“It was a much better performance”

Norwood Senior Coach Jade Sheedy has spoken about last Friday’s Anzac Day clash with Glenelg, identifying several key improvements in a stronger showing from his side.

A final-quarter blowout saw the final margin sit at 43 points, but Norwood were right in the contest for much of the day and held a two-point lead late in the third term.

Sheedy was pleased with a lot of what he saw across the first three quarters and noted plenty of positives in the way Norwood played.

“It was a much better performance; a real Norwood game on the weekend,” Sheedy said.

“I thought we were good around the footy, our inside 50s were strong, we had 21 shots on goal and 10 different goal scorers. They are all parts of our game we need to keep building on, and things we’ve been working on over a period of time.”

After a tough start to the season, Sheedy said he was proud of his team’s resilience to stay in the game against strong opposition.

“Really proud of the boys’ efforts on the weekend. I think there were three occasions where they (Glenelg) got out to a couple of goals and we clawed it back through each quarter to be able to neutralise the game.”

“We hit the front as well in the third quarter and had some chances to go beyond that, but they defended us well and we didn’t take the most of our opportunities when it counted as well.”

Reflecting on the final quarter, Sheedy identified that Norwood were caught out defensively while focusing on attack to try and reel in the deficit.

“Up until the 16 minute mark we were still only two or three goals down and we probably chased the game a little bit, which you tend to do when you need to win, and that can go one or the other way, and we got opened up a little bit out the back and around stoppage and around Glenelg lengthening and us not being able to go with them.”

Sheedy also spoke about the change in Norwood’s method of ball movement, noting a focus on more direct play against Glenelg compared to the previous match against Sturt.

“Against Sturt we got whacked around the footy a bit and then tried to possess the footy to get our hands back on it and take the ball off them, where against Glenelg it was definitely more a direct focus and play the game in our front half.”

Sheedy was also impressed by the game of Finn Heard, who took most of the ruck duties in the absence of Marco D’Annunzio.

“Finn was very good, and Tristan Binder helped Finn out, but Finn was very good. We wanted ground presence and to be able to outnumber at ground level, and we thought going with Finn as a ruck, that’s a real strength of his, and he’s a big body and he won the hitouts as well and gave our mids a reasonable look at it, which was pleasing.”

Looking ahead to Sunday’s clash with the Adelaide Crows, Sheedy said Norwood’s work at the contest will be critical in determining the outcome.

“It will be about getting the ball in our front half again and being strong around the contest. They have got a pretty solid ruckman who creates a few headaches for opposition through his height and his ability to give them the first look at the footy, so we have to be strong around the contest again.”

Norwood and the Crows will be playing for the annual Teakle Cup at Centenary Oval in Port Lincoln, which Sheedy said he is looking forward to.

“It will be good to get away as a group. It has come at a good time, obviously it’s not been an ideal start, but it’s good to get away with the group and get to know them a little bit more, so we’re all looking forward to it.”

Watch Jade Sheedy’s full interview below: