SANFLW Development League Grand Final

Norwood’s 2023 SANFLW Development League season came to a close in devastating circumstances on Saturday, going down to South Adelaide by seven points in the Grand Final at Coopers Stadium.

The Redlegs were undefeated up to this point across the seven-game season, but South proved too strong, winning 3.7-25 to 3.0-18.

It was a tough, close, contested battle as you would expect in a Grand Final, with neither side able to run away from the opposition.

Norwood won several SANFLW Development League games by big margins across the season, but knew it was going to be a challenge against South in the decider with the Round 2 game between the two sides decided by eight points – 1.10-16 to 1.2-8 in Noarlunga.

Round 2 was South’s only loss of the 2023 season.

South looked dangerous in the early stages, but kicked just one behind from its repeated forward entries.

Norwood set up an attacking play down the eastern wing, and was able to lock the ball in its forward line.

Kiana Lee nailed the Redlegs first goal from a 30m set shot towards The Parade End at the six-minute mark.

Hannah Murdoch kicked South’s first major of the Grand Final three minutes later, and it was game on.

Lee kicked an identical goal to her first at the 13-minute mark of the first term to give Norwood a five-point lead in what was shaping up to be a tough, physical game in hot conditions.

Georgina Birchall came charging out of the resulting centre clearance and Norwood started to show its dominance, proving why it was such a strong side this season.

Norwood went into quarter time leading 2.0-12 to 1.2-8.

Following a scrappy start to the second term from both sides, it was the Panthers who got the first goal on the board through Abby Woodward, helping South to a two-point lead.

Norwood continued to surge the ball forward late in the second term, and Steph Simmonds booted the Redlegs third goal just before half time to make it a three-point lead at the main break, 3.0-18 to 2.3-15.

It was a tense start to the third quarter with plenty of turnovers and holding the ball decisions, as both teams were desperate to get the ball forward.

The quarter remained goalless, with South the only side to hit the scoreboard with two behinds.

South trapped the ball in its forward line and Norwood defended with all its might with goal saving lunges, spoils, marks on the last line and big clearing kicks as the Redlegs club to a one point lead at three quarter time – 3.0-18 to 2.5-17.

As they threatened to do in the third term, the Panthers took the lead through a Jess Kirk goal in the opening minute of the final quarter.

Norwood was down by an even six points at the six-minute mark of the final term trailing 3.6-24 to 3.0-18, and a South behind made it a difficult seven points at the nine-minute mark.

The crowd started to have a big voice in the last five minutes, urging the home side on, but it was the Panthers who claimed the Development League victory.

Norwood 2.0, 3.0, 3.0, 3.0 – 18

South Adelaide 1.2, 2.3, 2.5, 3.7 – 25

Goals: Lee 2, Simmonds

Norwood went into its Round 8 SANFLW match against North Adelaide at Coopers Stadium hoping to make it five straight victories and cement their place in the top five, but the Roosters spoiled the party with a two-point win.

It was the Roosters second trip to Coopers Stadium this year – taking on Norwood in Round 1 where the visiting side claimed a high-scoring two-point win (7.10-52 to 7.8-50)… and Saturday afternoon went to a similar script.

North won the Round 8 game on Saturday in a high scoring tussle, 6.9-45 to 6.7-43.

The Roosters led by as much as 20 points early in the last quarter before Norwood started the comeback mission, with late goals to Coby Morgan and Shai Hiscock (two) making it a two-point ballgame.

North steadied with the match sealing goal through Sky Jansen to re-instate the margin to eight points with two and a half minutes on the clock.

Sachi Syme booted Norwood’s sixth goal with 20 seconds to go, but the siren sounded before the ball could get back to the centre, with the Roosters claiming a two-point win.

Tahlita Buethke and Ebony O’Dea both had 19 disposals for the Redlegs, while Ashlee Gould had 16.

Multiple goal kickers were Morgan and Hiscock, while Tesharna Maher and Syme were the other ones to impact the scoreboard.

Starting the game, Norwood controlled the first five minutes, but couldn’t capitalise on the scoreboard, kicking three behinds.

It was the Roosters who kicked the first goal of the contest against the flow, through Brittany Perry.

From there North dominated possession and time in forward half and went into quarter time with a 1.4-10 to 0.3-3 lead.

It could have been a lot worse for Norwood, with the Roosters missing several gettable goals.

North had all the leading ball winners on the ground in the first quarter, with Gould and Lana Schwerdt leading the way for Norwood with four disposals each.

The Redlegs needed to steady into the game and they did during the early stages of the second term, kicking the first two goals through Maher and Morgan.

North replied with a goal through Jansen to reduce the Norwood lead to two points, and Sarah Steele-Park booted a goal after the half time siren to give the visitors a five-point lead at the main break, 3.5-23 to 2.6-18.

The Roosters started to turn the screws in the third term, locking the ball in their forward half, leading the inside 50m entries 26-12 at the half way point of the third quarter.

Norwood managed to stay in the game through strong one on one defending.

North kicked the first two goals of the term, taking the lead out to 19 points at three quarter time, a tough margin to reel in on a hot day.

The Redlegs gave it their all with four last quarter goals, but it was North that clung onto its third win of the season.

Norwood 0.3, 2.6, 2.7, 6.7 – 43

North Adelaide 1.4, 3.5, 5.8, 6.9 – 45

Norwood Goals: Hiscock 2, Morgan 2, Maher, Syme