Adelaide’s SANFL side has gone down to South Adelaide by 18 points at Noarlunga Oval on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers led the entire game and proved to be the more consistent side across the four quarters. However, Adelaide made South Adelaide earn the 16.7 (103) to 13.7 (85) win, twice fighting back from 32 points down to get within a kick.
Here are SANFL Coach Matthew Wright’s four key takeaways from the match:
Reliable Maley
Finnbar Maley continued his strong SANFL form, providing Adelaide with a reliable set of hands forward.
Maley played an important role in keeping the Crows within reach with his accuracy in front of goal, particularly in the first and third quarters when Adelaide was kicking against the wind.
“He kept us in it a little bit into the breeze, he continues to compete,” Wright said.
“You see what he does in the contest, he battles on and then his ability to compose himself and go back and execute it is a really important feature for a key forward.”
Maley finished with 13 disposals, nine marks (three contested) and kicked five straight goals.
O’Brien shows clearance game
Reilly O’Brien was a consistent performer across the four quarters, providing Adelaide with first use at stoppages and impacting around the ground.
The ruckman recorded a team-high seven clearances, followed up his own work at ground level and presented as a tall target.
“He’s a very tall midfielder at times, he follows up at ground level, he clears the ball and gets it going our way,” Wright said.
“He is the ultimate team man for us, and he has been in our leadership group at the footy club for a number of years now and you can tell why.”
O’Brien finished with 19 touches, seven marks, four tackles, 35 hitouts and booted one goal.
Draper continues to build
Midfielder Sid Draper enjoyed more time playing on the ball against the Panthers, with his work rate and aerobic ability on display.
When the game was not going Adelaide’s way early, Draper continued to fight, and found ways to connect with teammates around the contest.
“He has got some real weapons, it’s just that consistency of being able to do it for four quarters and that is something we have been building on,” Wright said.
“It’s been a challenging year for him in terms of getting his body right, it’s a balance but his game is continuing to build.”
Draper finished with 19 disposals, three marks, four clearances and six inside 50s.
Excited for run home
The loss puts Adelaide’s SANFL side in a challenging position leading into the final three games of the SANFL home and away season, with matches against fellow top five sides, Woodville-West Torrens, Sturt and Norwood to come.
Currently sitting in fifth place on the ladder, half a game ahead of West Adelaide and a game in front of South Adelaide, Wright said his side is excited for the challenge ahead.
“It is going to be a good finish, it’s exciting for the competition and exciting for us,” he said.
“Next week is going to be another tough challenge, the run home we’ve got Woodville, Sturt, Norwood, so it’s going to well and truly be on.
“The final five is going to be the best five teams and hopefully we are a part of that.”
Adelaide’s next SANFL match will be against Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville Oval next Sunday with the first ball-up at 1:10pm.
ADELAIDE: 1.1 6.4 8.5 13.7 (85)
SOUTH: 5.4 7.5 12.7 16.7 (103)
GOALS:
Adelaide: Maley 5, T.Murray, Atkinson 2, Strachan, Taheny, O’Brien, O’Leary
South: Delean 5, Wilkinson, Gander 2, Edwards, Shillabeer, Northam, Hargrave, Ajang, Borlace
BESTS:
Jones, Maley, O’Brien, Eime
