Australian Football

Match Report

There would be four Saturday afternoon games this week, the first of which is the SANFL's "distance derby" as the Panthers faced the Bulldogs at the Flinders University Stadium in Noarlunga. The points were shared last season between the league's outermost clubs of south and north, the Bulldogs wresting control of the Mayor's Cup in their last encounter at Elizabeth in Round 14 last season. They won by 25 points in the end, the Panthers switched off after half-time after being no more than two kicks adrift. Noarlunga has been a different prospect for the Dogs however, a 26-point loss in last year's season opener the latest in a losing streak going back to 2016. South's injury woes took a toll on them last week and resulted in a heavy loss to Sturt in the southern derby, while Centrals were undeniable against Adelaide at the Ponderosa. Centrals began with a flurry, putting four goals on the board before the Panthers had time to blink. South managed to claw some back by the first change however, the Dogs up by 13 with the board reading 5.2 to 3.1. That three-kick gap would be retained going into the long break, the Panthers' younger brigade starting to find their stride in the league ranks. Both sides kicked three majors, a single behind altering the earlier gap to 14 points in favour of Centrals. The Panthers were back to within a kick of the lead just seven minutes into the second half before the Dogs hit back, the home side blowing a couple of late chances as they outscored Centrals in behinds only. They kicked 3.3 to 3.1, the visitors up by two goals at the last change. The Panthers got a goal in the first minute to begin the final stanza, but that was as close as they got as the visitors put the foot on the blue & white's throats, kicking 3.4 to two behinds to take their first 3-0 start to a season since 2010. The Dogs retained the Mayor's Cup with a 26-point victory. Jake Gasper kicked five goals, but it was Mani Liddy who stood out for the Dogs with 19 disposals, eight marks and six tackles. For the Panthers, it was Jake Arundell in only his third league appearance with 20 disposals and 10 marks.