Norwood U16s upset the second placed Bulldogs

Norwood’s U16s side pulled off an impressive upset win over the second placed Central District in Elizabeth on Wednesday night.

U16 Coach Craig Roberts was blessed with the rare opportunity to select his strongest team (with Adelaide College School players available) which helped his side claim a 13.5-83 to 6.9-45 win.

Recent SA U16 representatives Jim Kelly and Jeff Rozenbilds both had a big impact on the contest. Kelly had 35 disposals, 16 marks and six clearances, while Rozenbilds had 32 disposals and three clearances.

Jack Hayter had 27 disposals, seven tackles and kicked a goal, while Mitchell Stevenson kicked three goals, and Jonty Thompson two goals from his 25 disposals and eight marks.

The game was in the balance at half time with Norwood leading by nine points, despite the Redlegs holding a 20-point advantage late in the second quarter.

Norwood put the foot down after half time, kicking six goals to one in the second half to run out 38-point winners.

The Redlegs juniors have two matches left in 2023, South Adelaide in Noarlunga on August 12 and finishing with West Adelaide at Norwood Oval on August 19.

Norwood 4.1, 7.2, 10.3, 13.5 – 83

Central District 2.2, 5.5, 5.8, 6.9 – 45

Goals: Stevenson 3, Strong 2, Thompson 2, Bartel, Hartwig, Hayter, Lake, O’Brien, Varcoe

Best: Kelly, Rozenbilds, Speyer, Ainsworth, Thompson

Central District’s U18s pounced on Norwood after half time to record a 28-point win over the Redlegs at Elizabeth on Wednesday night.

Norwood started brightly and led by as much as 19 points late in the second quarter, before Centrals went on to kick six unanswered goals to turn the game on its head and secure a 10.8-68 to 6.4-40 win.

Redlegs U16 talent Will Prescott kicked Norwood’s opening two goals of the game, while Jay Polkinghorne and Will Rowlands also kicked first half goals to give Norwood the ascendency.

Unfortunately, Rowlands’ second goal in the fourth term was the only Norwood major of the second half.

Rowlands, Polkinghorne and Prescott each finished with two goals apiece.

Jacob Newton had 30 disposals, eight tackles and four clearances, while Jacob Jones had 25 disposals and five clearances.

Norwood father-son prospect Jack Michalanney was named best on ground with 20 disposals, six marks and six tackles.

Jones, Rowlands, Jaidyn Mead and Calem Krollig were back in the U18 lineup after spending recent weeks in the Reserves.

Norwood is seventh, but two wins and percentage off the fourth placed Glenelg with two matches to play against the Bloods and Panthers.

Norwood 1.2, 5.2, 5.3, 6.4 – 40

Central District 1.1, 3.1, 8.3, 10.8 – 68

Best: Michalanney, Newton, Hills, Polkinghorne, Tomney

Goals: Prescott 2, Polkinghorne 2, Rowlands 2