Australian Football

Match Report

The final game for the weekend would take place under full Friday Night Lights on The Parade, the Redlegs hosting the old rivals in the Magpies in the first clash for the Williams-Gallagher Cup. The Redlegs bagged all the chocolates from their two outings against Port last season, with a 45-point win at home to start the year and then a six-goal win on enemy turf in Round 14. Both sides went down in their respective games last week, with Norwood unlucky against the premiers after last chance on goal was spoiled for a behind and the 'Legs fell by two points. The next day, Port led by almost five goals at one point against South. But then a five minute flurry late in the third term by the Panthers and late accuracy issues led to the 'Pies downfall, losing by 10 points. 

The Redlegs began the night on the right foot, although some spurned chances stopped them taking a bigger lead at the first change. They scored 4.4 to Port's 1.1 to lead by 21 points at quarter-time. The 'Legs were out to a 34-point lead after just 10 minutes into the second term, but by half-time their lead was back down to a more manageable 15 points going into the mid-game break after an all-up 2.3 to 3.3 scoreline. When play resumed for the second half, the Magpies wasted some real prime chances to trim back the Redlegs' lead some more, leaving them still trailing at the final change instead of perhaps being ahead by a kick or two. They outscored the home side on behinds only, kicking 3.4 to 3.2 as the deficit was now down to 13 points. Both sides struggled to find the sticks in an all-out final term arm-wrestle, but in the end the Redlegs would hold down the fort to put one hand on the W/G Cup for 2022. They scored two goals to the visitors' 1.3 to win by 16 points, yet another wasted opportunity for the Magpies. 

Nik Rokahr was named best for Norwood, with 32 disposals and seven marks, while the Magpies voted in Taj Schofield as their best with 19 disposals and 10 tackles.