Norwood kicked 13 goals in final quarter to beat Sturt at Unley Oval last year; they meet again at the same venue on Sunday
Ahead of Sunday’s Unley Oval clash between Sturt and Norwood, Warren Partland looks back on the Redlegs’ memorable final-term blitz at the same venue last season.
Norwood’s star onballer Matt Panos describes the final quarter against Sturt at Unley Oval last year as a wave and the Redlegs riding it very well.
Gun Double Blues defender Fraser Evans reckons he got sunburn on the roof of his mouth from watching the Redlegs’ goals go over his head, all 13 of them.
It was among the most phenomenal final terms in the history of the SANFL as the Redlegs retrieved a four-goal deficit at three-quarter time to run amok in devastating fashion.
Speedster Anthony Wilson sparked the barrage with a goal after just 30 seconds and from there it was completely one-way traffic as the Redlegs tore the Double Blues apart in the middle of the ground and constantly surged forward.
“It was something pretty special and something I’d never been a part of before,” Panos said. “We were four goals down going into the last quarter and there was a little bit of a breeze.
“We kicked some early goals and got momentum, everything went our way in that last quarter. We were getting some good clearances and great finishes. We kept the foot on the pedal, rather than take it off which was good.”
Evans admits the Redlegs were unbelievable in that final quarter, opening up the Double Blues in the middle of the ground and getting clean ball straight out.
Redlegs ruckman Sam Baulderstone went to work, according to Evans, and was putting the ball “down the throat” of Panos and his onball mates.
“I remember walking off the ground and thinking that was embarrassing,” Evans said. “It went from a good game of footy, we were four goals up at three-quarter time, to lose by 10 goals.
“I’ve never had that happen before and I certainly don’t want it to happen again. I can’t put my finger on why it all fell apart in such dramatic fashion.
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“It is something I don’t want to go through again, that is for sure.”
Obviously the mood in the respective changerooms after the game was a massive contrast.
The Redlegs celebrated their stunning feat with plenty of excitement among the players, who were urged to enjoy the win.
“Cotts (Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton) wants us to cherish those victories as a group,” Panos said. “It was not about moving onto the next week straight away, he wanted us to live in the moment together as a group.”
There were honest conversations in the Double Blues rooms with Evans recalling the mixture of emotions. Anger and frustration were evident.
“Everyone was in a little bit of shock and there was plenty of chat,” Evans said.
FINAL QUARTER
32 seconds: Anthony Wilson uses his speed to get clear and kicks the ball on the outside of his right boot for a goal. Sturt leads by 18 points.
5min:5sec: Simon Phillips kicks the set shot from 35m on a slight angle. Sturt by 12.
7:26: The ball spills from a pack to Matt Panos, who snaps the goal. Sturt by six.
8:47: The ball spills from a pack to Panos, who spins around and kicks the goal. Scores level.
11:18: Ed Smart breaks a tackle and snaps a goal. Norwood by six.
12:29: Cameron Shenton blasts the ball from inside the centre square and is shepherded through by Will Abbott. Norwood by 12.
16:19: Declan Hamilton gathers the loose ball and kicks it along the ground for a goal. Norwood by 18.
18:51: Abbott wins a hard ball and handpasses to Mitch Wilkins, who steadies and kicks truly from 40m. Sturt by 24.
22:03: Mitch Grigg kicks to Shenton miles in the clear and he runs into an open goal. Sturt by 30.
25:33: The ball spills to Panos from a stoppage in the goal square and he snaps the goal. Sturt by 35.
29:33: Abbott nails the set shot from 40m. Sturt by 42.
30:23: Grigg handballs to Bower, who handballs to Shenton and he has a clear run at goal. Sturt by 48.
31:20: Abbott handballs from a contest to Hamilton, who kicks the goal on the run from a sharp angle. Sturt by 54.
SANFL ON SUNDAY
West Adelaide v Adelaide
City Mazda Stadium, Richmond, 1.10pm
Radio: 1629 SEN SA
Port Adelaide v Eagles
Alberton Oval, 1.10pm
Radio: 1079 Life FM
Sturt v Norwood
Peter Motley Oval, Unley, 1.40pm
TV: Channel 7