Norwood U18s & U16s run over top dogs

Norwood’s U18s continue to be giant killers in 2025, beating another top four side at The Parade on Friday night, this time a three-point win over Central District.

The Redlegs have now beaten three of the top four sides, Centrals, Glenelg and Woodville-West Torrens, with another win coming against the Bloods who jumped to third over the weekend.

Friday night was a great test of resilience for Norwood, which let through the first four goals of the game, before working its way into the contest and eventually hitting the lead in the third term.

The Redlegs were strong after quarter time, and held a 16-point lead mid-way through the final quarter, before the Bulldogs kicked three of the last four goals to make for a grandstand finish.

The home side managed to hang on and secure their fifth win, 11.8-74 to 11.5-71, and ensure they are still in the hunt for a late season finals push.

In an incredibly tight U18s ladder, Norwood sit eighth at 5-9, but are only two wins off fourth place and three wins off second.

State U18 representative Jim Kelly was Norwood’s best with 28 disposals, four clearances, seven tackles and a goal. Micah Kretschmer continued his consistent season, with 26 touches, 10 clearances, nine tackles and a goal.

Sam Ainsworth was Norwood’s only multiple goal kicker, as the Redlegs had a great spread of 10 goal scorers.

U18 Coach Alex Newell was proud of the performance, having being challenged in the first quarter.

“The first quarter certainly put us on the back foot, halfway through the quarter we were yet to register an Inside 50 and could not get our hands on the ball. To be -18 in contested possession at the first break is not what we pride ourselves on at all,” he said.

“The message at quarter time was simply to roll the sleeves up, invest in our contest method and try own the territory battle on a wet night. We certainly did that for the next 3 quarters”

“To get the game back to a dogfight and looking like a Norwood game was an exceptional display of application and resilience, the game just like last week came right down to the wire and we handled the big moments very well again.”

“To say I am proud of the playing group and staff is an understatement, in my 50 games leading the program this is up there.”

Norwood take on the Eagles this Saturday at Woodville Oval in another must win clash.

Norwood 1.1, 3.3, 7.8, 11.8 – 74

Central District 5.2, 5.4, 6.4, 11.5 – 71

Goals: Ainsworth 2, Ackland, Hartwig, Johnston, Kelly, Kretschmer, Neal, Seal, Varcoe, van Wyk

Best: Jim Kelly, Micah Kretschmer, Sam Ainsworth, Balyn O’Brien, Noah Daw

Norwood’s U16s also scored a huge scalp last Friday night, knocking off the top of the table Central District by 13 points at Norwood Oval.

The Redlegs have now won three games on the trot and coming into form at the right time of year, as they sit just one and a half wins outside the top five. They have a great opportunity to make further inroads on Saturday when they take on the last placed Woodville-West Torrens.

Last Friday night, the Bulldogs kicked a goal from the opening centre bounce to put the Redlegs on the back foot. But, from there Norwood managed the next eight consecutive scoring shots for 5.3 and get out to a 26-point lead in the second term.

The Redlegs were able to maintain that advantage for much of the game, before the Bulldogs came home with a wet sail, kicking four of the last five goals to make for a nervous finish.

Norwood managed to hold on and secure its sixth win of the U16 campaign, 11.11-77 to 9.10-64.

George Serocki was Norwood’s leading ball winner with 20 disposals, while Joseph Nak had 19 and Myles Carr a best on ground 18 disposals and six clearances.

Norwood 4.2, 7.4, 10.6, 11.11 – 77

Central District 1.1, 3.3, 5.8, 9.10 – 64

Goals: Couzner 3, Gray 2, Wilkins 2, Douglass, Kernahan, Nak, Parisi

Best: Myles Carr, Joseph Nak, Sam Lake, Owen Couzner, Cooper Douglass