SANFL Teams – Round 15

Norwood hosts Central District in a top-four battle at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.

There’s a lot on the line for both sides. A fifth straight win to the Redlegs would go a long way to securing a top three-double chance spot come finals, while a Bulldogs win will all-but secure a top five berth, and help them stay in touch with the top three.

The game at The Parade gets underway from 2:10pm (Reserves 11:30am) on Saturday, July 20.

Cooper Murley will miss the Round 15 clash through a one-week suspension, while Max Hodges, Oliver Sanders, Dom White and Alex van Wyk are the In’s selected on the extended bench.

If selected, it would be SANFL debuts for White and van Wyk.

White’s been averaging 21 disposals across his 12 Reserves matches in his first year at the club, including 24 disposals in last week’s Round 14 Reserves loss to Glenelg.

van Wyk is third in the Reserves league for hit-outs in 2024, averaging 28 hit outs, 16 disposals and five marks from his 11 matches.

Sanders has been in great touch over the last month, having returned from a pre-season ankle injury, averaging 26 disposals from his four Reserves games between Rounds 11 and 14.

Norwood will be aiming for its fifth straight win, with the last four matches coming against the bottom four sides, Port Adelaide, South Adelaide, West Adelaide and Adelaide for an average winning margin of 65 points.

This week will be a different challenge, as the Redlegs face a Bulldogs side that’s won four of their last five matches. Centrals fixture has been similar to Norwood’s with the last five weeks coming against the Eagles (win), Panthers (win), Magpies (win), Crows (loss) and Bloods (win).

Centrals are off a six-point win over the Bloods, and Norwood a 63-point win over the Crows.

The Bulldogs will also be looking to avenge a 50-point defeat at the hands of Norwood in Elizabeth in Round 7, a game where the Redlegs piled on 11-third quarter goals to turn a 12-point half time lead into an 82-point three quarter time margin.

2023 Magarey Medalist Harry Grant didn’t play for the Bulldogs in Round 7, but has been a strong contributor over the past month, while Bulldogs forward Aiden Grace is another one to watch. Grace is currently leading the Ken Farmer Medal with 28 goals, with three bags of three goals coming in the last month.

Norwood’s Baynen Lowe has been in scintillating form over the past month, kicking seven goals and averaging 25 disposals in a midfield role, while Matthew Ling’s form has been outstanding across the last fortnight, averaging 31 disposals, since returning from a three-game suspension.

Key forward Tristan Binder returns to the Reserves side following a three-game suspension.

The Reserves are looking to rebound from a 13-point loss to Glenelg last Saturday.