Eagles come from behind to steal thrilling win

It was a game of two halves and wicked momentum swings on Saturday evening, as Norwood was run down by Woodville-West Torrens in a six-point thriller at Woodville Oval.

The Redlegs led by as much as 30 points in the third quarter, before the Eagles kicked 10 of the next 13 goals to run straight past Norwood on the way to a 14.8-92 to 12.14-86 win.

In the closing stages of the game Woodville-West Torrens had all the momentum, 14 points in front with eight minutes to go, before Billy Cootee nailed a long range goal from 50m to give the Redlegs a sniff.

The ball was locked in Norwood’s forward half for the final five minutes, but could only manage just two behinds, and had to accept a second straight defeat to start the 2025 SANFL season.

Norwood was outstanding in the first half, seemingly leaving behind the demons of its disappointing Round 1 loss to North Adelaide.

The Redlegs hit the ground running, finding a goal in the first 90 seconds of the match and didn’t look back, as they went on to boot eight first half goals to four, and maintain a 28-point lead at the main break.

Celebrating their past in the Round 2 clash, the Eagles changed from their blue West Torrens guernsey into their yellow Woodville strip at half time, and with it changed their fortunes.

Trailing 8.7-55 to 4.3-27 at the half, the game was flipped on its head as the Eagles came out all guns blazing, to kick 10 second half goals to four in a complete momentum swing.

Woodville-West Torrens chipped away at the lead Norwood had built, starting with a six-goal-to-three third quarter, to get the game back to a manageable 13-point margin at the final break.

This came in the form of four goals in seven minutes to turn a 30-point margin into six points.

Norwood midfielder, Cootee nailed a nerve settling goal from a stoppage to ensure Norwood turned for home leading, 11.11-77 to 10.4-64, but the momentum was firmly with the home side.

The lead evaporated in the blink of an eye, as the Eagles had four set shots in the opening six minutes of the final term to reclaim the lead for the first time since mid-way through the first term, and went on to have the first seven shots of the deciding quarter.

Norwood had one more challenge in them, and trailing by six points the Redlegs were charging the ball towards goal as the siren blew on a tough loss to take.

Earlier in the game, Norwood looked exceptional.

Jayden Gale kicked his first of three goals in the opening 90 seconds of the match, and the Redlegs had a spark and positivity about them that wasn’t evident in the first round match against the Roosters.

Norwood dominated the first quarter, off the back of Jackson Callow, who threatened to tear the game apart.

Callow had seven disposals and five marks (two contested) in the first term, kicking 1.2. He could have easily had three first quarter goals, but finished with just the one for the day from 17 touches and eight marks.

The Redlegs had 12 consecutive forward 50m entries and finished the quarter leading 4.4-28 to 2.2-14.

Gale kicked two first quarter goals, with his second off the back of Declan Hamilton breaking the lines from half back.

Rokahr had nine first quarter disposals, Jack Heard eight, Callow, Seymour and O’Neill seven apiece. Seymour’s first quarter was outstanding, stopping multiple goal scoring opportunities.

The Redlegs were dominating, but kicked three consecutive behinds to start the second term, until Finn Heard nailed his second goal to put Norwood 23 points up, 5.7-37 to 2.2-14.

Form there the Redlegs found their kicking boots, and kicked three more goals without a blemish in a half where everything worked out. Even when they fumbled or made a poor decision, the ball seemed to end up ok for the visitors. This would change after the break.

A ball went over the head of a Norwood forward and landed in Connor Ling’s lap, who went back to nail his first goal in red and blue.

In what was the play of the day, Seymour chiseled a corridor kick to Daniel Gauci, who gave off to a running O’Neill. Callow made a shallow entry work, giving to Jack Saunders who nailed a perfect snap goal.

A dominant half was capped off with a Tristan Binder set shot, which put Norwood up by 28 points following a four-goal-to-two term.

At half time the Redlegs led 8.7-55 to 4.3-27, and the Eagles were lucky it was only a five-goal deficit, as Norwood led inside 50m entries 33-16, marks 48-25 and disposals 184-143.

The home crowd were also making it known of the lop-sided free kick count, which favoured Norwood 18-6.

O’Neill had 17 disposals to the halfway point, J. Heard 16 and Rokahr 16.

J. Heard and Seymour had been excellent off half back, while second gamer Josh Gillow had stood tall in several one on one contests on the last line of defence.

The Eagles swapped from their West Torrens guernsey into their Woodville guernsey at half time, and the rest was history.

Norwood fought to the death, but in the end the Eagles had the momentum at the right time. Norwood kicked five straight goals in the first half to establish the lead, and the Eagles were good enough to run it down with 10 of the next 13.

There was a lot to like about the Redlegs game, winning inside 50m entries 56-41, clearances 35-32, marks 83-63 and disposals 347-290, but in the end Woodville-West Torrens were better in the key moments.

Rokahr finished with 33 disposals, O’Neill 28 and Matthew Ling 23.

Gale kicked three goals, while Binder, Cootee and F. Heard were multiple goal kickers.

Norwood will have to wait until Easter Thursday for its Round 3 match, against Sturt at Coopers Stadium.

Norwood 4.4, 8.7, 11.11, 12.4 – 86

WWT 2.2, 4.3, 10.4, 14.8 – 92

Goals: Gale 3, Binder 2, Cootee 2, F. Heard 2, Callow, C. Ling, Saunders