Redlegs keep charging towards SANFL minor premiership with win over Eagles
NORWOOD has taken a massive step to claiming the SANFL minor premiership after beating Woodville-West Torrens to claim an 11th successive win.
NORWOOD’S charge for SANFL supremacy gathered further momentum following a 34-point triumph over Woodville-West Torrens at The Parade on Friday night.
The win was the Redlegs’ 11th in succession and they have a stranglehold on the minor premiership, being a game and a half clear of the Eagles at the top of the ladder.
The Eagles threw everything at the Redlegs, but were overwhelmed by an opponent becoming a hotter title favourite each week.
The victory did not come without mishap, however, losing key defender Alex Georgiou to a serious ankle injury in the first quarter.
The Eagles needed a response to the poor effort against Sturt last weekend and they attacked the contest with terrific intent.
Their pressure was outstanding, as was those one percenters such as smothers and chase. And the Eagles were rewarded on the scoreboard.
From their first six visits inside 50 they nailed five goals to ask questions of the home side.
The Redlegs coughed up mistakes, no more evident than 15 minutes into the first quarter when Matt Nunn took a mark before getting a 25m penalty which would have taken him to the goal square.
But the Eagles were given the ball because of some poor discipline from the Redlegs and they rushed the ball forward for Matt Goldsworthy to mark and goal to build a 22-point lead.
Veteran Redlegs small forward Simon Phillips was a headache for the Eagles defence and he bagged the final goal of the first quarter, then showed off his class with three more in the second term.
The Redlegs are well drilled and each player has a clear understanding of their role. Midfielder Matthew Panos got his hands to plenty of ball and the home side was able to control possession, nailing the first three goals of the second term to hit the front.
As the quarter lengthened, so too did the heat rise and there was plenty of physical battles. And it didn’t stop at the halftime siren with players enjoying some push and shove.
Just why this Redlegs outfit has established itself as the most potent force in the league was evident in the third quarter when they seized the ascendancy to make a statement on the encounter.
They were able to secure clean possessions from the stoppages and spread with composure and discipline to hurt the Eagles with their movement. And that even with Panos being kept quiet by 100-gamer Paul Stewart.