Discipline Legs overrun the Double Blues

NORWOOD has recorded back to back wins for the first time in 2020 after defeating the Double Blues by 15-points at Unley Oval yesterday afternoon.

The Redlegs put in a professional performance to overturn a 26-point deficit late in the first term to kick seven goals in the second half to run away with the game.

Captain Matthew Panos kicked Norwood’s first after nursing home a set shot from 40 metres out just inside the first five minutes of play before Sturt kicked the next four goals unanswered.

Debutant and off-season recruit Ryan Bastinac marked his first game with a goal after latching onto a Declan Hamilton spearing pass.

The 29- year old was pinpoint with his kick to cut the margin back to 20-points.

Richard Douglas gave the Redlegs the perfect start to the second term nailing his set shot from 40 metres to again cut the margin to 20-points.

Norwood gradually took control through ruckman Sam Baulderstone’s dominance at the stoppages with the inform ruckman tallying 16 disposals, five clearances and a mammoth 61 hit outs.

The Redlegs ability to gain first use of the football was illustrated in the lop-sided mark count, with Norwood taking 104 to Sturt’s 57 for the match as they used their foot skills to positive affect.

The third quarter was well and truly played on Norwood’s terms as their ability to spread and work the Double Blues over allowed them to generate a number of forward 50’s and time spent in their forward half.

After some tidy work in defence from Cameron Shenton, the Redlegs found Panos vacant on the wing who had time to look up and find Pinyon one on one in Norwood’s forward 50.

Pinyon marked strongly and went back with composure to boot his second of the match.

It took only 10 minutes for Pinyon again to pop up and kick his third and Norwood had all the momentum.

Mitch Grigg was influential with 27 disposals, nine marks, seven tackles and five clearances but tellingly, the former Crow kicked his two goals at vital periods in the game.

His first, came less than 10 seconds before the three-quarter time siren as he streamed through the middle of the ground to let fly from inside the centre square.

Grigg’s goal handed Norwood their first lead of the game and set up what was going to be a thrilling final quarter of SANFL action.

Grigg struck again two minutes into the fourth stanza when he bodied out his opponent to take a strong contested mark from an intelligent Hamilton foot pass.

The dangerous Hamilton had earlier nailed a set shot from 35m in front when the ball dropped short, the former Western Bulldog finishing with 20 disposals and eight marks to go with his four shots on goal.

Richard Douglas and Mitch Wilkins then put the icing on the cake with back to back goals to all but seal the points to take back to the Parade.

Lewis Johnston, resuming from a quad strain in his new defensive role, made a successful return for the Legs to tally 26 disposals and 15 marks, often pinpointing his teammates through the corridor by foot.

Norwood recruit Tom Pinyon continues to look more comfortable in League Company each week, the former Mount Compass forward booting three goals and taking four strong marks.

The Redlegs now set their sights on West Adelaide next Saturday afternoon at Hisense Stadium.

SCOREBOARD:

NORWOOD: 3.2 6.5 9.8 13.10 (88)

STURT: 7.2 8.6 8.9 10.13 (73)

GOALKICKERS: Pinyon 3, Grigg, Douglas, Panos 2, Hamilton, Wilkins, Bastinac, Barry

BEST: Baulderstone, Johnston, Pinyon, Hamilton, Grigg, Shenton, Ellison, Panos