Glenelg coach Nick Stevens lets rip at ‘pathetic, insipid’ Tigers

NORWOOD has got itself organised in the past seven weeks, Glenelg has completely unravelled.

21/06/2014 SANFL: Norwood v Glenelg at The Parade.Glenelg's Matthew Snook and Norwoods Kristian Roocke battle for the ball. Pic Mark Brake

NORWOOD has got itself organised in the past seven weeks, Glenelg has completely unravelled.

Anyone needing evidence of the contrasting directions the clubs have moved in since they met at the Bay in early May need only have watched a quarter of yesterday’s annihilation at The Parade.

Seven weeks ago, the struggling Redlegs were forced to grind out a 17 point win over a spirited Bays side which beat them in the clearances and outscored them after quarter time. That same Glenelg side was obliterated within half an hour yesterday, coughing up nine first quarter goals en route to 118 point hammering.

This result (166-48) wasn’t just about the Bays - Michael Newton, Matthew Panos and Cullum Bartlett are among the quality personnel Norwood has added since the sides last met, and it continues to build.

But Glenelg’s slide over the past month has been concerning. It has now lost its four matches by a total of 318 points, and coach Nick Stevens’ job in building the Tigers appears increasingly tough.

“We were pathetic today,’’ Stevens said.

“For about 18 minutes in the third quarter we were competitive and apart from that we were non-existent.

“Our first half was insipid. Our ability to follow structure and bring effort was absolutely pathetic.”

The Bays entered the clash as statistically one of the best contested football teams in the competition but were monstered in tight and totally disorganised defensively.

Norwood key position pair Liam Davis and Michael Newton kicked 10 goals between them and at times were able to lead into spaces reminiscent of a 1980s game.

The free run the Redlegs were allowed through the midfield also resembled a match of yesteryear.

Davis, Brady Dawe, Panos, Bartlett and Newton were dominant for a Norwood side which had 102 more disposals, 34 more inside 50s and 28 more scoring shot in one of the most one-sided SANFL matches in recent seasons.

“Contested football was our main focus and I thought we got the ball going our way and had some good clean inside-50 entries,’’ Norwood coach Ben Warren said.