Norwood Reserves go down to Sturt in Semi Final

Norwood will have to go the long way if its to qualify for the 2024 Reserves Grand Final after a disappointing 67-point loss to Sturt in Saturday’s Semi Final at Coopers Stadium.

The Redlegs will now face Glenelg in a Preliminary Final next weekend, with the Tigers defeating Woodville-West Torrens by seven points in the other Semi Final.

Sturt started well and extended its lead at every break to run out comprehensive 16.12-108 to 6.5-41 winners and qualify for its third consecutive Reserves Grand Final.

Key statistical measures were even, including disposals and tackles, and Norwood even won the clearance battle +4, but Sturt had a huge win in the inside 50m entries +20 and went on to have 28 scoring shots to Norwood’s 11.

In his first outing since Round 4, where he injured his knee, Norwood veteran Matthew Panos kicked four goals and won three clearances.

Ben Simpson had 26 disposals and nine clearances, and Luke Bogle had 24 disposals and eight clearances. Both were the leading possession winners on the ground.

But, Sturt had a more consistent showing of contributors, including Nick Sadler with 24 disposals, Alex Holt with 22, Brad Jefferies 22 and Charlie Parker who was sensational with 20 disposals and a goal. Lachlan Burrows kicked four goals for Sturt and capitalised on some fantastic ball movement up the ground from his Double Blues midfielders.

Sturt got off to a flying start, booting the first goal towards The Parade End through Parker one minute into the contest.

It was a warm welcome back for Panos, who held off his opponent and took a one handed mark 20m out from goal to get the Redlegs on the board a minute later. This would be just about the only Norwood highlight in what was a tough day for the hosts.

It was a quick start, and Sturt had a second goal at the five-minute mark when Ned Atkinson caused a turnover deep in Norwood’s defence and swung home the third goal of the game.

Oliver Sanders and Simpson were getting plenty of the football for Norwood, but it was the Double Blues that were doing all the attacking with 10 inside 50m to Norwood’s four.

But for all Sturt’s territory dominance, the visitors could only manage 2.3-15 to the Redlegs 1.0-6 at the 14-minute mark.

On their 11^th trip inside 50m, Sturt found its third goal, a Sadler snap from another Norwood defensive turnover to help the Double Blues to a 15-point lead.

Josh Gillow made a strong tackle at half forward and found Alex van Wyk at the top of the goal square, but his set shot was touched by the man on the mark. Sturt went end to end, and Nich Weightman took a strong goal-saving mark.

The Redlegs were working hard for no reward, as Sturt got the next two goals through Hugo Kittel and Charlie Molan to make it four straight goals and a 27-point lead at quarter time.

Sturt led 5.4-34 to 1.1-7 at the first break off the back of leading inside 50m entries 18-7, and marks 17-9.

Norwood got a much-needed goal to start the second term through another Panos set shot, but Sturt again responded with the next major through ruckman Oli Duffy.

Sturt continued to press, but Norwood’s defence stood up, allowing just three behinds despite an avalanche of inside 50m entries.

The game was goalless for 17 minutes which kept the Redlegs in reach, before Tommy McCormack and Sam Breuer nailed late goals for the Double Blues to make it a very tough 42 points at half time, 8.7-55 to 2.1-13.

Panos had both of Norwood’s goals in the first half, while Simpson had 15 disposals, Tom Graham 12, Bogle 12 and Sanders 12.

Parker was having a huge impact for Sturt with 16 disposals and a goal.

Norwood was able to get its hands on the football in the second quarter and evened the marks (31-33), disposals (148-154) and clearances (17-18) tallies, while also out-tackling the Double Blues 38-28.

The damage continued to be the inside 50m count, which sat at 18-32 at the main break, leading to 3-15 scoring shots.

Sturt drove the final nail in the coffin early in the third term when the visitors kicked back to back goals through Burrows and Kobe McEntee to surge the margin past 50 points.

Norwood finally found its third goal of the game through Sanders.

Burrows added two more to Sturt’s score tally to make it a four goals to one third term and extend the margin to 62 points.

Trying to take some momentum into the Preliminary Final, Norwood came out from the three quarter time break with a spark, kicking back to back goals through Henry Slade and Panos.

But like they did all day Sturt responded with the next four goals to create a match high 73-point lead.

Panos kicked a fourth goal in the dying stages of the game to put a stamp on a positive return game for the 149-game veteran.

The winner of next week’s preliminary final will face the Double Blues in the Reserves Grand Final.

Norwood 1.1, 2,1, 3.2, 6.5 – 41

Sturt 5.4, 8.7, 12.10, 16.12 – 108

Goals: Panos 4, Sanders, Slade

Best: Graham, Panos, Simpson, Tranfa, Lok