Norwood edge out Magpies in SANFL epic
Norwood players with that premiership feeling. Image by Michael Errey.
Norwood has clung on to win its third premiership in succession, edging out Port Adelaide by four points in a classic Grand Final at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Displaying great poise and experience during a tense final term, the Redlegs claimed their 30th flag with an outstanding team performance.
In front of the largest crowd at an SANFL Grand Final in 15 years, Ben Warren’s charges created history by becoming the first Norwood outfit to win three flags in succession since 1887-89.
Led by Jack Oatey Medallist Matthew Panos, who was a tower of strength in the midfield, the Redlegs had a better spread of contributors throughout the afternoon.
Panos, who has had a quiet finals series, exploded when it mattered most to tally 28 disposals and a match high 12 clearances as he got his team moving.
Captain Kieran McGuinness, possibly playing his last game for the club, showed tremendous poise in defence while also receiving great support from unheralded Andrew Kirwan, who collected his third premiership medal in his 50th league match.
In attack, Simon Phillips was very lively to kick three goals while also applying great defensive pressure while Liam Davis and Michael Newton controlled the air.
Port skipper Steven Summerton put up a strong performance for his beloved Magpies, gaining important touches late in the game to finish with 25 disposals and eight marks.
Former Gold Coast Sun Nathan Krakouer was a handful at both ends of the ground while Power-listed Kane Mitchell, Ben Newton and Aaron Young all had their moments.
The Magpies, seeking their first premiership since 1999, were brave after coming from back from a 22-point deficit at the first break.
But in the tense final moments, the Pies’ lack of urgency and presence of mind to run the ball with speed played a role in succumbing to their arch-enemy.
After momentum swung during the first half, both sides traded blows on the scoreboard during the third quarter.
Norwood jumped out to a two-goal break after Michael Newton kicked truly in the second minute before Magpie forward Mason Shaw tied up the scores with his set shot six minutes later.
Norwood bolted out of the blocks with a rampant first quarter, kicking three goals in the opening 10 minutes to put the Magpies on the back foot.
Key forward Liam Davis looked dangerous early with two majors from strong marks while lively goalsneak Simon Phillips was also in the game for the Redlegs.
Phillips booted his second goal of the game at the 20-minute mark which put his side in front by 29 points before Karl Amon registered the Pies’ first with a 10m snap 26 minutes into the opening stanza.
But after the first change, the Magpies surged back into the match with hard-running Aaron Young booting two much needed goals within the first seven minutes of the second term.
By the time Port captain Steven Summerton converted a 25m set shot from a nice mark on the lead his side had surprisingly hit the front.
The Redlegs wrestled back the lead just before half-time after Callum Bartlett snapped truly to take a six-point lead into the main change.
SCOREBOARD
Norwood 5.1 7.7 11.8 12.10 (82)
Port 1.3 6.7 10.10 11.12 (78)
BEST – Norwood: Panos, McGuinness, Baulderstone, Smart, Phillips, Webber, Allan, Kirwan.
Port: Summerton, Mitchell, Newton, Krakouer, Clurey, Stevenson, Gray.
GOALS – Norwood: Phillips, Davis 3, Newton 2, Panos, Bartlett, Baulderstone, Donohue.
Port: Krakouer 3, A. Young, Shaw 2, Summerton, Hitchcock, Mitchell, Amon.
UMPIRES – C. Deboy, T. Medlin, A. Crosby.
JACK OATEY MEDAL – Matthew Panos (Norwood)
CROWD – 38, 644 at Adelaide Oval.
