Norwood overcome sluggish start to spoil Port Adelaide’s party

NORWOOD has spoiled Port Adelaide’s 50 year celebrations for Russell Ebert and Alf Trebilcock, kicking clear after the last break to cement their top five credentials.

Port Adelaide’s Jake Neade tries to give Norwood defender Michael Talia the slip.

NORWOOD has spoiled Port Adelaide’s 50-years-in-the-making party, kicking clear after the last break to cement their top five credentials.

Celebrating club legend Russell Ebert’s 50 years at Alberton, and a chance to draw closer to the top bracket against a genuine contender, the Redlegs had too many options up forward to win by 28 points.

Norwood coach Jarrod Cotton praised his side’s effort after a “flat” first quarter, led by Matt Panos with a 31 possession and two goal game.

Norwood's Peter Bampton in action during the win against Port Adelaide.

“Port are a good team with plenty of AFL listed players, it’s hard to win here,” he said.

Things began well for the home side through Aidyn Johnson whose first two kicks were majors.

However Port’s shoddy kicks at the sticks kept Norwood in the hunt, when the Pies could easily have been four goals up with a touch more precision.

Through an absolute gem from Cameron Shenton hemmed in on the boundary line, the Redlegs would have been relieved to cut the margin to just two points at quarter time.

Norwood snatched the lead through Shenton’s second, and when Ed Smart kick truly, it looked like the Legs might run away with the match.

But the Pies hit back through two goals to Jack Watts, his second a magnificent 60m metre bomb which stayed below post height.

The game opened up in the second half with a run of three Legs consecutive goals — two via Josh Glenn in a stellar three minute purple patch.

History repeated in the third with Port blowing chances at the Tim Evans End while Shenton nailed another brilliant goal from the boundary line.

Port rallied once more, but when best on ground Matt Panos (31 possessions) goaled twice, the match was over.

Port coach Matt Lokan said his team was now facing a stiff challenge to vie for the top five.

“It puts us behind the pack,” he said.

Norwood's Brady Dawe under pressure from Port's Jarrod Lienert.

SCOREBOARD

NORWOOD 2.2 5.6 8.7 13.10 88

PORT ADELAIDE 2.4 4.7 6.10 8.12 60

BEST

Norwood: Panos, Shenton, Glenn, Johnston, McKenzie

Port Adelaide: Neade, Toumpas, Amon, Summerton, Watts, Kluske.

GOALS

Norwood: Glenn, Shenton 3, Panos 2, Wilson, Smart, Grigg, Johnston, Dawe 1.

Port Adelaide: Johnson, Watts, Kluske 2, Frampton, Farrell 1.

UMPIRES

Bowen, Morgan, Burke.

CROWD

2959 at Alberton Oval.