Norwood comes from behind to conquer Glenelg in SANFL battle at The Parade

Norwood had its opening-round struggles, but was able to fire in the final quarter to come from behind to overcome Glenelg at The Parade.

Norwood was forced to overcome a highly spirited Glenelg and a lacklustre performance from its forward line to claim a five-point victory at The Parade on Friday night.

The Redlegs had to come from behind in the final quarter after the plucky Tigers appeared set to end their misery at the ground where they have not won since 2011.

To add further hurt to the visitors, it was former Tiger Dom Barry who nailed the goal which put the Redlegs in front 21 minutes into the final term.

The Redlegs had the ascendancy in the opening minutes, only to struggle with the final movement inside their attacking 50. It was an issue for much of the clash as they struggled to find a potent forward target.

Despite plenty of open football, the scoreboard attendant was given little work early and it took 11 minutes for a score when Declan Hamilton snapped a behind for the home side.

It was another three minutes before the Tigers registered a score, a behind to Liam McBean. But Marlon Motlop gave the Tigers their first taste of the lead when he nailed the opening goal 16 minutes into the contest.

The pressure from both sides created opportunities and it was the Tigers who showed the superior composure as the quarter lengthened. While the Redlegs’ skills slipped, the Tigers grew in confidence and their ball movement gained in conviction.

The Tigers escaped to a 14-point lead before poor discipline from Jonty Scharenberg gifted Redlegs’ dual Magarey Medallist Mitch Grigg a late goal. Grigg was knocked to the ground after taking a mark at an awkward angle, but the subsequent 25m penalty took him to the goal line.

Redlegs junior Luke Partington was prominent in his debut for the Tigers as they withstood an early assault from the Redlegs in the second term to challenge the home side with tremendous commitment and enthusiasm.

The Tigers put the Redlegs under the pump in the third quarter with their devotion to the defensive actions and they were rewarded with a 15-point lead.

The visitors’ defence, led by last year’s best and fairest Max Proud, had the supremacy and they shut down the Redlegs forwards with discipline and a fierce desire for the contest.

The Redlegs won the territorial battle and late in the third term they had had 44 visits inside their 50 compared to 28 from the Tigers. But they lacked the damaging weapons to convert.

That was until the final quarter.

SCOREBOARD

NORWOOD 1.3 3.6 5.9 9.15 (69)

GLENELG 2.4 4.4 8.5 9.10 (64)

BEST — Norwood: Grigg, Johnston, Panos, Baulderstone, Nunn. Glenelg: Scott, Partington, Proud, Gould, Agnew.

GOALS — Norwood: Grigg 2, Szust, Bampton, Panos, Hamilton, Barry, Baulderstone, Smart. Glenelg: Motlop, Scott 2, McBean, Reynolds, Partington, Gregson, Hosie.

INJURIES — Norwood: Bode (shoulder).

UMPIRES — Crosby, Bryce, Sboro.

CROWD — 2786 at Coopers Stadium, Norwood.