Tough day for Norwood juniors

The return of Adelaide College Football saw more than a dozen changes to both Norwood’s U18s and U16s teams from the previous Round against Central District.

This saw both Redlegs sides struggle against South Adelaide at Noarlunga on Saturday.

Norwood’s U18s went down by 40 points in a low-scoring tussle with the Panthers, 7.16-58 to 2.6-18 with the Redlegs lucky the home side didn’t fully capitalise in front of goal.

Jaidyn Mead – who has spent recent time up in the Reserves – had 28 disposals and kicked a goal for the Redlegs, while Grant Catalano had 24 disposals, one goal, 14 tackles and five clearances.

Anthony Mustaca also made his presence felt with 19 disposals and 14 tackles as Norwood laid 137 tackles for the afternoon.

Scores were level at quarter time (1.1 apiece) before South put the foot down, kicking the next six goals of the contest to put the game out of reach for Norwood.

The win helped South Adelaide to the top of the U18s ladder with one round to play, while Norwood sit in seventh spot with a 7-10 win-loss record.

Norwood will finish its junior season against the bottom-placed West Adelaide at The Parade on Saturday, U18s 1:15pm and U16s 11am.

Norwood 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, 2.6 – 18

South Adelaide 1.1, 5.6, 6.10, 7.16 – 58

Best: Catalano, Scott, Muscata, Johnston

Goals: Mead, Catalano

Darcy Speyer’s 41 disposals was a shining light in an otherwise rough day for Norwood’s U16s in Noarlunga.

Speyer led all disposal winners on the ground with 24 kicks, 17 handballs, 11 marks, four tackles and three clearances in a day where Norwood lost by 97 points to South Adelaide.

Troubled by 16 team changes from the previous week’s win over the second placed Central District (due to Adelaide College Football), Norwood was no match for South Adelaide which kept the Redlegs goalles until the third term.

Elliott Gavin was the sole goal kicker, while Bailey Stringer had 21 disposals and 11 tackles, and Micah Kretschmer 20 disposals and seven tackles.

Norwood 0.0, 0.0, 1.2, 1.2 – 8

South Adelaide 2.6, 6.10, 10.17, 14.21 – 105

Best: Speyer, Stringer, Kretschmer, Varcoe, James

Goals: Gavin