Norwood, 2024 Reserves Premiers

Norwood has claimed the 2024 SANFL Reserves Premiership with a 16-point win over Sturt in Sunday’s Grand Final.

Both sides kicked incredibly inaccurately, but Norwood less-so in a strange 7.14-56 to 4.16-40 encounter.

It was Norwood’s 21st Reserves Flag.

The Redlegs had a lot to do to just be in Sunday’s contest at Adelaide Oval, needing to turn around a 67-point loss against Sturt in the Semi Final a fortnight ago.

After a 16-minute goalless start, Norwood managed to settle and get the first goal on the board when Jay Polkinghorne walked into an open goal.

Norwood dominated the rest of the term for a return of 1.3, before Liam Robinson kicked a goal just before quarter time.

The Redlegs led 2.4-16 to 0.1-1 at quarter time, and led most of the key numbers – marks 22-6, inside 50m entries 14-7 and disposals 108-64 in a dream start to the Grand Final.

Isaac Saywell had an outstanding start with 13 disposals in the first term.

The second quarter started the same as the first, going goalless for the first eight minutes as both sides struggled to convert key opportunities in front of goal.

Sturt needed something to go its way and Alex Holt nailed a 60m goal that trickled over the line.

Norwood started to get on top in the clearances, and also continued to transition the ball inside 50m, but it was breaking down with the final kick.

Sturt had steadied into the contest and found a second goal through Luca Slade to reduce the margin to four points, 2.7-19 to 2.3-15.

Norwood found repeated entries and finally after three consecutive behinds in the second term, the Redlegs got their first goal of the second term when Jayden Gale snapped it through.

It was an important goal for the Redlegs, who had dominated the first half but led by just four points, before Gale put the margin out to 10.

The Double Blues then got the wobbles in front of goal with three consecutive behinds before half time.

Norwood led 3.7-25 to 2.6-18 at the main break, and also led every key stat, including inside 50m 28-16, disposals 183-126, clearances 18-14, marks 40-23 and tackles 32-31.

Luke Bogle had 19 disposals to half time, and Saywell 18 disposals. Ben Simpson had 13 disposals and four clearances.

Norwood kicked the first of the second half through Liam Robinson to extend the margin to 13 points.

Sturt had ample opportunities to kick the next one but could only manage four behinds in a scrappy affair.

After a quarter that had a combined 1.8 between the two sides and a number of other shots that didn’t score, Robinson booted his third major to put the Redlegs up by 15 points at the 20-minute mark.

Polkinghorne kicked a second after the three quarter time siren, and it looked like Norwood was home.

The Redlegs led by 21 points, but it was a crazy game and anything was possible.

Again there was three straight behinds to start the last term, before Sturt’s McCormack kicked the first goal of the last to give the Double Blues a sniff, 14 points down.

Saywell kicked the sealer at the 14-minute mark, putting Norwood up by 23 points.

Charlie Parker kicked a late goal for Sturt, but it was all too late as Norwood went on to clinch its 21st Reserves Flag.

Saywell received the best on ground medal, with 30 disposals and a goal.

Robinson was outstanding with three goals, and Polkinghorne two.

Norwood 2.4, 3.7, 6.9, 7.14 – 56

Sturt 0.1, 2.6, 2.12, 4.16 – 40

Goals: Robinson 3, Polkinghorne 2, Saywell, Gale,

Best: Saywell, Graham, Robinson, Simpson, Gillow