Norwood midfielder announces retirement after knee injury keeps him out of SANFL elimination final loss
NORWOOD has lost one of its top midfielders to retirement, but the club is confident of its future despite the elimination final loss to Central District.
TOUGH Norwood midfielder Tim Webber announced his retirement after failing to overcome a knee injury to front in the elimination final at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
Webber had surgery on the knee and was given every chance to prove his fitness. However, he was forced to withdraw just hours before the opening bounce.
“Tim has been a fantastic servant for the Redlegs, is a three-times premiership player and gives his heart and soul every time he is on the park,” Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton said. “He is going to be a loss.”
Cotton said there were plenty of positives to emerge from the season despite being knocked out the title race by Central District.
While he noted the club did not want to finish its season on the first weekend of the finals, he said the Redlegs had jumped from eighth in 2016 to fourth this season.
“It was a learning curve today, how to play finals footy,” Cotton said. “Central moved the footy forward at every cost and they did not try and over use it.
“We have completely changed the way we want to play. Today we played too slow at times, rather than go at the game.
“We have got to get to a level of consistency week-in, week-out.”
Dangerous small forward Simon Phillips, who has been sidelined due to a thigh injury, confirmed he will be back at The Parade next season.
The Bulldogs, who grabbed a finals berth in the final minor round, won the game in the second quarter, according to coach Roy Laird.
He said the Redlegs dominated for a 25 to 30 minute period, but could add just two goals.
“Defensively we were able to stand up,” Laird said. “They threw everything at us in the second quarter and it was one of the more strong and mature quarters we have played in a long time. It was pivotal to winning the game. ”
Laird believes long-term the Bulldogs have a healthy future, but “right now” they are ready to challenge anyone.
“We have been competitive against everyone and we have one opponent to worry about next week.”