Round 15 2006
From Snoutslouts
Round 15
A HARD-fought victory for Glenelg against South Adelaide on Sunday has given the team renewed hope of featuring in finals action in September.
Although the eventual margin of 42 points appeared comfortable, the game was actually in the balance until the final stages of the last quarter.
South even hit the lead kicking into the strong breeze half way through the quarter, but the Tigers banged on an incredible seven unanswered goals to seal victory.
In an otherwise even encounter throughout, Glenelg's ability to adapt to the wet and windy conditions proved the difference.
South had much of the play with use of the strong breeze in the first quarter, but squandered opportunities in front of goal.
What's more, a high handball style of game finished off with a penetrating kick into key forwards such as Ben Warren and Damian Cupido was initially working for the Panthers, but as the ball got more slippery the handballs came unstuck and the marks went to ground.
On the other hand, when the Tigers got their chance with the wind, they kicked long with deadly accuracy.
Glenelg coach Mark Mickan recognised the trend.
“I thought we did handle the conditions very well and didn't overuse the handball, we used the handball sensibly and moved the ball pretty well into and with the wind,” he said after the game. “The way you play is a little bit different on a wet day to a dry day and I thought we adapted really well.”
Scoring shots were even at half time, but Glenelg led 9.5 to 5.9, a 20 point margin. In the third South again squandered scoring chances, trailing 10.5 to 6.16 at one stage.
Everyone thought the Tigers had the game won at the start of the last, with a 19-point margin and a strong breeze at their backs, but the Panthers obviously hadn't read the script.
Alwyn Davey hit a purple patch and assisted in most of his team's next four goals for South to hit the lead by two points – 11.16 to 12.8.
Then Davey missed a set shot and what appeared to be a South mark in front of goal was paid as a Glenelg free – even Bays fans were scratching their heads at that.
But the Tigers turned the next Panther attack into their own counter-attack resulting in a goal, and the Panthers were, as they say, history.
To rub salt into South's wound, former Panther Matthew Clarke dominated the ruck all day in a best on ground performance. He received two staples in a thick gash to his head at the end of the third quarter, but soon returned to inflict further damage on field.
SCORES: Glenelg 2.1 9.5 11.5 19.10 (124) defeated South Adelaide 4.6 5.9 6.16 11.16 (82).
BEST: Glenelg - B. Backwell, M. Clarke, M. Graham, J. Mcconnell, D. Mitchell, B. Moore; South - G. Bennett, J. Wright, S. Mcglone, M. Smith, R. Archard, S. Kenna.
GOALS: Glenelg - J. McConnell 4, M. Duldig 2, M. Graham 2, B. Gibbs 2, A. Rogers 2, B. Moore, T. Allen, M. Ruwoldt, D. Mitchell, D. Kirk, M. Clarke, B. Backwell; South - S. Kenna 3, A. Davey 2, B. Warren 2, C. Parry, J. Sampson, D. Iljcesen, J. Wright.
See also: 2006
