Norwood hangs on to beat West Adelaide in SANFL thriller

NORWOOD coach Ben Warren was a satisfied man in the change rooms after the testing challenge against West Adelaide yesterday.

SANFL: Norwood v West Adelaide in Norwood at Norwood Oval. Pic: Tricia Watkinson

NORWOOD coach Ben Warren was a satisfied man in the change rooms after the testing challenge against West Adelaide yesterday.

His mob got home by only six points — the Redlegs’ second successive win by a goal — at home but when your side is on top of the ladder with an 8-1 win-loss record, he hasn’t too many complaints.

Next door in the Bloods rooms, coach Mark Mickan was telling his players there were few complaints from his staff. The Bloods had not won at the ground since 2009 and there were plenty of positives to take back to Richmond, according to Mickan.

This was a rarity, both coaches leaving a game speaking words of optimism. But the game deserved a draw after such an absorbing four quarter battle and the visitors, who kicked the final three goals, will consider themselves extremely unlucky not to snatch a premiership point.

Warren admitted his side was under siege in the final five minutes and the ball was near the goalsquare for the Bloods when the siren sounded.

“It was an arm wrestle for most of the day and credit to them, they played well,’’ Warren said. “They flood back well and get numbers behind the ball and it is good to grind out a win against a quality team.

“We were under siege at the end and it is good experience for our men and good learning.’’

Six points was the biggest margin in the first half as they traded blows on the scoreboard. Both teams were guilty of overusing the ball in the middle quarters and opportunities went begging because of skill errors. But the pressure was a constant.

The Bloods wasted prime scoring chances in the third term although they were able to fight back from a 15-point deficit to level the scores at three-quarter time.

Defender Patrick Levicki was outstanding for the Redlegs along with on-baller Mat Suckling and the home side finally got some clean movement to blast 24 points clear midway through the final term.

“We lacked a bit of polish at times but the way the players took the game on and the pressure applied was a credit to them,’’ Mickan said.

“Norwood is a quality team and probably deserved to win.

“We can take a lot of positives out of the game although we did not win and that hurts.

“We can’t lower our standards, we still expect to win.’’