Norwood Flawless in 100-point win on the EP

Norwood was flawless in a 103-point demolition of West Adelaide in the Eyre Peninsula Cup game played at Port Lincoln’s Centenary Oval on Saturday. 

For the last five years, the Redlegs have taken a SANFL game to their Regional Zone of the Eyre Peninsula, and this year produced a near perfect performance in what was a 21.8-134 to 4.7-31 win.

Aside from the first five minutes of the game, Norwood dominated every facet of the Round 6 contest to make it four consecutive wins to move into the top three.

West Adelaide would have been disappointed in its effort, following a big win over reigning premiers Sturt last weekend. But, Norwood had +114 disposals, +16 tackles, +16 inside 50m entries and +63 mark, whilst putting on 29 scoring shots to 11 to demoralize the Bloods.

Westies started hot, registering four inside 50m entries to none in the opening five minutes, as Chris Burgess loomed large.

Burgess kicked the first goal of the game, but from there was hardly sighted (alongside the well-held Tom Scully) as Norwood ran riot, booting the next seven goals unanswered.

It was five goals to one at quarter time to set the tone, before the Redlegs really put the foot down in an outstanding second quarter.

Jackson Callow kicked the first goal of the second term, before Declan Hamilton rolled one through from the pocket. Local products Tristan Binder (Boston Bay) and Jayden Gale (Cummins) kicked the next three goals between them and it was a 50-point margin within the blink of an eye.

Charlie Molan hammered home Norwood’s sixth goal of the second term, and it was an unassailable 57-point lead at the main break, 11.6-72 to 2.3-15.

Baynen Lowe had played a brilliant first half, with 16 disposals and a goal, as the Redlegs did everything to move the ball through the corridor, often finding a target inside 50m as Callow and Binder were presenting on strong leads.

West Adelaide was rattled, and repeatedly bombed the ball inside 50m, directly to Norwood’s tall defenders, who were having a field day. Aaron Francis had 16 disposals and five marks, and Pierce Seymour 16 disposals and eight marks in the first half.

Josh Murphy decided it was a good time to get in on the action, and took hold of the third term, booting four of Norwood’s seven goals for the quarter (finishing with five for the game).

It was an imposing 97 points at the final break, and the Bloods were playing for pride alone in the final term. To their credit, they restricted the hot Norwood side to three goals in the final term, but it was enough to surpass the triple-figure margin.

Nik Rokahr was chaired off following his 100th SANFL game, with his usual reliable output of 27 disposals, seven tackles and eight clearances.

Francis finished with 32 touches and nine marks, and Seymour 30 disposals and 12 marks. Cooper Murley had 24 touches, and Alastair Lord 22.

The Redlegs had 10 individual goal kickers, Murphy finished with five, Binder four, Gale four, Molan two, while Callow, Hamilton, Matt Harms, Lord, Lowe and Alex Swinnerton each kicked one in a great day for Norwood.

The club would like to thank the Port Lincoln Football League for hosting our club for the fifth consecutive year of the Eyre Peninsula game.

Norwood 5.2, 11.6, 18.7, 21.8 – 134

West Adelaide 1.3, 2.3, 2.6, 4.7 – 31

Goals: Murphy 5, Binder 4, Gale 4, Molan 2, Callow, Hamilton, Harms, Lord, Lowe, Swinnerton each kicked one.