Redlegs couldn’t rein in fast starting Crows

Adelaide’s first quarter blitz was the difference at Coopers Stadium on Saturday afternoon, and while Norwood spent all day pegging back the lead, it was the Crows that ran out 20-point winners.

The Crows kicked seven goals to two in the opening term to lead by a match-high 30 points, and from there managed to hold the Redlegs at arms length in the eventual 12.11-76 to 8.15-57 result.

The Redlegs goal kicking again cost them dearly as both sides managed 23 scoring shots apiece, whilst Norwood also won disposal +19, clearance +1 and inside 50m +6.

From the outset the Crows looked the more composed and polished side, as Matt Crouch, Luke Pedlar, Sid Draper and Lachie Sholl got them going in the first term.

Adelaide was a class above in the first 15 minutes of the match, and aside from the opening centre clearance where Baynen Lowe found Alec Wright 15m out (missed set shot), it was a domination.

The Crows punished that early Norwood miss, and kicked the first three goals of the contest within three minutes, and a fourth at the nine-minute mark.

The Redlegs were rattled 24 points in arrears and had to get something going.

Eventually Norwood found a second mark inside 50m through Izaak Twelftree, which led to the Redlegs first goal as Billy Cootee crumbed and snapped truly.

Nik Rokahr kicked the Redlegs second shortly after, which brought the margin back to 11 points mid-way through the term, and it looked like the home side was getting back in the contest.

The Redlegs were desperate to get to quarter time and re-group, but the Crows were having none of that. The visitors booted the final three goals of the quarter to lead by an imposing 28 points at the first break after a seven-goal quarter.

The quarter time score was 7.1-43 to 2.3-15, and despite the Redlegs winning clearance 12-6, tackles 22-15 and 12 inside 50m apiece, it was alarm bells for Norwood as Crouch had 10 disposals and Sholl nine who were looking damaging with ball in hand.

Norwood skipper Jacob Kennerley had nine disposals in the opening term.

The second term wasn’t one for the highlights reel, as Norwood dominated field position, for a return of just one major through Finn Heard.

Heard’s accurate set shot ended up being the only goal of the second term, as the Redlegs chipped away at the lead to trail by 21 at the main break, 7.5-47 to 3.8-26. However, it could have been far closer had the Redlegs kicked straight, booting 1.5 to the Crows 0.4.

Norwood again led clearances and inside 50m entries, but trailed by 21 points.

The Crows were able to make the Redlegs pay by kicking the first goal of the second half through Chris Burgess who was an imposing figure in the forward half.

Matthew Ling and Alastair Lord lifted in the third term and got Norwood going, taking the game on through the corridor for the first time in the afternoon.

The Redlegs dominated the large majority of the third quarter, but like the second couldn’t put the score on the board.

Cootee kicked his second goal through a set shot, and Tristan Binder found his first not long after to reduce the margin to 14 points.

As they did all day when Norwood put up a fight, Adelaide answered right back and Harry Schoenberg goaled just before three quarter time to make it a 20-point game at the final break.

Cootee kicked a third goal early in the fourth, followed by Binder’s second set shot major and suddenly Norwood had the run, the momentum and trailed by just seven points. It was the closest the Redlegs had been since the three-minute mark of the game.

Adelaide kicked three of the last four goals to pour cold water on any last minute fightback and all but secured third spot on the SANFL ladder.

Ling was excellent for Norwood with 33 disposals, and along with Cootee (24 disposals and three goals), Alastair Lord (15 disposals) and Kennerley (24 disposals), got Norwood back in the contest.

Norwood’s position on the table is well and truly up for debate, with Port Adelaide defeating West Adelaide to move to fifth. The Redlegs have dropped to seventh with a 5-10 record, with the Eagles to play Glenelg on Sunday.

The Redlegs face the last placed West Adelaide, eighth placed North Adelaide and fifth placed Port Adelaide in the final three games of the regular season.

Norwood 2.3, 3.8, 5.13, 8.15 – 63

Adelaide 7.1, 7.5, 9.9, 12.11 – 83

Goals: Cootee 3, Binder 2, Hamilton, F Heard, Rokahr

Best: M. Ling, Kennerley, Cootee, J. Heard, Rokahr

Norwood’s Reserves are knocking on the door of the top five after back to back wins, most recently an 86-point thumping of West Adelaide at Coopers Stadium on Saturday. 

A rejuvenated Redlegs side, chock full of young talent destroyed the Bloods 18.10-118 to 4.8-32. Norwood kicked five goals in the first term, and had the game won by half time when the home side had booted 10 goals to one to the main break.

20-year-old forward Jack Aherne kicked five goals in his best game for the club since relocating from Tasmania over the off-season.

U18 Will Prescott kicked three goals, while 20-year-old Daniel Gauci continued his strong run of form with another 32 disposals, nine  tackles and eight clearances. He’s also worked his way into life at The Parade after coming across from New South Wales this season, having averaged 31 disposals across his last four games.

U18s Jim Kelly and Micah Kretschmer had 14 disposals apiece, and Sam Ainsworth looked comfortable in the forward line with a goal from 10 touches.

19-year-old ruck Indhi Kotzur has been excellent since joining the club one month ago, having another 26 hitouts and 10 disposals.

The future is looking bright for the Redlegs, who are now well and truly in the hunt with three matches remaining this year.

Norwood sits one premiership point outside the top five (due to the R8 Draw), and take on the Bloods again this Saturday, before finishing the season against the third placed North Adelaide and fifth placed Sturt.

Norwood 5.3, 10.7, 14.9, 18.10 – 118

West Adelaide 1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 4.8 – 32

Goals: Aherne 5, Prescott 3, McLeod 2, Sanders 2, Ainsworth, D’Annunzio, Hill, Kelly, L. Ling, White

Best: Gauci, Aherne, Krollig, Prescott, Sanders