Glenelg conquer Norwood by 31 points in SANFL for first win of season

GLENELG outplayed and outworked Norwood for most of the contest at the Bay to grab its first win of the season.

Glenelg’s Josh Scott brings down Norwood’s Ben Jefferies. Picture: Russell Millard/AAP

GLENELG broke through for its first win of the season with a 31-point victory over Norwood at the Bay on Saturday.

The Tigers outplayed and outworked the Redlegs for much of the contest.

“It’s very pleasing, we have been working on a style of play and game plan based around pressure and effort,” Tigers coach Mark Stone said. “It has taken a while for the players to realise the work rate to deliver that on a consistent basis.

“The players are starting to see the benefits of how you can disrupt team momentum and flow if you work as a team with defensive pressure.”

Terry Milera produced stunning first quarter efforts in the opening two rounds and he continued the trend to kick a goal just a minute into the contest.

Both teams had their moments of flowing movement in the first term, although the two sides were guilty of missed opportunities in front of goal.

Despite the conditions being tricky because of the wind, it was an entertaining battle between two committed outfits.

The Tigers’ forward pressure was a feature and enabled the home side to create scoring opportunities.

Lewis Johnston has had a terrific start to the season for the Redlegs and he had strong support from Michael Talia in defence.

The action did not end on the quarter-time siren, however, with both teams coming together in the centre square for a heated discussion and some push and shove.

The Tigers almost upset Port Adelaide last week with a desperate and relentless approach and that passion and want was on display in the second quarter.

There were two glaring actions which best illustrated the desire of the home side, defender Max Proud’s attack on the marking contest nine minutes into the second term and Josh Scott’s diving spoil six minutes later to deny the Redlegs rebounding from deep in defence.

The Redlegs were clumsy with their skills and coughed up a swag of turnovers courtesy of missed targets with foot.

It took an individual effort from defender Mitch Grigg to give the Redlegs score some life, dancing around an opponent before nailing the goal from outside 50.

A worry for the Tigers was their entries inside 50, often denying their forwards quality delivery.

The trend of the game stretched into third quarter with the Tigers’ hunger for the ball hurting the Redlegs. And their movement was damaging.

The Tigers bagged six unanswered goals to explode clear. Even big-name recruit Jesse White got in on the action to kick his first goal for his new club.

“They outworked and out hunted us, they came to play and we were half here,” Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton said.

SCOREBOARD

GLENELG 3.4 6.9 12.11 15.14 (104)

NORWOOD 3.3 4.5 4.11 10.13 (73)

BEST — Glenelg: Scott, Schott, Joseph, Uebergang, Proud, Snook, Scharenberg. Norwood: Johnston, Fuller, Talia, Panos, Bampton.

GOALS — Glenelg: T. Milera 4, Hosie 3, Schott, Scott 2, Koster, Reynolds, Scharenberg, White. Norwood: Grigg 3, Edmead, Fuller, Hamilton, Olsson, Panos, Shenton, Surman.

INJURIES — Glenelg: Vea Vea (hamstring). Norwood: Dawe (groin), Edmead (hamstring).

UMPIRES — Philp, Harris, Hundertmark.

CROWD — 1798 at Glenelg Oval.