SANFLW and Junior Match Reports

Norwood led from start to finish to claim a comfortable 36-point victory over Sturt in the Round 9 SANFLW clash at Unley Oval on Saturday morning. 

Norwood and Sturt’s SANFLW sides had to contest with the worst weather of the weekend as heavy rain fell in Unley throughout the match, but it didn’t worry the Redlegs who charged to a 7.9-51 to 2.3-15 win.

It was an important win for Norwood, which was coming off a disappointing Round 8 loss to six-placed North Adelaide.

Heading into the contest both the Redlegs and Double Blues were aiming for their fifth wins of the year, and the victory helped Norwood consolidate a top three spot in a closely contested season.

South Adelaide is on top of the ladder with eight wins, followed by Centrals with seven and Norwood with five. Sturt and Glenelg both have four wins, while North has three wins in sixth place. The Eagles and West both have two wins.

On Saturday morning, Norwood broke away from Sturt in the second and third terms.

The Redlegs led by 17 points at half time, and kicked the first two goals of the second half to open up a match winning 31-point lead at the 15-minute mark of the third quarter.

Sturt steadied with a goal to Tessa Doumanis before three quarter time, but Norwood consolidated the win with fourth quarter majors to Lana Schwerdt and Amelia Rusden to claim the dominant victory in challenging conditions.

Port Adelaide listed players Sachi Syme (21 disposals and a goal) and Ebony O’Dea (20 disposals and a goal) were important for Norwood, while Tahlita Buethke and Schwerdt each had 17 disposals and one goal.

Norwood 1.2, 3.5, 5.8, 7.9 – 51

Sturt 1.0, 1.0, 2.1, 2.3 – 15

Goals: Buethke, Halfpenny, Johnston, O’Dea, Rusden, Schwerdt, Syme

Best: O’Dea, Buethke, Syme, Halfpenny, Branford

Norwood’s Junior sides played their first home games of the season on Saturday, having spent the first five rounds of 2023 “on the road”.

In the U18 match, both Norwood and Glenelg were searching for their fourth wins of the season, and it was the Tigers that got the job done by 46 points in the Round 6 contest.

This was a big game in the context of both sides seasons in what is an incredibly tight U18 ladder, with one win separating first and seventh – Glenelg rose to second with four wins (equal with first-placed Central District and third-placed Sturt), while Norwood sits seventh with three wins (equal with fourth-placed Eagles, fifth South Adelaide and sixth North Adelaide). West Adelaide is winless.

Norwood U18s Coach Alex Newell said his side was excited about playing their first game of 2o23 on their home deck.

“There was certainly an excitement and a ‘coming home’ feeling amongst the group as it had been long awaited,” he said.

“We came up against the Bays who are always a strong outfit in the junior programs and we embraced another challenge ahead of us.

“We put a focus on starting strong as we were yet to win a first quarter for the year from the first five games.”

The first quarter was an arm wrestle, which saw both teams head into the first break locked at 2.2-14 apiece, thanks to a goal on the siren by Redlegs midfielder Jacob Newton.

“We were really pleased with how the first quarter looked,” Newell said.

“We felt as though we controlled large parts of the first quarter and probably failed to capitalise on our forward 50m entries but the game was on terms early.”

The second quarter was a tight contest yet again, with neither team being able to break away from the other and each end.

Glenelg kicked a long goal after the siren from 60m, which gave the Tigers a nine-point buffer heading into the main break.

“Despite conceding a late goal before half time, we were incredibly pleased with how the first half played out and looked,” Newell said.

“Other than not converting our entries, it looked like a ‘Norwood game’ in almost every area.”

Declan Tomney was leading the way in the first half with his ability to win the ball at the source and Latrelle Sumner who was playing his first game of the season from the Eyre Peninsula was showing some electric signs in the forward half.

Norwood kicked the first goal of the second half through Jay Polkinghorne (who now has 10 goals to his name in 2023, equal second in the U18 League), but from there the game was dominated by the Tigers.

Glenelg kicked four goals to one in the third term to open up a commanding lead at the final break, and went on to kick the final three goals of the game in the fourth quarter to run out 11.14-80 to 5.4-34 winners.

“The second half we went away from some of the things that had us in the contest in the first half, to Glenelg’s credit they lifted their workrate and output and forced us into turning the ball over in areas that were dangerous to them,” Newell said.

“We weathered a fair chunk of the storm but in the end they kicked seven goals to our two in the second half.”

Captain Jacob Jones was instrumental in his performance, laying eight tackles and generating four clearances on top of his 25 disposals.

Darci Best provided plenty of drive off half back with 21 disposals and a goal, and defender Cody Duncan took six intercept marks from his 13 disposals. Newton had 23 disposals and a goal.

“It wasn’t the return to The Parade we wanted, but our season is still well are truly alive at 3-3 in an extremely even competition,” Newell said.

“We say goodbye to our college players for the next eight weeks, and albeit unfortunate to do so it’s an opportunity for some others to get their opportunities.”

Norwood’s junior sides take on North Adelaide at Prospect Oval in Round 7 – Sunday, May 7. U18 10am, U16 12:30am.

Norwood 2.2, 3.2, 4.4, 5.4 – 34

Glenelg – 2.2, 4.5, 8.7, 11.14 – 80

Goalkickers: Sumner 2, Best, Newton, Polkinghorne

Best: Jones, Tomney, Sumner, Duncan, Best

There was a slice of individual brilliance when Norwood took on Glenelg in the SANFL U16s clash at Norwood Oval on Saturday, helping the Redlegs to a much needed 20-point win.

Toby Callow booted five goals from his 18 disposals, while Jeff Rozenbilds had 35 disposals, seven clearances and one goal; Jim Kelly 33 disposals; and Jack Hayter 32 disposals and 13 tackles.

Robert Varcoe kicked three goals and laid seven tackles, while Noah Daw and Will Prescott were the other multiple goal scorers with two each.

Norwood had just one victory heading into the Round 6 clash with the Tigers, who had been one of the standout teams of the U16 competition, sitting in second position with four wins.

It was a low scoring, close contest up until half time where Norwood held a slender one point lead at the main break.

Callow had three of Norwood’s four goals in the first half.

The Redlegs were able to charge away from the Tigers after half time, mainly due to the home team’s ability to kick straight in front of goal.

Norwood booted 10.2 to Glenelg’s 6.7 after half time, and the final scoreline read 14.4-88 to 9.14-68, with the Tigers registering 23 scoring shots to 18.

Norwood 2.0, 4.2, 8.2, 14.4 – 88

Glenelg 1.5, 3.7, 5.12, 9.14 – 68

Goals: Callow 5, Varcoe 3, Daw 3, Prescott 2, O’Brien, Rozenbilds

Best: Jim Kelly, Jack Hayter, Jeff Rozenbilds, Toby Callow, Darcy Speyer