Australian Football

Match Report

Only 10 minutes after that match began, another siren sounded across the other side of town at The Parade, Coopers Stadium lighting up for the clash between the Redlegs and the Magpies. While the Magpies were licking their Sturt-inflicted wounds from two weekends ago, the Redlegs were bringing down their AFL rivals in Adelaide by 21 points. Last year's matches were both Magpies wins, they romped to a 71-point triumph in Round 17, while their last trip to Norwood saw them escape with a three-point win. That last game on Redlegs soil had a crowd of just under 4800, this one had a bit over half that figure, suggesting that the rivalry may have had its day. 

The Redlegs went right to work, both sides suffering some accuracy problems early on. Norwood kicked 5.5 to 1.4 to lead by 25 points at quarter-time. The goals were flowing pretty freely in the second quarter, the Redlegs building on their lead with their 6.2 to 4.3 to lead by six goals at the long break. The Magpies seem to have hit a speed bump as of late, ever since their drawn match against the Eagles they've come up against two sides that have been far better movers of the ball in Sturt and now the 'Legs. It was all equal in the third term, both sides scoring 3.2 each to leave the half-time gap unchanged at 36 points. The expected charge from Port did finally come in the final term, but the Redlegs would survive in the end. Norwood won by 24 points, after a 3.3 to 5.3 last quarter. 

Mitch Grigg was named best on ground for the 'Legs, the Magpies named Tom Rockliff as their best afield.