Australian Football

Match Report

Sunday takes us to Coopers Stadium in Norwood for the contest between the Redlegs and the Bloods. The Westies mob haven't had much luck against the Redlegs lately, not to mention the fact they haven't won at Norwood for the past six trips to The Parade. Their most recent match was back in Round 16 last year, the Redlegs inflicting a harsh 89-point hammering on Norwood soil. They had also dropped a game at Richmond earlier in the season, a low-scoring affair saw the Bloods go down by 21 points in Round 9.

This time around, it was going to be a all-in, backs-to-the-wall fight. There wouldn't be much separating these sides for the entire afternoon, with deficits at the breaks not being more than a single straight kick. The Redlegs would take a one-point lead at quarter-time, having scored 3.2 to the Bloods' 3.1. The second term was an all-out slog, the 'Legs adding an extra point to the gap by the long break after they scored 2.3 to 2.2. Despite some indecision, several skill errors and scoring chances going awry, the near 4000-strong crowd in attendance was treated to a contest with two quality teams. The Redlegs seemed to have the momentum after taking their advantage past a single straight shot, getting out to a 15-point lead at one stage in the third term. But by three quarter-time and despite some inaccuracy, Westies equalised the scores at 50 points each, having scored 2.5 to 2.3. But the Redlegs would manage to snatch the victory, after kicking 4.1 the Bloods' last minute rally of 3.1 would allow Norwood a win by one goal, time running out with the ball in striking distance of Westies' goal.

Matt Suckling was named best for the Redlegs, while the Bloods voted in Jonathon Beech as their best afield.