North Adelaide wins 2018 SANFL Grand Final thriller over Norwood
NORTH Adelaide has won the 2018 SANFL Grand Final by 19 points over Norwood, 19.10 (124) to 15.15 (105), in a remarkable match before the biggest crowd for a SANFL Grand Final since 1998. They are also the first team since 1964 to go from the bottom of the ladder to championship winners two seasons apart.
- Grand final teams: Roosters back Thring
- Ex-Rooster Johnston content to wing it in new Redlegs role
- Redleg Bampton to relish big stage after hat-trick heartbreak
- Panos ready to dish out a footy lesson
- We deserve our spot in big dance: Carr
NORTH Adelaide have defeated Norwood by 19 points in the SANFL grand final to complete a remarkable rags-to-riches tale.
North, coached by ex-AFL player Josh Carr, have risen from finishing bottom last year to win the premiership with a 19.10 (124) to 15.15 (105) triumph on Sunday.
North’s spot in the grand final was only confirmed by the SANFL tribunal last Tuesday night after the club fielded an extra player for a period in their preliminary final victory.
Carr, a former Port Adelaide player, admitted the extra-man mistake but his club was permitted to play in the grand final against red-hot favourites Norwood. North, before 40,355 spectators at Adelaide Oval, captured its first premiership since 1991.
North prevailed despite a standout display from Norwood’s Mitch Grigg, who played 20 AFL games for the Adelaide Crows before being delisted at the end of the 2016 season.
Grigg, who has won consecutive Magarey medals as the SANFL’s best-and-fairest player, kicked six goals and collected 31 disposals in a losing side to enhance his claims for a return to AFL ranks.
In their last meeting under lights at the Parade in Round 18, the Redlegs overran North in the last term after a tight contest to score a 15-point win.
In their sole appearance so far this finals series, Norwood outlasted the Eagles by 17 points in the second semi-final.
The Roosters have notched wins over South Adelaide (20 points), reigning premier Sturt (58 points) and last Sunday’s controversial five-point come-from-behind win over the Eagles which was marred by their fielding of an extra man in the last term.
They also had to survive an extraordinary SANFL tribunal hearing on Monday night.
Head to head
Round 4
North Adelaide 21.7.133 def Norwood 13.11.89 at Prospect Oval.
Round 18
Norwood 11.13.79 def 9.10.64 at Norwood Oval.
Teams
