Norwood come from behind to beat the Bloods

Norwood showed a great deal of character and grit in Saturday’s 17-point come from behind win over West Adelaide at a wet, cold and muddy Richmond Oval. 

The Redlegs trailed at every break, but nailed four goals to one in a brilliant final quarter to run away 10.8-68 to 7.9-51 winners.

The final margin of 17 points was the largest lead either side had all day, in an incredibly tough, hard fought battle.

The Bloods looked to have the better of the Redlegs for most of the day, leading by 15 points in both the second and third quarters, but Norwood kicked seven of the last nine goals (including the last four) to claim a 10th win of the season.

The first quarter wasn’t one for the record books, with both sides battling the wet underfoot conditions and the gusty breeze.

West Adelaide was dominant early in the contest and around the ground, but couldn’t put any scoreboard pressure on the Redlegs, kicking three behinds to start the game.

Norwood small forward Jayden Gale – who looked the Redlegs most dangerous forward option in the first half – clung on to a mark and goaled to put the first major on the board.

West responded quickly with its first goal through Ben Ridgway, and at quarter time it was the Bloods leading 1.6-12 to 1.1-7.

Both sides found more damaging looks at goal in the second quarter, with the Bloods managing three goals to Norwood’s two.

Westies kicked the first two of the term, making it three unanswered, and a 16-point lead at the half way point of the second.

The Redlegs responded with Gale’s second goal, and another soon to follow from Tristan Binder.

Brady Searle nailed a quality set shot just before the main break to help the hosts to a nine-point half time lead, 4.7-31 to 3.4-22.

The rain poured down sideways at half time, but the game went to another level. The Bloods kicked the first to again stretch the lead out to 15 points, before Norwood went bang, bang, bang in a super impressive five minute patch.

Max Hodges kicked two, and Binder the other one in what had been a very difficult day for tall forwards.

The onslaught gave Norwood an unlikely lead early in the third quarter, as the sun poked out again.

The third term continued to be a cracker, as both sides decided to take the game on. West Adelaide answered the question with Archie Walsh nailing a goal on the run to help the Bloods back to the lead at the final break, 6.8-44 to 6.6-42.

With the slender two-point lead at three quarter time, West Adelaide started the final term full of run, and nailed the first goal through Mitch Obst.

From that stage, Norwood took full control. The Redlegs won the ball at the source and the Bloods couldn’t go with them.

Jacob Kennerley got things underway with a clever close range goal to return the margin back to two, then Connor Ling nailed a set shot (whilst falling over) to put the visitors in front.

Oliver Sanders found space 35m out and marked on the chest at the 19-minute mark, and went back to all-but seal the win. Jackson Callow finished things off with the final goal of the game.

Norwood 1.1, 3.4, 6.6, 10.8 – 68

West Adelaide 1.6, 4.7, 6.8, 7.9 – 51

Goals: Gale 2, Binder 2, Hodges 2, Callow, Kennerley, C Ling, Sanders