Huge personal numbers, but a tough day against Double Blues for Norwood Juniors

Sturt ran away from Norwood’s U18 side in a powerful final quarter to run out 58-point winners over the Redlegs at The Parade on Saturday. 

Norwood trailed by 17 points at the final break, before the Double Blues slammed home six unanswered goals in the fourth term to claim a 17.16-118 to 10.0-60 win.

The Redlegs led by two points at quarter time with a four-goal opening term, before Sturt started to gain the ascendency with five goals to one in the second quarter.

The Double Blues led by 23 points at the main break and Norwood responded with a five-goal quarter of its own.

Sturt was able to hold up its end with three third quarter goals to lead by 17 at three quarter time. Norwood kicked well throughout the game with 10 straight goals without a blemish, and were lucky Sturt was inaccurate, particularly in the third quarter where it booted 3.6.

This didn’t come back to bite the Double Blues who blasted Norwood off the park in the final quarter to secure their seventh win of the season. Norwood sits in sixth place with a 6-6 win-loss record, one win outside the top five.

Norwood’s Jaidyn Mead continues to find the football at U18 level and gathered 33 disposals (31 kicks) on Saturday, while Jacob Newton kicked three goals from 17 disposals in a best on ground performance.

Max Barilla also kicked three majors for Norwood, and Jay Polkinghorne two.

Norwood was without captain Jacob Jones and key defender Calem Krollig who both played Reserves. Jones had 19 disposals and six tackles, and Krollig 10 disposals in both their second Reserves games of 2023.

Norwood 4.0, 5.0, 10.0, 10.0 – 60

Sturt 3.4, 8.5, 11.11, 17.16 – 118

Goals: Barilla 3, Newton 3, Polkinghorne 2, Emerson, Maddigan

Best: Newton, Hill, Mead, Polkinghorne, Johnston

The top of the table Sturt proved too strong for Norwood’s U16s on Saturday, running out 52-point winners at The Parade.

Jack Hayter had a huge afternoon for Norwood with 39 disposals, 10 clearances and five tackles in the 13.15-93 to 6.5-41 defeat.

Noah Daw had 28 disposals and 14 marks, while Micah Kretschmer also gathered 28 disposals, and Darcy Speyer 24 disposals, five marks and four clearances.

Sturt kicked five unanswered goals in the first term and all-but put the game to bed before quarter time.

Norwood fought back with consecutive goals in the second term through Robert Varcoe and Majoor Ackland to reduce the margin to 20 points. But that’s as close as they got to Sturt, who put the foot down after half time with seven goals to three.

Norwood’s U16s and U18s face Glenelg at the Bay next Saturday.

Norwood 0.1, 3.2, 4.3, 6.5 – 41

Sturt 5.2, 6.5, 8.11, 13.15 – 93

Goals: Ackland 2, Stevenson 2, Howe, Varcoe

Best: Daw, Speyer, Hayter, Kretschmer, Hartwig