Norwood Reserves leap into the top five

Norwood has leaped into the top five on the SANFL Reserves Ladder after a 35-point win over West Adelaide at Coopers Stadium on Saturday, making it three consecutive victories for the Redlegs. 

The home side overcame a slow start, going goalless for the first quarter and a half, before booting the next four goals to take the momentum away from the Bloods.

Norwood ended up running away with an 11.14-80 to 6.9-45 win, its sixth of the SANFL Reserves campaign.

The win helped Norwood leapfrog Sturt to claim fifth place on the ladder with two matches against North Adelaide and the Double Blues to come.

Daniel Gauci was again named best on ground with 32 disposals, 10 tackles, 11 clearances and a goal. The 20-year-old NSW recruit has been outstanding in the Reserves across his last five games, averaging 32 disposals and seven clearances, as he continues to knock the door down for a League call-up.

Ethan Warburton was the leading disposal winner on the ground with 33 disposals, and Dom White 32.

The Reserves have continued to play the youth, with four U18s taking to the field on Saturday, including Jim Kelly who was named fourth best with 23 disposals, Will Prescott with one goal, Micah Kretschmer with 16 touches and a goal, and All Australian U18 ruck Sam Ainsworth who was a handful for the Bloods in attack with three goals.

Ainsworth had five shots on goal and took six marks (three contested) from his 14 disposals.

Norwood held the Bloods to three goals in the opening three terms, and kicked out to a match high 46-point lead early in the last quarter, before the visitors finished strongly with three late goals.

Norwood travels to Prospect Oval on Saturday to take on the third placed Roosters in another must win game, before hosting Sturt in Round 19 in a game that could decide who makes the top five.

Norwood 0.2, 3.9, 7.11, 11.14 – 80

West Adelaide 1.5, 1.6, 3.8, 6.9 – 45

Goals: Ainsworth 3, L. Ling 2, Gauci, Hill, Kretschmer, Prescott, Saunders, Turner

Best: Daniel Gauci, Liam Ling, Mitchell Jenkin, Jim Kelly, Max Hodges