U18 Match Review Round 8 v Glenelg

By Chris O’Connor

This week saw plenty of change in our squad – with numerous omissions due to injuries and callups to the Reserves squad. However, in our first game of the second round of matches – our lads delivered a commanding performance.

Leading from the outset until the end, we looked in control with our swift ball movement and spread across Coopers Stadium. Unfortunately, another few lapses in concentration allowed the opposition back into the game – like South the week prior, however pleasingly our side showed grit and character to bare through their swings of momentum and overrun and outlast them.

This is a testament to the depth of our squad and the character we have. As Coach, I was really pleased to see the boys enjoy the win but know they could do much more. With strong showings from our forwards in Marcus Roberts and Jackson Murphy – the job was made easy for our much more composed midfielders in Henry Nelligan and Cooper Murley.

We also had two players debut in Alex Scali (3 goals and plenty of action in the contest) and Riley Verrall (first game up as U16 captain – really fighting his hardest and driving us forward). It was a pleasing result in the efforts from our depth players in what was the biggest change of line up all year. Our clear best on ground was Michael Cavallaro who provided some really damaging ball use at both ends of the ground. Sitting now a game clear at the top of the ladder, the boys know we are far from playing our best football and are really determined to see what we can play like when we are all at the top of our game.

Every week we will continue to demand better from ourselves – win, lose or draw. This week we return home again in a must-win clash against an in-form North Adelaide side – beginning at 11:30am.

SCOREBOARD:

NORWOOD: 4.1 7.2 11.7 13.10 (88)

GLENELG: 3.1 6.4 6.5 8.6 (54)

GOALS: Scali 3, Murphy 2, Roberts 2, Jones-Bobridge 2, McDonald, Joseph, Maunder, Murey

BEST: Michael Cavallaro, Henry Nelligan, Cooper Murley, Marcus Roberts, Jackson Murphy, Riley Verrall.