SANFL 2019: Norwood v South Adelaide: Round 14
Norwood kicked seven goals in a last quarter blitz to finish off South Adelaide by 45 points at The Parade.
A seven-goal final quarter has seen Norwood sail home by 45 points against an inaccurate South Adelaide at The Parade on Saturday.
The visitors trailed by eight points at three quarter time with a believable change of victory.
But the contest was quickly put to bed in the opening minutes of the last by 27-possession star Matt Nunn who burst out of the centre to kick his fourth from the paint of 50.
With Dom Barry contributing a brace and Declan Hamilton a special from the boundary line, the Legs kicked the wind out of the Panthers with 13 scoring shots to five.
Norwood coach Jarrod Cotton said he asked for a four-quarter effort and his charges answered with one of their best wins for the season.
“It’s around there, more so because we were under pressure,” Cotton said.
“For four quarters we were at them.
“I’m confident our best footy can compete with anyone.
“It wasn’t perfect. (But) it’s best it’s been for a while. I’m really proud of them.”
Cotton also praised the efforts of Matt Panos (27 touches) and the “excellent” Nunn after bouncing back from heel and hip injuries respectively.
A shattered South Adelaide coach Jarrad Wright said his team lacked polish and class.
“Our effort and endeavour was reasonable, we’re just relying on too many top end players at the moment,” Wright said.
“You could just see the class of the opposition with the ball in hand.
“They’ve got players who can kick the ball from A to B, we can’t. Effort will only get you so much.
“Not too many winners on the field (for us). There’s a real gap between our best and worst.”
He said his side desperately needed to improve their accuracy before next week’s crucial game against Port Adelaide.
“It certainly does hurt (missing goals)… you could be three or four goals up, you’re not, you’re only one goal up,” Wright said.
“There’s still a glimmer of hope (for the season) but we’re holding on by a thread.”
SCOREBOARD
NORWOOD – 2.2 7.5 8.7 15.13 (103)
SOUTH ADELAIDE – 3.6 4.7 6.12 7.16 (58)
BEST — Norwood: Nunn, Johnstone, Panos, Shenton, Baulderstone. South Adelaide: Davis, Rose, Haines, Cross, Fitt.
GOALS — Norwood: Nunn 4, Bampton, Barry, Stephens 2, Dawe, Gerloff, Hamilton, Johnston, Panos. South Adelaide: Cross, Fitt 2, Heaslip, Noble, Whittlesea.
CROWD — 1866
UMPIRES — Broadbent, Philp, Bryce