Round 2 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Friday Night

By ZAC MILBANK

Norwood announced itself as a genuine threat for the 2024 Hostplus SANFL League premiership with a fighting 24-point win against reigning premier Glenelg at The Parade.

Now with consecutive victories against last year’s grand finalists, the Redlegs proved they are vastly different outfit to the one which started 2023 with eight-straight losses.

After battling hard to shrug off the Tigers in the opening half despite having 14 more inside 50s, Jade Rawlings’ charges broke the contest open with a damaging 13-minute period which yielded four goals in a row during the third term.

Jack Oatey Medallist Harry Boyd dominated in the centre square and around the ground to give his side plenty of punch around the stoppages, finishing with 46 hit outs to go with his 17 disposals, eight clearances and three inside 50s.

South Adelaide recruit Mitch O’Neill celebrated his first goal for the Redlegs with a curling snap in the first term before kicking the final major for his side in the last term from his 21 disposals while Jake Cresswell was particularly prominent in the first half before tallying 23 disposals.

Former Essendon VFL captain Billy Cootee proved he will make the transition to SANFL seamlessly after racking up 24 disposals and a goal in an influential display while Norwood’s back six – led by Tom Donnelly and Jack Heard – was stingy in keeping the Tigers to just seven goals.

Without captain Liam McBean, Tigers coach Darren Reeves played Will Gould – playing his first game since the 2019 SANFL Grand Final – in attack but the Bays were unable to produce any fluency moving the ball inside 50m.

Darcy Bailey kicked a stunning goal from 55m to go with his team-high 24 disposals while midfielders Matt Allen (21 disposals) and Matthew Snook (20 disposals) refused to give in.

But ultimately, the visitors were beaten by the better side on the night as they conceded 59 inside 50m entries to 45.