Norwood get home in a thriller to claim first SANFLW win

Norwood is on the board in the 2025 SANFLW season, with a thrilling four-point win over North Adelaide at Hisense Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Keen to rebound from back to back disappointing losses in Rounds 1 and 2, the Redlegs took on a much-improved North Adelaide side (which had last week knocked off the reigning premiers South Adelaide), but rose to the challenge to claim a 3.5-23 to 3.1-19 victory.

On a breezy day at Hisense Stadium, the wind had an impact as it blew strongly towards the city end.

Kicking with the wind in the first term, the Roosters went inside 50m six consecutive times in the opening eight minutes, and the Redlegs defenders did well to ensure there was no scoring opportunities.

Norwood co-captain Stephanie Simmonds had four tackles and Sarah Branford four disposals in the first four minutes of the game, in what was a highly contested contest.

Veteran Redlegs defender Ashlee Gould chopped off a couple of North forward forays, but the Roosters had set up well behind the ball which made it hard for Norwood to break through the half back line.

It took Norwood 15 minutes to gain a forward 50m entry, as the Redlegs started to move the ball up the field with short precise kicks.

It was a scoreless first term, which the Redlegs would have taken and run with given the 2-7 inside 50m count. Clearances were even, while Norwood’s slow ball movement meant it was leading marks 12-4 and disposals 59-41. It was a high-tackle first quarter 26-24 in Norwood’s favour.

Something had to give, and Norwood found the breakthrough goal off the boot of ruck Kate Alexander, who had a fantastic afternoon with 14 disposals, three tackles and three clearances.

It was a different game on the other side of quarter time as Norwood had the wind advantage, and Alexander’s goal sparked the Redlegs, who had five consecutive inside 50m entries.

The Redlegs had two more shots from Amelia Rusden (behind) and Kiana Lee (no score), but Norwood had found a spark.

Against the run of play, North went down the other end and with its first inside 50m entry of the quarter and Tiara Hatchard ran into an open goal.

It was one way traffic as Grace Whittaker had another shot on goal for the Redlegs, before Georgina Birchall kicked a cracking bouncing goal under pressure to make it 2.2-14 to 1.0-6 just before half time.

Norwood would have been thrilled with its work in the second term, and ready to go into half time with an eight-point lead, but Polly Turner said otherwise, kicking another North goal in the dying minutes of the term.

The Redlegs were lucky that two more North shots missed, with one hitting the post, and Norwood went into the main break one point in front, 2.2-14 to 2.1-13.

Alexander and Sophie Armitstead had nine disposals each in the first half for Norwood, while Sophie Arkun, Branford, Emma Clark and Shai Hiscock had seven apiece.

Back in the side this week from an elbow injury, Hiscock shook off an early hit early in the first term to have an impact on the game.

Laela Evert and Djimila Totham had eight touches each for North to half time.

At the half-way point, Norwood led disposals 111-82, marks 16-10 and clearances 17-13, while North led inside 50m 11-13. Tackles were even 46-46.

What could Norwood do into the wind in the third term?

The Redlegs had no trouble moving the ball inside 50m into the wind early in the third term, but couldn’t make an impact on the scoreboard. From there it was all North.

The Roosters managed the first goal of the quarter from Zara Molloy, making it back to back majors for North and the lead for the first time in the afternoon.

Mid-way through the third quarter North led 3.1-19 to 2.2-14, but the Redlegs were coming home with the wind at their back.

North had 11-3 inside 50m entries in the opening 13 minutes of the third quarter, but it was a return of just one scoring shot, the Molloy goal.

In a huge momentum killer for North Adelaide, Norwood transitioned the ball nicely from end to end, finishing in a Kiana Lee goal to take the lead back.

North went inside 50m 12-4 in the third term, so Norwood did an incredible job to turn for home leading by one point, 3.2-20 to 3.1-19.

Lee’s third quarter goal looked to be the deciding factor, as the game was goalless in the final quarter, as Norwood could manage just one behind to extend its lead to two points.

Charlee Brooksby won a clearance and belted the ball inside 50m, once again in Lee’s direction but the ball rolled through for a minor score.

Lee was everywhere, finding another set shot on the boundary line which was touched on the line, with this Norwood led by four points with four minutes to go.

North went forward and found repeat inside 50m entries in what was a stressful final couple of minutes.

Norwood’s defenders did well to keep rebounding the ball, and finally Lana Schwerdt won a free kick from a boundary throw in at half back as the siren rang on a four-point victory.

Branford finished with a game-high 20 disposals, while Brooksby had 15.

The Redlegs head to Woodville Oval next Saturday (11:50am start), on what is a triple header with SANFL Reserves (2pm) and League (4:40pm) matches to follow.

Norwood 0.0, 2.2, 3.2, 3.5 – 23

North Adelaide 0.0, 2.1, 3.1, 3.1 – 19

Goals: Alexander, Birchall, Lee

Best: Alexander, Bartsch, Simmonds, Belbin, Hiscock

Norwood suffered its first loss of the Development League season on Sunday afternoon at Hisense Stadium, with North Adelaide claiming a 24-point win.

It was a windy day at Richmond, but North managed the conditions better than the Redlegs in the 6.1-37 to 1.7-13 victory.

Norwood was on top early, with four scoring shots to one in the opening term, for a return of just 1.3-9 to 1.0-6.

The Redlegs troubles in front of goal continued across the second and third quarters, and at three quarter time it was the Roosters leading 3.0-18 to 1.6-12.

It was North Adelaide’s day as it slammed home three unanswered goals in the final quarter to run out winners by four goals.

Amalie Innes, Minerva Bailey, Ellie Poke, Elke Cameron and Emma Hartung was Norwood’s best.

The loss dethroned Norwood as the top side, with South Adelaide leaping ahead based on percentage.

The Panthers and Redlegs are both 4-1 with two minor rounds to play, while Glenelg and Sturt are tracking closely behind on 3-2.

It was a big win for North, securing a second win of the season.

Norwood finish the home and away season with games against Woodville-West Torrens at Woodville this Saturday, and Sturt on Good Friday.

Norwood 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7 – 13

North Adelaide 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 6.1 – 37

Best: Innes, Bailey, Poke, Cameron, Hartung

Goals: Roberts