Norwood beats Sturt, but Mitch Grigg reported for allegedly striking

NORWOOD has claimed a third win by less than a goal, but a gun onballer faces a nervous wait after being reported for allegedly striking.

Norwood's Mitchell Grigg attempts to evade Sturt’s Steven Slimming. Picture: Brenton Edwards/AAP

NORWOOD star Mitch Grigg’s hopes of a third successive Magarey Medal hang in the balance after being reported for allegedly striking Sturt wingman Steven Slimming at The Parade on Friday night.

Grigg had his number taken by the umpires in the third quarter of the five-point victory over a wasteful Double Blues.

The Redlegs are unbeaten after three rounds, although they have won all by less than a goal.

There was little ink required to pen the goalkickers into the SANFL Budget for the first quarter with just two goals between the sides in weather conditions which offered absolutely no excuses.

The Redlegs nailed their first goal seven minutes into the contest when speedster Dom Barry kicked truly on the run. Remarkably, the home side would not kick another major in the first half.

Classy Redlegs onballer Matt Panos was on fire in his 100th league appearance, while Double Blues gun Zane Kirkwood was busy as usual on the ball.

The Double Blues, who created opportunities with committed tackling, failed to capitalise on prime chances. It took 24 minutes for Jake Sutcliffe to bag the first goal for the visitors.

The Redlegs dominated possession, having 47 more touches, and they had 14 more marks. But just one was contested as they often shared the ball in defence searching for avenues to attack.

The trend of the contest stretched into the second quarter with both sides having enough of the ball, only to waste it with sloppy entries inside 50 or poor kicking for goal.

A run of seven behinds was snapped in the 21st minute of the second term when Tom Condon kicked just his fourth goal for the Double Blues, giving his side its first taste of the lead.

Redlegs ruckman Sam Baulderstone was providing a regular feed, but the inability of teammates to hit targets proved a concern for the home side in the third quarter.

While the Double Blues’ defensive actions were relentless, they were aided by poor decision making and skills by opponents. However, four goals without a miss enabled the Redlegs to trail by only five points at three-quarter time.

NORWOOD 1.5 1.9 5.9 8.10 (58)

STURT 1.5 2.10 5.15 6.17 (53)

BEST - Norwood: Panos, Baulderstone, McKenzie, Bampton, Smart, Forster. Sturt: Kirkwood, Colquhoun, F. Evans, Stephens, Riley, Pearce.

GOALS - Norwood: Smart 3, Shenton 2, Bampton, Abbott, Barry. Sturt: Hone, Condon, Sutcliffe, Patullo, Slimming, Riley.

REPORTS - Norwood: Grigg for allegedly striking Slimming.

UMPIRES - Broadbent, Crosby, Harris.

CROWD - 4001 at Coopers Stadium, Norwood.