Team – Panos to make long awaited return

2014 Jack Oatey Medallist, Matthew Panos will play his first SANFL match in 628 days when the Redlegs take on Adelaide at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.

Panos last lined up in Round 11, 2020 before suffering an ACL injury late against Central District which saw him miss the remainder of 2020 and the entire 2021 season.

Making his return through the reserves in 2022, Panos featured against Sturt in Round five before putting in a best on ground performance last Friday against Centrals.

Norwood Football Services Manager, Rob Harding praised the 31-year-old’s resilience to get back to the elite level.

“It’s super exciting for the football club,” said Harding.

“It’s great for Matt, he has had a long road back from the injury he sustained in 2020.

“He has worked his way back through a quality program run by our high-performance team, and now he has been able to have two games in the Reserves to prove his fitness.

“We can’t wait to get him back in the League side on Friday night at home against the Crows.”

The Legs are also set to regain hard running midfielder Jacob Kennerley after overcoming a toe complaint, while Pierce Seymour, Tristan Binder and Cory Stockdale have all been brought into the squad of 25.

Unfortunately, Cam Taheny will miss after suffering a hamstring injury last Friday, while Tom Graham has been omitted.

The Redlegs face league leaders Adelaide on Friday night at Coopers Stadium from 7:40 pm.

Changes:

In: Panos, Seymour, Kennerley, Stockdale, Binder
Out: Taheny (Hamstring), Graham (omit)

5 Seymour (League Squad)
16 Condon
17 Bower
18 Graham
19 Stockdale (League Squad)
20 Larkins
21 Tranfa
22 Vardanega
23 Cotter (League Squad)
29 Richards (League Squad)
38 Charlton (League Squad)
40 F Heard
43 Cavallaro (League Squad)
45 Binder (League Squad)
46 O’Connor
48 M Carroll
49 Schwerdt
50 Lowden
52 Michalanney
53 Tozer
54 Twelftree
55 Kent
56 Robinson
57 Hargreaves
59 Lawson
60 Glover
64 Kemp
65 Dnistriansky
66 Book
__ Walls (number TBC)
__ Evans (number TBC)