2021 South Adelaide Pocket Profile

SANFL’s ZAC MILBANK breaks down all you need to know about the Panthers heading into the 2021 Statewide Super League season.

Coming
Bryce Gibbs (Adelaide/Glenelg), Jake Tarca (returned/Geelong), Mitch O’Neill (West Coast/North Hobart), Fraser Turner (Richmond/Clarence), Sam Skinner (Brisbane Lions)

Going
Malcolm Karpany (Work/Moonta), Beau McCreery (Collingwood), Tom Highmore (St Kilda), Brayden Cook (Adelaide), Tom Whittlesea (retired/Bordertown), Mark Noble (interstate), Daly Andrews (Williamstown), Phoenix Spicer (North Melbourne)

Thursday March 4
Port Adelaide 8.13 (61) d South Adelaide 7.7 (49) at Alberton

Friday March 12
South Adelaide 12.14 (86) d West Adelaide 6.6 (42) at Hisense Stadium

Saturday March 20
South Adelaide v Central District at Flinders University Stadium – 2.10pm (Reserves at 11.30am)

The Panthers produced a recruiting coup when they lured Gibbs up the Southern Expressway, instead of the son of Glenelg premiership defender Ross returning to his original SANFL club. Boasts enormous experience having logged 268 AFL games with Carlton and Adelaide. Could play multiple roles for South coach Jarrad Wright, including distributing the ball across half-back, or winning clearances from the centre square. The 31-year-old is keen to enjoy his football again in a similar vein to new teammate Matthew Broadbent, who was a key influence for South in 2020 after arriving from the Power.

Paul Hunter’s sudden recruitment to St Kilda could pave the way for Damon Freitag to make his mark as South Adelaide’s lead ruckman in 2021. The burly bigman from Kangaroo Island has been impressing on the track and is in the frame to make his League debut early in the season after being picked in South’s trial squad last weekend. Previously a member of the Torrens University SA U18 squad, Freitag boasts a booming left-foot kick and has been working on his ruck craft at the stoppages.

Jason Horne (183cm and 77kg) – Touted by many as a likely top 10 AFL Draft Pick this year, Horne will be looking to build on his nine League games played last year. Incredibly athletic and versatile, Horne is equally effective on the inside and outside of the contest.

Matthew Roberts (183cm and 81kg) – The strongly-built left-footer from Langhorne Creek is also on the radar of AFL clubs. A prolific goal kicker as a junior, Roberts has developed nicely with the Panthers to play multiple roles further up the ground.

Arlo Draper (185cm and 74kg) – Athletic medium-sized midfielder who can impact the game both inside and outside of the contest. Boasts proven leadership skills with South’s U18s and has shown an impressive ability to play well in all three areas of the field.