Norwood claims six-point win in SANFL Trial

Norwood took on North Adelaide in the first SANFL Trial Match of the 2024 campaign in stinking hot conditions at Coopers Stadium on Saturday morning. 

The Redlegs led for most of the contest and came away with a 8.9-57 to 7.9-51 victory.

Xavier Tranfa kicked two goals, while Mitch Carroll, Billy Cootee, Izaak Twelftree, Goy Lok, Finn Heard and Jackson Callow where the other goal kickers.

Off-season recruits Mitch O’Neill (South Adelaide) and Dom White (Tasmania) looked good through the midfield, while Cootee (Essendon) was lively in a forward-midfield role – kicking a nice goal from 50m towards The Parade End.

22-year-old key forward Twelftree (who played two SANFL games last season) took some strong marks in the forward line, as did full forward Callow who had several shots at goal during the second half. Callow will be hoping for more continuity in his football this season following an injury plagued return to Norwood last year.

Small forwards Tranfa and Henry Nelligan also looked dangerous when the ball hit the deck.

Others to pull on the Norwood guernsey for the first time were Jordon Boyle (West Adelaide), Zac Morris (Tasmania), George McLeod (Sturt), and Jordan Neal (PAC), while Alastair Lord (Essendon) and Cooper Murley (Collingwood) had good first hitouts in their return to the club from the AFL.

The Reserves Trial was cancelled due to heat.

Norwood plays its next Trial Match on Saturday, March 16 (1:10pm) against South Adelaide in Noarlunga.

TRIAL MATCH 1 SCORES:

Norwood 3.2, 6.5, 7.6, 8.9 – 57

North Adelaide 3.0, 4.2, 6.5, 7.9 – 51

Goals: Tranfa 2, M Carroll, Cootee, Twelftree, Lok, F Heard, Callow

Trial Match Team: