Australian Football

Match Report

We kick off this week's wrap with some Friday Night Mayhem, the lights of Coopers Stadium burning brightly for the clash of inner east and inner south -- the Redlegs and the Double Blues. Earlier this season in Round 2 at Unley, the Blues' second half efforts let the Redlegs leave with the points. Norwood's third term proved the game-breaker, although were still well within strike. Sturt couldn't make up the deficit, going down by 21 points. Last week the 'Legs outran a persistent Bulldogs by five goals at The Parade, while the Blues took down a wayward South by 11 points at Unley. 

The weather was going to fool with this match horribly, a near torrential downpour that lasted only minutes over the city turned the ground into a slip 'n' slide. Before that actually arrived at The Parade, the Blues could only manage 1.3 to the 'Legs single major to lead by three points at quarter-time. The rain did arrive for the second term, but the Blues seemed to revel in it as they scored 3.1 to the Redlegs' 1.2. They could go into the sheds at half-time with some real confidence after adapting so well in the wet, holding onto a 14-point lead at the break. Early in the third term, the Blues would lose a forward to injury. That could have hampered them easily, but instead it spurred them onwards in the difficult conditions. Sturt kept the home side to just one lousy behind whilst adding a further 3.2 for themselves, extending their advantage to 33 points by three quarter-time. The Redlegs' final term efforts could very well have seen quite the comeback story of the season, but after kicking a goal early on, a string of behinds was all they could manage. Despite being silenced in that last quarter, the Blues would still take a 23-point win, bringing with it a very realistic chance of qualifying for finals football. 

Tom Lewis was a menace to Norwood society, named Sturt's best with 20 disposals and 21 tackles. Matthew Nunn was named Norwood's best, he finished with 20 disposals and 23 tackles.