Australian Football

Match Report

At Coopers Stadium on The Parade, over 6,500 people turning up for the season opener between the Redlegs and the Double Blues. 30 years ago, these two sides squared off in the 1978 Grand Final that saw the Leggies escaping with the prize... after quarter time, it was hardly a re-enactment. 

It was new Blue Ian Perrie that fired the first shot, one of six for the night as the visitors took a five point lead at the first change. Norwood seemed to take some measure of control in the second term, but after 11 minutes the Blues woke up from their short slumber and put the margin out to 21 points after kicking 3.5 to Norwood's 1.1, which would end up being the last goal the home side would get. After the long break, the Blues walked all over the Redlegs, keeping them to a lousy three behinds while they added 4.2 to their own score to be up by 44 points at three quarter-time. The Redlegs just didn't seem to be bothered in the last term, the Blues running around in packs and it only added to the Norwood fans' discontent. A further 3.3 in the final term to the 'Legs poor five behinds saw the Blues home by 10 goals. 

Perrie's six goal effort earned him best afield votes for Sturt, while Brett Zorzi was named best for Norwood.