Port facing historic low, Double Blues bounce back into flag contention: Mid-season state of play for every SANFL team

Position: 8th

Wins: 2

Losses: 8

Percentage: 42.6%

Biggest win: 73 points v Port Adelaide, Round 7

Biggest loss: 67 points v West Adelaide, Round 4

Two wins in the last month have breathed some life into a season that was quickly spiralling out of control at Noarlunga.

Going into the season as the youngest and least experienced team in the competition, South Adelaide were always going to be long odds of fighting deep into the season.

But at 0-6 and sitting ninth on the ladder, it was hard to remain positive about the Panthers' direction for the remainder of the year.

South eventually broke the drought with a thumping 73-point win over Port Adelaide at Noarlunga that provided a huge shot of confidence. 

Two weeks later they fought off a gallant Adelaide to climb to eighth and raise their chances of avoiding the spoon.

More importantly, those two wins highlighted the breadth of young talent that will drive South Adelaide forward in the coming years.

Ten of the 22 players who lined up in the win against Adelaide had 15 or fewer games of league experience under their belt.

Three South Adelaide players have been nominated as the ‘breakthrough player of the round' so far this season - the most of any team.

At the head of this list is key forward Noah Howes, who has burst onto the scene at league level and was widely expected to be picked up in the recent AFL Mid-Season Draft.

Still aged only 18, his contested marking and aerial work against far more mature bodies have been terrific, ranking sixth in the SANFL for contested marks this season.

Ollie Megins has broken into the senior team this year following Keegan Brooksby's retirement and has fitted in seamlessly, ranking sixth in the league for hitouts and averaging nearly four clearances per game.

Jacob Collins is another to have been given a chance at senior level and looked comfortable in the midfield, averaging 17 disposals and five tackles.

Nic Schroder graduated into the senior team straight out of last year's victorious U18s side, playing all 10 games and locking down some well-credentialed opponents including Adelaide's Lachie Gollant.

Cooper Rogers, Max Clifton, Charlie Duncan, Angus Bradley and Tom Wheaton are other players either in their first or second years and showing great promise.

These young players have been supported by an experienced group of senior core players who continue to show the way.

Jake Summerton and Sam Skinner have been crucial pillars in defence, providing the strength and experience to tackle the opposition's most dangerous attacking threats.

Hayden Sampson, Ollie Davis and Kobe Mutch have led the midfield brigade with their intent to get after the Sherrin and get the ball moving their way.

Eamon Wilkinson, Liam Fitt and Damon Freitag have offered critical goal-scoring options, combining for 48 goals in a forward line often starved of opportunities.

In a team already short on experience, injuries have not been kind to South Adelaide this year, decimating their list and leaving them desperately short of seasoned players.

Liam Nye, Oscar Clavarino, Kobe Mutch and Ben Shillabeer have all spent time on the sidelines, while key recruits Callum McCarty, Arlo Draper and Jake Arundell have been hampered with injuries.

Best & Fairest contenders:

For sheer consistency of output and importance to his team, Ollie Davis will be high among the votes come season's end, averaging 26 disposals and seven tackles across the year.

Despite missing the first month of the season, Kobe Mutch will also figure highly, enjoying a purple patch of form that has him averaging 27 disposals, four clearances and seven tackles per game.

Closing in on 100 league games, Hayden Sampson is a dependable commodity the Panthers can rely on to leave nothing in the tank.

Averaging 25 touches for the year, Sampson has tallied more than 20 disposals in eight of 10 games, with a low of 17 possessions setting a high bar for the talented mid.

Jake Summerton and Sam Skinner have been ever-reliable, providing experience and cool heads in defence that often save the Panthers' blushes.

For a team that sits in eighth spot, Liam Fitt is in the SANFL's top 10 leading goalkickers, serving as a testament to his effort and ability to seize every opportunity inside 50.

Injury report:

Unfortunately for the Panthers, their injury list doesn't seem to be getting any shorter, although there could be some big names back in the next few weeks.

Callum McCarty, Arlo Draper, Isaac Birt, Scott Bedford, Eamon Wilkinson, Elliot Dunkin and Sam Skinner could all be back as soon as this week.

Angus Bradley and Jake Arundell are still at least five weeks away, while a timeline for Ben Shillabeer's return is uncertain.

Tom Beaumont, Max Clifton, Dylan Brown and Ollie Megins have all been ruled out for the season with knee injuries.

The run home:

Only three of the Panthers' last eight games are at Noarlunga, with their home game against North Adelaide in Round 13 shifted to Victor Harbor as part of the SA Country Football Championships.

South face road trips to top-five teams Norwood and Sturt in a huge test for this inexperienced squad.

On the positive side, South also host West Adelaide and have another game against Port Adelaide in Round 15, both of which are very much winnable.