Norwood stays unbeaten in SANFL after beating North Adelaide in grand final rematch

Norwood has again proved it will be a serious contender for the premiership this season after overcoming North Adelaide in the Anzac Day grand final rematch.

Matthew Nunn and Norwood kept North Adelaide and Aidan Tropiano at arm’s length at Prospect Oval. Picture: Dean Martin

THERE is something special building at Norwood, and a whiff of redemption seems to be hanging over The Parade.

Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton said last year’s grand final loss to North Adelaide when they were red-hot favourites had not been mentioned in the lead up to the Anzac Day clash at Prospect Oval on Thursday.

He reckons it did not have to be mentioned, everyone knew what happened.

But while there are no words being spoken, the Redlegs are giving off the impression nothing is going to stand in their way of making amends this season.

They are unbeaten on top of the ladder after five rounds following the 14-point victory over the Roosters. The lead had been 45 points in the third quarter before the home side bagged the final three goals and five of the last six.

Norwood's Dom Barry shows off his pace, pursued by North's Campbell Combe and Alex Barns. Picture Dean Martin

To be 5-0 satisfies Cotton, but he noted areas were the team still needs to improve.

“We played some really good footy and controlled most of the game,” he said. “We had it under control. The last quarter was disappointing from some aspects and we will learn from that.

“Credit to North, they kept coming at us. But we always had them at arm’s length.”

Then he gave an ominous warning to rivals, claiming his side is not playing at its best.

“We want to keep improving,” he said. “At certain stages we were better than the previous week in ways.”

The Roosters were their own worst enemy in the first quarter, constantly turning possession over going into attack.

And the Redlegs gleefully accepted the gifts to rush forward in numbers and with clean skills to punish the fumbly Roosters on the scoreboard.

Brad McKenzie and Mitch Wilkins feasted on stray foot skills from opponents to ignite the Redlegs from defence.

Roosters coach Josh Carr was pleased with the increased intensity around the contest from his players and they challenged the visitors in the second term, only to waste prime scoring opportunities.

Both teams coughed up turnover ball, although the Redlegs, with Matt Panos firing, again found rhythm to nail the final three goals of the second term. They were able to get numbers back in defence and their run had more authority than their rivals.

The Roosters had more visits inside their 50 for the first half, yet trailed by 27 points to reflect their inefficiency.

North's Mitchell Harvey gets a kick away under pressure from Norwood's Zac Richards. Picture Dean Martin

Classy Redlegs onballer Matt Nunn nailed a goal just 15 seconds into the third quarter and when he was followed by two more goals within six minutes the game appeared beyond the Roosters.

However, the undermanned Roosters, hit hard by injuries this season, kept fighting and making inroads into the deficit. Jarred Allmond amassed disposals, as is his way, and Tom Schwarz was busy.

“Right now where the competition sits, they are much better than we are,” Carr admitted. “We have a fair few new faces in the team, but I thought we took some big steps forward.

“We had those three big cough ups in the first quarter which gave them goals. A team like that will make you pay.

“They made us pay for silly mistakes. But there are positives to take out it.”

NORWOOD 5.4 8.7 13.10 15.11 (101)

NORTH ADELAIDE 2.5 3.10 6.12 12.15 (87)

BEST — Norwood: Panos, McKenzie, Shenton, Wilkins, Bampton, Baulderstone. North: Allmond, T. Schwarz, Laurie, Tropiano, C. Craig, Combe.

GOALS — Norwood: Bampton 5, Panos 3, Grigg, Abbott, Barry, Nunn, Baulderstone, Dawe, Georgiou. North: Agorastos 3, Ramsey, Hender, Verity 2, Barns, T. Schwarz, Miller.

UMPIRES — Crosby, Scott, Harris.

CROWD 4374 at Prospect Oval.

BOB QUINN MEDAL — Matt Panos (Norwood).