Redlegs Reserves outlast Glenelg to qualify for 2024 Grand Final

Norwood will have both its League and Reserves sides contest for 2024 Premierships, after the Redlegs Reserves secured a 48-point win over Glenelg in Saturday’s Preliminary Final at Thebarton Oval.

Norwood overcame repeated challenges from Glenelg to run away with a 14.11-95 to 6.11-47 win to book its ticket to next Sunday’s decider at Adelaide Oval.

The Redlegs will take on Sturt in the Reserves Grand Final, while the League is awaiting either Central District or Glenelg.

During Saturday morning’s Preliminary Final, Norwood lost clearances (28-36), tackles (64-67), inside 50m entries (42-47) and marks (64-69), but won the disposal count 315-266 and stood taller in the key moments.

The Redlegs were challenged at the beginning of the game, and particularly in the first 10 minutes of the second half when Glenelg looked quicker and more composed. But Norwood steadied to kick the last seven goals of the contest.

Norwood’s defence was outstanding during the third quarter, keeping the Redlegs in the contest despite being under the pump as Glenelg quickly whittled a 22-point half time deficit to just nine points early in the third term.

Off the back of several huge contest wins on the last line of defence, the Redlegs were able to repel and turn the nine-point lead into a 30-point advantage at three quarter time.

Glenelg didn’t lie down in the last term, but were inaccurate, kicking seven behinds to Norwood’s 4.1.

The Tigers started the game strongly, kicking the first goal through Austin Kitschke, before Jayden Gale got Norwood on the board two minutes later with a set shot.

Gale’s goal came from smooth ball transition from the back half and U18 Jay Polkinghorne hit the small forward on the chest with a perfect lead-up kick.

The Redlegs had more disposals and led the inside 50m count, but Kitschke kicked a second goal at the 11-minte mark for the Tigers.

Oliver Sanders levelled the scores with a classy snap at the 20-minute mark.

The Redlegs were lucky Glenelg didn’t take its opportunities, with two set shots floating wide late in the first term.

Polkinghorne – who had a huge first quarter – took a strong leading mark and nailed the goal after the quarter time siren to give the Redlegs a 3.1-19 to 2.3-15 lead.

Luke Bogle and Sanders each had seven disposals in the opening term, as Norwood led disposal 78-51 and inside 50m 11-8.

Liam Robinson took a huge mark on the wing and Norwood started the second quarter strongly.

A costly turnover in the middle led to Glenelg’s first goal of the second term, and Gale kicked his second a minute later, and the goal-for-goal nature of the game continued.

Norwood started to get on top and needed to take its chances.

Unfortunately, Glenelg nailed the next major to level the scores at 4.3-27 apiece, and while Norwood controlled the game the Tigers always managed a goal to stay in touch.

The ball was pinging from end to end and Josh Bradford took a mark 40m out to slow things down. He went back and nailed a quality goal into a swirling breeze.

Norwood was controlling the game and finally got some reward for effort with three goals on the trot just before half time, including a Bogle goal with the last kick of the half.

The Redlegs went into the half time break 22 points up, 7.7-49 to 4.3-27.

Norwood led disposals 148-113, inside 50m 24-19 and marks 38-28. Tackles were even at 38 each, while the Tigers led clearances 15-19.

Norwood should have been further in front, booting 4.6 to 2.0 in the second quarter, in a dominant term but the breeze was playing havoc.

Bogle had 14 disposals and a goal to half time, while Sanders and Tranfa each had 12 disposals and a goal.

The Bays kicked an important goal early in the third quarter to bring the margin back to 15 points.

Cam Kiel kicked another goal for the Tigers to make it a nine-point game, and the Redlegs needed to respond.

Norwood won the next clearance and a Tyson Walls set shot drifted wide, but the Redlegs forwards were able to cause a turnover from the kick in and find a goal through Bradford. It was an important settler at the half way point in a Glenelg-dominated term.

Gale ran into an open goal to return the Redlegs 22-point lead in another significant turning point in the game. Suddenly Norwood had all the run.

Despite the Tigers early run to start the third quarter, Norwood led the quarter 2.2 to 2.1.

Glenelg went forward and Jacob Jones took a nice intercept mark deep in defence and Norwood looked to have all the answers.

Norwood made several repeated defensive efforts deep in the back line in the dying minutes of the quarter.

The Redlegs did well to shut any Glenelg forward foray down and run the clock, and finished with a bonus goal with the last kick of the third quarter, a perfectly weighted shot from Henry Slade to help Norwood to a 30-point advantage.

The Minor Premiers looked in trouble at the start of the term, but ended up winning the quarter and extending their lead to 10.10-70 to 6.4-40 at three quarter time.

Slade kicked his second goal 90 seconds into the final quarter to help the Redlegs to an unassailable 36-point lead.

Liam Robinson nailed his first goal five minutes into the final term to make it five consecutive goals for the Redlegs.

Robinson kicked a second goal, and Alex van Wyk nailed a major from long range to put a full stop on the game.

Bogle finished with 28 disposals, seven clearances and a goal, Ben Simpson 25 disposals and seven tackles, and Xavier Tranfa 24 disposals and a goal.

Norwood 3.2, 7.7, 10.10, 14.11 – 95

Glenelg 2.3, 4.3, 6.4, 6.11 – 47

Goals: Gale 3, Bradford 2, Robinson 2, Slade 2, Bogle, Polkinghorne, Sanders, Tranfa, van Wyk

Best: Simpson, Gale, Graham, Krollig, Bogle