Norwood strengthens claim for top-two finish and keeps Crows winless
Norwood records 51-point victory over the Crows at The Parade to strengthen its SANFL premiership credentials.
NORWOOD’s push for a top-two finish to its SANFL campaign received a boost following a hard-fought, 51-point victory over Adelaide at The Parade on Saturday.
The third-placed Redlegs struggled to adjust to the windy conditions early but the Crows could not capitalise on the hosts’ inaccurate goal kicking and went down 13.24 (102) to 7.9 (51).
Norwood’s class around the stoppages and its superior ability to run hard and create space was the catalyst for the result.
Redlegs coach Jarrod Cotton was pleased with the result but said his team still had room for improvement, particularly with its forward-half delivery and conversion in front of goal.
“Our inside 50 method probably wasn’t where it needed to be and that didn’t help us score,” Cotton said.
“That sort of didn’t help us score in regards to getting goals.
“But to be fair to the group, to win eight in a row is a really good performance and when you win by 50 points, you can’t complain too much.”
Lewis Johnston was a standout for the Redlegs with 35 disposals, five inside 50s, and a goal.
He was given plenty of support from Matt Nunn (32 disposals), Matt Panos (29) and reigning Magarey Medallist Mitch Grigg (25).
“He (Johnston) was good, but defensively he still need to get better. I thought Matty Nunn was really good, too.”
The match was scrappy in the first term and the Crows proved they were up for the challenge, creating chances through the middle.
AFL-listed Sam Gibson’s return from hamstring tightness was a positive for the Crows.
The former North Melbourne midfielder led from the front and finished with 29 disposals and a goal.
Although the Crows challenged the hosts in the first term, they failed to put any real scoreboard pressure on Norwood and held just a six-point lead at the first break.
The Redlegs found another gear quickly in the second term and outscored the Crows 5.3 to just two goals.
They continued to do enough to keep the winless Crows at bay.
Crows coach Ryan O’Keefe conceded his side lacked enough top-end talent.
“We were good around the contest and once we got our hands on it, we were pretty dangerous,” O’Keefe said.
“We just lost a bit of manpower in the end.”