SOUTH Adelaide showed no sign of slowing down despite having the minor premiership and double chance, with the Panthers putting away Glenelg by 28 points at Noarlunga on Saturday. In the first of the two semi-finals, South Adelaide kicked four goals to one in the first half, then weathered a strong Glenelg third term before kicking away in the last to win, 6.5 (41) to 1.7 (13).

A combination of inaccuracy and dogged defence led to the Panthers keeping Glenelg to just one goal from eight scoring shots, and that major came on the edge of half-time thanks to a relieving set shot from Bays’ young gun Eloise Mackereth.

The forward had very few chances in the first half, but held on strongly despite fierce front-on contact from Tiffany King, sparking a little bit of push and shove, but ultimately there was no malice in the contest from the South Adelaide defender.

Mackereth went back and slotted the much needed goal, with her side having only scored five minutes earlier via an Ellie Kellock behind, having fallen 26-0 down and in danger of being on the end of another blowout to the Panthers.

The first half was dominated by South Adelaide, as competition equal leading goalkicker with Emily Brockhurst kicking her side’s fourth – and third in seven minutes during the second term – to make it a 26-point lead. All of South’s forwards were up and about, with Melissa Anderson, Lucy Northcott and Doreena Hansen all kicking majors.

The third term belonged to Glenelg, with aside from a couple of South Adelaide inside 50s – the first came six minutes in and one shortly after resulted in a flying shot and miss to Emma Charlton – the Bays firmly held field position.

Unfortunately they could not generate six-pointers from those chances, kicking four straight behinds including a couple of snaps to Eldridge and a huge soccer chance on the siren by Mackereth quelled by desperate defending from Carly Milsom.

Though Glenelg was in with a sniff heading into the final term, South quickly put it to bed with a goal in the opening minute to Hansen, before Couch capped off a great game with two final quarter majors on the run to seal a 28-point victory and move through to the grand final.

South Adelaide had no shortage of impressive contributors, highlighted by Couch who finished with 20 disposals, three marks – one contested – nine tackles, two inside 50s and three rebound 50s as well as kicking two goals. Jordann Hickey (20 disposals, five marks, seven tackles, eight clearances and three inside 50s)) and Nield (20 disposals, three marks, six tackles, two inside 50s) both had big days out in the midfield, while Anderson was strong up forward, picking up 17 disposals and kicking a goal.

For the Bays, it was no surprise to see the top three ball-winners in Jessica Bates, Violet Patterson and Jo Miller all having substantial impact on the game and trying to keep their side in it. Bates racked up 32 disposals, five marks – one contested – nine tackles, six clearances and five rebound 50s, while Patterson (20 disposals, three marks, nine tackles, three clearances, two inside 50s and two rebound 50s) and Miller (16 disposals, two marks, nine tackles, four clearances and five inside 50s).

SOUTH ADELAIDE 1.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 6.5 (41)
GLENELG 0.0 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 (13)

GOALS:
South Adelaide: C. Couch 2, M. Anderson, E. Brockhurst, D. Hansen, L. Northcott
Glenelg: E. Mackereth

RMC BEST:
South Adelaide: C. Couch, J. Hickey, N. Nield, M. Anderson. E. Schirmer
Glenelg: J. Bates, V. Patterson,. J. Miller, G. Fielder, G. Duffy