Norwood coach Nathan Bassett happy with form ahead of Bulldogs clash

NORWOOD coach Nathan Bassett is happy with how his side is playing ahead of its big game against Central District at Elizabeth.

NORWOOD coach Nathan Bassett is happy with how his side is playing ahead of its big game against Central District at Elizabeth, having ironed out a couple of the kinks that cost them a win over Port Adelaide the previous week.

Poor ball use and inconsistent defensive pressure hurt the Redlegs against the Magpies, but those factors were key to the 17.10 (112) to 7.7 (49) triumph over South Adelaide at The Parade on Saturday.

Despite having dropped two more games than at the same stage last year, Norwood is still sitting nicely on top of the ladder and has the bonus of adding knee reconstruction victims Bryce Campbell and Michael Newton to its side in coming weeks.

Campbell, in his first game since the 2011 second semi-final, gathered 27 touches and was second-best in the reserves.

Newton is expected back through the twos this week.

"I thought our tackling pressure was a lot better and up on where it's been, we kept the ball in our forward line for extended periods of time and we kicked a good score,'' Bassett said.

"I thought it was a lot better.

"We're starting to look more like our side that I expect it to look come finals time, assuming we get there.

"This week it's going to be a challenge (against Central) on the bigger ground for our on-ball group.''

The Redlegs' overall dominance against South was reflected in the statistics.

They finished with 54 more kicks, nine more clearances and almost doubled the Panthers' inside 50s, 51 to 29.

"It was a good, solid performance,'' Bassett said.

Crows-listed Mitch Grigg was a standout for the Redlegs, chalking up 27 disposals, six clearances and two goals.

Small forward Mark Evans, playing closer to goal, kicked a game-high five majors.

Norwood 17.10 (112) d South Adelaide 7.7 (49)

BEST: Norwood: Grigg, M. Evans, Hughes, Webber, Suckling, Zorzi, McGuinnesse. South Adelaide: Stribling, Hartigan, Liddle, Fields, C. Daniel

GOALS: Norwood: M. Evans 5; Grigg, Phillips, Panos 2; Bode, Murphy, Hughes, Webber, Jefferies, C. Evans. South Adelaide: Wundke 2; Hartigan, C. Daniel, Fields, Stribling, Pfeiffer.

At The Parade