Redlegs back in the hunt after 21-point win over Double Blues
NORWOOD has rediscovered the lockdown football which made it so tough to score against in a 21-point win over Sturt at Unley on Sunday.
NORWOOD has rediscovered the lockdown football which made it so tough to score against in its back-to-back premiership years and it announced itself as a contender for this year’s flag at Unley on Sunday.
The Redlegs conceded just four goals after quarter-time against the Blues to show they are back in business with a 21-point win.
It was Norwood’s biggest scalp since it beat Port Adelaide in the season opener and most pleasing to coach Ben Warren was his side’s ability to tackle, pressure and choke the Blues after quarter-time with its highly-organised press.
The sides exchanged goals in an entertaining opening term with Sturt skipper Michael Coad kicking three majors for the term to give his Norwood counterpart and direct opponent Kieren McGuinness plenty to think about. But Norwood played the match on its terms after quarter-time and, bar a brief period of the third term, shut down Sturt’s dangerous running game.
Matthew Panos, James Allan and Dylan Reinbrecht drove Norwood’s engine but it was an even team effort – the type of performance that defined the Redlegs’ premierships in 2012-2013.
“I thought we tackled really well,’’ Warren said.
“Panos, (Tim) Weber, Reinbrecht, Allan all tackled well. It was important we kept it in close. They’re a pretty quick side on the outside. ”
Sturt retained second spot on the ladder despite the loss and faces another test against the third-placed Eagles at Woodville next weekend.
Outstanding Zane Kirkwood put in another brilliant performance in the midfield for the Double Blues but they were unable to break Norwood’s shackles on the small ground.
Norwood kicked out to a 21-point lead midway through the third term when Michael Newton goaled before consecutive goals to Levi Krause and Coad brought the margin back to nine points. Norwood steadied through Peter Persinos late in the term and then kicked away early in the final term when Callum Bartlett goaled.
Ben Kane punished McGuinness for a poor kick-in to bring the margin back to 14 points and give Sturt hope 15 minutes into the final term but the Redlegs steadied.