Norwood destroys West Adelaide in a ruthless first half, kicking the first 11 goals of the match

NORWOOD monstered a helpless West Adelaide from the opening bounce on Saturday, storming to an 89-point win that pushed the Legs to second on the ladder.

AT least it was a quick kill.

Norwood monstered a helpless West Adelaide from the opening bounce on Saturday, storming to an 89-point win that pushed the Redlegs to second on the ladder.

It didn’t quite match the round-11 margin against Glenelg, but it was every bit as brutal.

Matthew Panos was brilliant for the Redlegs, finding space and racking up the kind of numbers you’d expect of a man floating loose in defence.

Instead, it was his run and smarts that allowed him to create mayhem virtually uncontested.

Ruckman Sam Baulderstone helped create the illusion the home side was playing with its bench on the ground, while defensive pair Jace Bode and Michael Chippendale generated drive from the back half.

Simon Phillips’ five goals rewarded teammates’ run and delivery and Anthony Wilson was electric.

“It was good. We’re improving. We haven’t played our best footy over the last couple of weeks but that was a pretty good effort today,” Norwood coach Ben Warren said.

“Westies have got some good inside mids and probably got on top of us in the second quarter there, but our midfield was good and our forwards kicked straight.”

For West Adelaide, it was a combination of poor decisions, worse skills and the simple of matter of being totally outclassed.

When clean disposal was needed, fumbles and turnovers under minimal pressure were a constant.

At one point in the third term they led the clearances 34-18 — and trailed by 71 points.

The only real highlight for the Bloods was Michael Still’s hanger and 50m goal late in the last term.

“At eight goals down it’s very difficult, but our skill level in our attempt to come back into the game just let us down terribly,” Bloods coach Mark Mickan said.

“We had enough opportunity to get ourselves back into the game on the scoreboard, but our inability to hit a target, handle the ball without fumbling it, let us down badly.”

Not so long ago this match-up, under previous managements, would have promised all the excitement of the late-night shopping channel.

The type where six goals on a sunny day might win it.

But any threat of ugly all-out defence exploded early in the first quarter. And, sadly for West Adelaide, so did the Bloods’ chances.

Inside the opening 12 minutes, Phillips had bombed a 60m torpedo on the run from the boundary line for his first, skipper Kieran McGuinness pulled down a screamer on half-forward and the Redlegs had four goals on the board.

In all, Norwood kicked the first 11 goals of the match to take a 67-point lead before the Bloods could find any scoreboard answer.

It took a 25m penalty 12 minutes into the second term to idiot-proof West’s opener through Josh Schiller.

Still then held a difficult overhead mark 90 seconds later to add another in quick time.

The overdue flurry suggested there was a pulse in the Bloods. They kicked four of the last six goals of the second term, but it was a brief revival.

Outside that 20-minute patch before half-time, it was a slaughter.

NORWOOD 8.2 13.4 17.6 23.9 (147)

WEST ADELAIDE 0.2 4.5 5.9 8.10 (58)

GOALS — Norwood: Phillips 5, Davis 4, Newton, Roocke 3, Dawe, Donohue,

Bartlett, Panos, Reinbrecht, Wicks. West Adelaide: Still 3, Beech 2, Nelson,

Schiller, Silverlock.

BEST — Norwood: Panos, Baulderstone, McGuinness, Webber, Bode,

Chippendale, Roocke, Phillips. West Adelaide: Beech, Schmidt, Silverlock,

Homburg, Green.

INJURIES: Norwood: Jeffries (shoulder). West Adelaide: Newell (knee).

UMPIRES: Burke, Haussen, Lally