Round 15 SANFL Snapshot – Sunday

Norwood all but ended South Adelaide’s season after performing a great escape to win by three points at Flinders University Stadium.

Not for the first time this season, Redlegs forward Connor McLean influenced the contest at a critical juncture when he gave his side the lead with a snapped goal in the 26th minute of the final term.

The visitors seemed set to succumb to the desperate Panthers when Hayden Sampson kicked his third goal from a set shot 13 minutes earlier.

But Jade Rawlings’ men, playing with plenty of spirit chasing their fifth win in a row, went about pinching the premiership points when Nick Lowden kicked his first SANFL League goal on the run.

It trimmed the margin to just three points early in time-on before McLean’s moment of magic but the job wasn’t done yet for the Legs.

South surged the ball deep inside 50m and with the ball bouncing loose over the back of the pack, Panthers veteran Matthew Broadbent looked set to restore the lead by running into an open goal.

But unheralded Redleg Josh Richards timed his run to perfection to rush the ball through for a behind in the 28th minute.

It would be the last score of the game as Norwood settled itself into fourth place on the ladder with a 9-5 win-loss record.

Conversely, the Panthers – now placed seventh – are going to find it tough to sneak into the top five with a win-loss record of 6-8.

Amid an even team effort, Norwood had Nik Rokahr finishing with 22 disposals, four tackles and four clearances as Declan Hamilton notched a team-high 26 possessions and six tackles.

Redlegs wing Jay Rantall continued his great form with 19 possessions and five tackles while midfielder Jed Spence is settling back into the team nicely with 18 touches and eight tackles.

Broadbent was outstanding for South across half-back and pushing further up the ground for a match-high 29 disposals while Ben Heaslip worked hard for 24 touches, nine tackles and 10 clearances.

Sampson was a difference-maker by kicking three of his team’s six goals together with his 16 disposals and three clearances.