Norwood is through to the SANFLW Prelim

Norwood will play Glenelg in next week’s SANFLW Preliminary Final following a spirited come from behind five-point win over Central District at Noarlunga on Saturday. 

The Redlegs trailed by 12 points during the third term, and by eight points at three quarter time before two last quarter goals to Adrienne Davies and Emma Clark turned the tide in Norwood’s favour in the Elimination Semi Final.

Norwood was the more composed side in a thrilling final term, but Central District maintained the lead until the 12-minute mark when Clark dribbled a goal through from a ball-up in the goal square to put her side four points in front.

The Redlegs went on to win 6.4-40 to 5.5-35 to continue their finals run, and cut the reigning premiers season short.

Bulldogs forward Katelyn Rosenzweig threatened to tear the game away from the Redlegs in the third quarter, when she kicked three goals in three minutes.

The former Adelaide Crows forward had a huge afternoon with 16 disposals, 10 marks and the three third quarter goals that took her side from six points behind to 12 points in front.

Rosenzweig was marking everything that came her way, and had several other shots that (luckily for Norwood) didn’t trouble the scoreboard.

Tahlita Buethke had 25 disposals for Norwood and Kiana Lee 18, while Davies kicked two important goals from her 12 disposals.

Centrals started the better side with the first six inside 50m entries of the game, finding Rosenzweig in dangerous scoring zones.

The Bulldogs kicked two early behinds, keeping Norwood in the contest.

After nine minutes and on the sixth venture inside 50m, the Bulldogs finally kicked the first goal of the game through Tarly Borgas.

Laitiah Huynh had eight disposals in the first 10 minutes for the Bulldogs.

Norwood was under the pump, but managed to transition the ball through the midfield, and finding Candice Belbin 30m out.

Belbin’s set shot dropped short, but the ball fell onto Lana Schwerdt’s boot and through for a goal. It took a bit of luck, but Norwood was on the board.

After a slow start, and early dominance from Centrals, Norwood trailed by just one point at the first break, 1.2-8 to 1.1-7.

The Bulldogs led inside 50m entries 10-6 and marks 13-8, but despite that disparity the other major statistics were even.

Huynh had 11 to quarter time, while Sarah Branford was Norwood’s leading disposal winner with six touches.

Centrals threatened the goalface early in the second term, but it was Norwood that drew first blood with Amelia Rusden nailing a set shot at the southern end.

Rusden’s shot gave the Redlegs the lead for the first time, 2.2-14 to 1.2-8.

In similar fashion to last week, Lee was having a huge impact on the game.

She had two set shots within a couple of minutes, which both missed, but she threatened to take the game away from the Dogs like she did to West Adelaide in Round 14.

Centrals turned over the kick out straight to Davies, but she couldn’t capitilise. Norwood needed to make the most of its chances, and weren’t.

Redlegs forwards Lee and Davies looked ominous, but down the other end it was Rosenzweig who was threatening to tear the game apart for the Bulldogs.

She marked and had another shot on goal, which dropped short. But it fell in the lap of Dakota Williams, who goaled from close range to level the scores at 2.3-15 apiece.

Scores remained level at half time, and Norwood started the second half hot.

The Redlegs had the first goal on the board within the first two minutes, when Davies nailed a 30m set shot.

A minute later a flying shot from Jade Halfpenny just snuck across the face, but signs were good for the Redlegs who had well and truly worked their way into the contest.

Rosenzweig popped up again for Centrals, taking a strong mark back with the flight and going back to kick her side’s third goal to again level the scores at 3.3-21 apiece.

From the centre bounce, Centrals went forward again and Rosenzweig found space 25m directly in front. She took her seventh mark and booted her second goal.

Norwood needed to do something about the Bulldogs leading goal kicker.

The Dogs transitioned along the wing, and found Rosenzweig once again. She marked on her chest and booted her third goal in three minutes.

Centrals led by 12 points and it seemed the Bulldogs were one goal away from breaking Norwood as three quarter time approached.

The Redlegs managed to get one back, as Coby Morgan goaled just three minutes before the final break to get the margin back to six points.

A late 25m penalty nearly proved costly for Norwood as the ball was marched to Centrals 50m line. The ball ended up in Rosenzweig’s hands again, who’s set shot missed narrowly.

Sounding like a broken record, Rosenzweig had yet another set shot from a down field free kick, which to Norwood’s relief drifted to the left.

At three quarter time it was an eight-point lead to the Bulldogs, 5.5-35 to 4.3-27 thanks to a three goal to two term.

Norwood got the first goal of the last quarter to draw within two points. Shai Hiscock kicked a high floating ball into the goal square, which was marked one handed by Davies.

Norwood went inside 50m from the centre bounce, and set up well at half forward to mark any rebound 50m attempts.

Norwood looked the more composed side, and it seemed inevitable that the Redlegs would have another chance to hit the lead.

The chance came when Clark dribbled through Norwood’s sixth goal from a ball-up in the goal square. Clark’s goal put Norwood in front by four points with six minutes to play.

The Bulldogs never went away and kept pushing for the go-ahead goal, but Norwood’s defense stood tall.

Rusden had a chance to ice the game, but hit the post. Luckily the siren blew a minute later as the ball sat at Centrals half forward line.

The Redlegs face the Tigers in the Preliminary Final, who were convincingly beaten by minor premiers South Adelaide 6.5-41 to 1.7-13.

The Panthers booked their spot in another Grand Final, having lost to Central District in last season’s decider.

Norwood 1.1, 2.3, 4.3, 6.4 – 39

Central District 1.2, 2.3, 5.5, 5.5 – 35

Goals: Davies 2, Morgan, Rusden, Schwerdt, Clark

Best: Belbin, Lee, Buethke, Davies, Hiscock