Match Report – Panos match winner downs the Crows

A Matthew Panos four goal haul has inspired Norwood to an incredible come from behind win against the Adelaide Crows at The Parade on Friday night.

After a 628-day absence due to an ACL injury sustained in August 2020, the classy forward didn’t miss a beat booting three goals before halftime, including the match winner with only 40 seconds to run on the clock.

The League leaders Adelaide led by as much as 15-points with three minutes to go after Harry Schoenberg made no mistake of his set shot from 40 metres out.

With their backs against the wall, key forward Connor McLean nailed back-to-back goals, the second a classy snap set shot from the pocket, to bring the margin back to one-point in the 27th minute.

With all to play for, the Redlegs played on at all costs as Jay Rantall found a vacant Panos from 45 metres, which saw him stride into all but cement a vital Norwood victory and amazing comeback in front of the home faithful.

The Redlegs despite conceding the first major of the match courtesy of Tarek Newchuch, kicked the following three majors to lead by 11-points at the first break.

The second term sawgoal for goal as the Redlegs continued to fight against several AFL listed names. Panos had his second for the match in the tenth minute before Eyre Peninsula products Jacob Kennerley and Ben Jarvis booted goals to hand Norwood an 11-point buffer at the main break.

The third term saw Adelaide control majority of the play as ruckman Kieran Strachan started to influence the contest with contested marks and delivering first use of the football to his on-ballers.

Despite an early goal in the quarter to Baynen Lowe, Adelaide was admirable in their fightback as Lachie Gollant and James Borlase kicked crucial goals to bring Norwood within touching distance.

Patrick Parnell, Lachie Sholl and Harry Schoenberg began to show their class as they continued to find the football and deliver it inside 50.

With all to play for in the final term, Norwood needed to be strong at the contest to deny what would be a seventh Adelaide win.

A pair of goals to forward Elliot Himmelberg stretched the Crows’ lead to 13 points in the 23rd-minute mark of the final term but that was when McLean and Panos stepped in with their late-game heroics.

Then it was Panos’ time to shine as he found space to mark on the lead at half-forward, turn and run to 50m before letting fly from long range to see his kick bounce through for a memorable six-pointer.

The 31-year-old finished with 16 disposals, four marks, four clearances and three tackles together with his match-defining scoreboard contribution.

With captain Matthew Nunn missing with illness, the Redlegs’ midfielders stepped up to share the load as Jay Rantall (23 disposals), Nik Rokahr (21 disposals) and Declan Hamilton (18 disposals) all did their bit for the cause.

Unfortunately, Norwood lost defender Lochie Charlton early in the game with an ankle injury with the severity of the injury not determined yet.

The Redlegs now shift their attention to Saturday’s clash with North Adelaide at Prospect Oval.

SCOREBOARD:

NORWOOD: 3.1 6.3 7.5 10.7 (67)

ADELAIDE: 1.2 4.4 6.5 9.8 (62)

BEST: Mclean, Heard, Rantall, Ball, Panos, Morris

GOALS: Panos 4, McLean 2. Jarvis, Kennerley, Lowe, Nelligan