SOUTH Adelaide will face off in its third consecutive SANFL Women’s Grand Final after accounting for Sturt by more than 40 points for the third time this year. The Panthers knocked off the Double Blues by 45 points in the preliminary final yesterday, securing their place in the big dance next Sunday.

In a one-sided contest on the scoreboard, South Adelaide kept Sturt scoreless for the first three quarters and only conceded three behinds for the entire match at Magain Stadium en route to a 7.6 (48) to 0.3 (3) victory. It was a dominant performance from the Panthers who really kicked away in the third term to seal the deal.

All three goals came from a red-hot Shae Archbold who not only slammed the door shut, but nailed it as well, with the majors coming in the space of just eight minutes. Unfortunately not long after that, she was in the arms of the trainers with hope that Archbold is right with the seven-day gap.

Her purple patch followed on from a crucial Lily Baxter goal just before half-time that drove a dagger into Double Blues hearts. But it was symbolic of the youth at the club with six of the seven Panther goals coming from teenagers, including an early boost via Hope Taylor, while the only non-teenager in Lucy Northcott gave them a 14-point buffer heading into quarter time.

While around the ball Sturt was more than holding its own – winning the clearances 27-25 in the end – thanks to the likes of Isobel Kuiper and Monique Bessen, the Double Blues could not convert those stoppage wins into inside 50s. Instead, South had 33 to 21, and completely shut down the Double Blues attack which prevented them from scoring.

Until the game was over by the last change, Sturt had failed to score, adding just three behinds in the last quarter to admirably win the term, 0.3 to 0.2. The key statistical difference came in the marks, where South had 58 to 36 and that enabled the Panthers to have more time with ball in hand, and be less rushed around the ground.

Baxter produced her best performance of the year to finish with 24 disposals, seven marks, three inside 50s and that crucial goal, while Archbold’s three majors came from just four kicks, as well as six disposals and four tackles. Lauren Clifton (21 disposals, six marks), Caitlin Couch (18 disposals, seven marks) and Jaslynne Smith (18 disposals, seven marks) are three of the best ball users so when they can combine for 20 marks and 57 disposals, an opposition team is always going to be in trouble.

Other Panthers who were strong include the hard-running Layla Vizgaudis (16 disposals, two marks, four tackles and four clearances) and Melissa Anderson, while Tiffany King, Charlotte Dolan and Esther Schirmer were fantastic out of defence in what was a real team effort.

Kuiper was clearly Sturt’s best racking up 28 disposals, four marks, eight tackles, six clearances and three inside 50s, battling all the way to the final siren, while Bessen was productive with 21 disposals, three marks, five tackles, five clearances and two rebound 50s. Otherwise the work of Georgia Swan and Claudia Edmonds was valuable, while defenders Lily Whitcombe, Sophie Thredgold, Hannah Prenzler and Gypsy Schirmer found their fair share of the footy but were often under siege.

The result meant the Panthers will go on to face Woodville-West Torrens for a fourth time this season, with the grand final held on Sunday at Stratarama Stadium.

SOUTH ADELAIDE 2.2 | 4.2 | 7.4 | 7.6 (48)
STURT 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 (3)

GOALS:
South Adelaide: S. Archbold 3, E. Charlton, L. Northcott, L. Baxter, H. Taylor
Sturt: Nil.

RMC BEST:
South Adelaide: L. Baxter, C. Couch, L. Clifton, J. Smith S. Archbold
Sturt: I. Kuiper, M. Bessen, L. Whitcombe, C. Edmonds, G. Swan