive
quartet of
Zorzi, Bown,
Dawes and
Duigan were
the teams
best players
over the 4
quarters of
the game.
When under
siege in the
first and
last quarters
they stood
strong manfully,
when the Redlegs
were dominant
they ran and
set up many
attacking
moves with
hard rebounding
movement of
the ball.
Second gamer
Taylor Walker,
celebrating
his 18th Birthday
was again
classy up
forward finishing
with 3 goals,
Trotter the
best of the
onballers.
The reserves
side snapped
their 2 game
loosing streak
running out
winners by
11 points
after being
behind for
periods of
the game.
Goal kicking
practice will
no doubt be
in order this
week for Duane
Stewarts charges,
34 scoring
shots to 18
as they made
hard work
of securing
the 2 premiership
points. Alex
Stopp in a
key defensive
role was the
teams best,
playing a
disciplined
yet rebounding
game he set
up many attacking
movements,
while the
centre square
trio of Robbie
deJongh, Matt
Bartemucci
and Ryan Holm
had their
hands on the
ball first
for much of
the game.
Sam Rowe and
Dean Rossi
contributed
well, while
Ryan Schoenmakers
and James
Skinner both
booted 3 goals.
With just
1 win from
5 games, the
Redlegs have
some soul
searching
over the break,
why the tardy
starts?, why
the final
quarter fadeouts?
why such a
massive gap
between our
best and worst?
will no doubt
be just three
of the questions
the playing
and coaching
group will
be addressing
this week.
David
J Bean
League Team
Manager
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