Norwood and Glenelg play out thrilling draw

Norwood took on the top of the table Glenelg at Prospect Oval on Saturday, and nothing could split the two sides when the final siren blew with scores tied at 27 apiece.

It was a stunning afternoon for football, and both sets of players were left stunned when the game concluded at the Bays half forward line, scores locked at 4.3-27.

Norwood led for a large portion of the match, including by 10 points at quarter time and four points at half time, before Glenelg wrestled back momentum and the lead after half time.

Following three unanswered Glenelg goals, the Tigers led by six points at the final break and threatened to run away with the game. But, Redlegs forward Tesharna Maher nailed a goal under pressure at the mid-way point of the last quarter to give her side a one-point lead.

The last few minutes were a scramble, and Norwood gave away an anti-density free kick in the last 30 seconds of the contest, resulting in a Sam Franson shot 50m out. The Glenelg captain kicked it as long as she could, and the ball fell over the back of the pack 15m out from goal, which was taken through for a rushed behind to level the scores.

Norwood and Glenelg split the two premiership points, which ensured the Redlegs remained in the top four, with four minor round matches to come.

Glenelg remains on top of the ladder, three points ahead of South and Central District. Norwood’s fourth, one point ahead of West Adelaide in fifth, with a challenging last month to come against the Bulldogs, Eagles, Sturt, and the Bloods in a race to the finals.

On Saturday afternoon, Tahlita Buethke was again Norwood’s top ball winner with 23 disposals, while Shai Hiscock had a big game with 17 disposals, 12 tackles and four clearances.

Sarah Branford had 14 disposals, 10 tackles and four clearances. Emma Clark kicked two goals for the Redlegs, while Jade Halfpenny and Maher were the other goal kickers.

Coby Morgan was a late out and replaced with Nicola Burns before the first bounce.

Norwood had the better of the starts, winning five inside 50m entries to two, and eventually the Redlegs got the first goal on the board through a Clark snap.

Back in the side, Clark was making the most of her recall and had Norwood’s second goal, nailing a close range set shot.

The top side was under early pressure, but looked dangerous spreading and transitioning out of the contest, and they went forward from a contest at half back. Which was cut off by a Emily Bartsch tackle.

At quarter time, Norwood led 2.0-12 to Glenelg’s 0.2-2.

Buethke had five disposals in the first term, but the worrying sign was that the top three leading ball winners were wearing black and yellow. Jo Miller had eight, Jess Bates seven and Marie Martino six in the first quarter.

Bates (who recently won the best on ground medal for SA in the State game against the WAFL) ended with 29 disposals, an astonishing 23 tackles and 10 clearances, and Miller 26 touches, 16 tackles and nine clearances in an outstanding performances for the Tigers.

It was a contested game with Glenelg finishing with 120 tackles to Norwood’s 85.

It was a tight second term, neither side wanting to give an inch.

Jordan Horne got Glenelg’s first goal of the match at the 12-minute mark of the second quarter, before Norwood answered back quickly.

Jade Halfpenny took the ruck tap, smothered a defenders kick and then soccered a goal through to return the game to 10 points.

Tiger Eloise Mackereth kicked a timely goal on the half time siren, and it was a four-point game at the main break, 3.0-18 to 2.2-14.

Buethke had 11 disposals to half time, while Candice Belbin and Hiscock had nine apiece.

Norwood continued to dominate the marking game, 24-9, disposals 111-95, and inside 50m entries 12-9.

Glenelg owned the third term, kicking the only two goals of the quarter to reclaim the lead and head into the final break six points in front.

Hiscock laid an inspiring run down tackle in the forward 50m to start the quarter, showing Norwood’s intent to turn the tables. Unfortunately, she couldn’t convert the shot, which made the game a five-point margin.

Maher shrugged off a tackler and kicked the go-ahead goal for Norwood, but there was 10 minutes on the clock remaining.

It looked as if Norwood had done enough to claim the upset victory, but the anti-density ruling again turned the tide in the dying seconds of the contest.

Norwood takes on Central District at Elizabeth this Saturday afternoon, following the League match.

Norwood 2.0, 3.0, 3.2, 4.3 – 27

Glenelg 0.2, 2.2, 4.2, 4.3 – 27

Goals: Clark 2, Halfpenny, Maher