Round 6 Game of the Week – Norwood v Adelaide

By ZAC MILBANK

Why is it Game of the Week?
This will see the two form teams in the competition go head-to-head in the Friday night prime timeslot in front of the Redleg faithful at The Parade. Norwood remains unbeaten after five rounds, and after falling over the line in the opening three rounds, have been much more commanding in wins against Port and North in the past fortnight. The captain Jace Bode is back on deck after dislocating his shoulder in Round 1 while the likes of Peter Bampton – who booted five goals on Anzac Day – are among the lesser lights to continue their steady improvement. With Heath Younie back at the helm – the man who guided the Crows to the 2016 Preliminary Final – the visitors appear a much more settled outfit which is playing with genuine purpose. Patrick Wilson has been his consistent self in the midfield while Josh Jenkins hit the scoreboard last week with thee goals. Plus the addition of promising Development players Tom Hutchesson and Hamish Latchford has improved the standard of depth at West Lakes this year. It is first versus third on the ladder in what promises to be a beauty.

For the Record
Overall
Played: 10
Norwood: 6
Adelaide: 4

The Last Three
Round 13 2018 – Norwood 13.24 (102) d Adelaide 7.9 (51)
Round 5 2018 – Norwood 14.23 (107) d Adelaide 13.8 (86)
Round 14 2017 – Norwood 13.13 (91) d Adelaide 9.12 (66)

Key Match-Up
Matt Panos (Norwood) v Patrick Wilson (Adelaide)
The 2019 Bob Quinn Medallist will look to continue his excellent form by going toe-to-toe in the centre square with last year’s Adelaide State League best and fairest winner. Panos and Wilson are both big-bodied midfielders who will look to use their imposing frames to advantage at the stoppages. They are both equally adept at winning clearances, particularly in the centre square, so the battle will be on right from the first bounce. Whoever can gain the upper hand in this duel will significantly help their side toward earning the premiership points.

Zac’s Verdict
Adelaide by 15 points
Adelaide has been super impressive in each of its outings this year with the exception being the shock loss to Glenelg in Round 2. While a win wasn’t yielded against South in Round 4, coach Heath Younie declared the first half was some of the best football his side had produced in more than a year. A similarly devastating first half resulted against Central which put the Dogs on the back foot early last Saturday. The scary thing for Norwood will be if the Crows can maintain these damaging periods for four quarters, if so, it will have a genuine fight on its hands. The Redlegs will look to continue using the speedy Dom Barry and Anthony Wilson on the outside but it might not be enough to counter the Crows on this occasion.