Australian Football

Match Report

On Saturday afternoon we head over to City Mazda Stadium in Richmond where the Bloods faced the Redlegs in the ABC Match of the Round. The last six match-ups between these clubs have been all red & blue, the Redlegs victorious at both The Parade and at Richmond. The last encounter was one that got away from the Bloods, in a gut-wrenching finish a Redlegs mark and goal at the death snatching victory from the jaws of defeat by one point. Two weeks previous to that, the 'Legs were handed their first defeat, but up until this match it was their only one.

Norwood's opening term was a shocker on the scoreboard, but they would still hold an 11-point lead at quarter-time after kicking 2.5 to West's single goal. That deficit wouldn't be altered come the half-time break, both sides kicked 3.2 in the second term to allow Norwood to retain their lead. Only a couple of weeks ago, the Bloods gave the Bulldogs a wake-up call when they went to Elizabeth. To enhance their premiership credentials, they had to do the same today. Norwood's wasted opportunities came back to bite them in the second half, the Bloods reeling the 'Legs back to within striking distance after they kicked 3.1 to 2.2 in the third quarter. At the final change, Norwood was down to a one-goal lead. But then the unthinkable happened, the visiting fans would have been left stunned as the Redlegs were held scoreless in the final quarter. Westies would go on to inflict a second loss on Norwood and their second top-three scalp in as many weeks, inaccuracy would prove to be a null issue as they added 4.5 to their tally to take a 23-point win.

Aaron Fielke was voted best for the Bloods, while Norwood voted in Nathan Batsanis as their best afield.