Norwood U18s kick off 2025 with impressive win

Norwood’s U18 campaign got off to the perfect start on Saturday morning with a 25-point win over South Adelaide at Norwood Oval. 

Originally scheduled for Saturday afternoon at The Summit Oval, the game was rescheduled to a 9:30am start at Norwood due to the extreme heat. None of this worried the Redlegs boys who charged to a 14.11-95 to 10.10-70 win.

2025 SANFL U18 State Academy player Balyn O’Brien was outstanding for the Redlegs in his role across Centre Half Back, taking five marks from his 12 disposals as a key pillar in defence.

Noah Daw was also terrific as a key position defender, as was Micah Kretschmer across half back.

Kretschmer had 17 disposals and kicked a goal, while also laying four tackles.

Midfielders Jim Kelly and Darcy Speyer started strongly with 19 disposals apiece. Kelly booted three goals and Speyer one.

First year U18 James Annese had 20 disposals in his first U18 match for the Redlegs, while Jeff Rozenbilds led the disposal count for Norwood with 24.

Norwood was the better team from the outset on Saturday, adapting quicker to the warm weather to boot five goals to two in the first term.

South did well to work its way into the match, with four second quarter goals to bring the margin back to six points at half time.

In a run of four straight goals, the Panthers hit the lead mid-way through the third quarter, and it was up to the hosts to respond.

After being challenged, the Redlegs got their mojo back and kicked seven consecutive goals to turn a five-point deficit into a match-high 38-point lead in less than a quarter and a half.

South kicked two goals to close the match and bring the final margin back to the four-goal mark.

After a tough season in 2024, it was important for the Redlegs to get off to a positive start in 2025, which was achieved on Saturday, kicking their highest score since Round 15, 2023.

Norwood travel to Richmond on Saturday for a Round 2 clash with West Adelaide, which also registered a Round 1 win over North Adelaide.

The U16 season gets underway this Saturday also, with Norwood facing the Bloods from 11:30am, followed by the U18s at 1:50pm.

Norwood 5.2, 7.5, 10.8, 14.11 – 95

South Adelaide 2.1, 6.5, 8.8, 10.10 – 70

Goals: Kelly 3, Stevenson 2, Annese, Gould, Kretschmer, Myall, Pearce, Scott, Seal, Speyer, Thompson

Best: O’Brien, Kretschmer, Speyer, Daw, Annese