Round 3 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Anzac Day

North Adelaide could never avenge last year’s heart-breaking Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final loss to Norwood.

But the Roosters certainly looked like they enjoyed every minute of their statement-making 54-point win on Anzac Day against the Redlegs at The Parade.

With Bob Quinn Medallist Noah Casalini setting the visitors alight with six goals from 19 disposals and 10 marks, Jacob Surjan’s men not only squeezed the life out of Norwood by conceding one goal in the first half, they attacked with genuine purpose.

”It was an emphatic win by North Adelaide,” dual Magarey Medallist Joel Cross declared on the SANFL Now coverage.

”North was just more daring with the football and reaped the rewards.

”They had stars all over the park, but generally speaking, it was the way they went about it – they took the game on.”

Despite losing their own Magarey Medallist, Aaron Young, to a head knock early in second term, North didn’t relent with its ferocity at the ball or the speed in which it was moved while establishing a 40-point half-time advantage.

GWS Reserves recruit Casalini had booted the opening two goals of the game, the first from an eye-catching mark, as warning bells began to sound for the Redlegs.

The silky-skilled left-footer, in just his third SANFL League game, made all of his touches count as North small forwards Harrison Elbrow, Lachlan Grubb, Will Gowers and Frank Szekely also hit the scoreboard.

Szekely was also particularly damaging with his run and carry, often working back as far as the last line of defence en route to racking up 19 disposals.

Inside the contest, 2020 Magarey Medallist Campbell Combe was at his best with 27 disposals, 12 tackles and six clearances while his emerging look-a-like, Charlie Dinning was also superb with 23 possessions and six clearances.

North bigman Mitch Harvey took several telling intercept marks to finish with six, along with 15 disposals while AAMI Rookie Jack McCann (14 disposals) didn’t look out of place on debut.

Suddenly laden with an 0-3 win-loss record after hosting the opening three matches, the reigning premier battled to find any fluency with the ball in mustering 41 inside 50s to North’s 63.

Jade Rawling’s side managed to claw back some momentum after the main break, with Cam Taheny kicking a nice long-range goal on the run.

But after kicking three goals in the third term, Norwood managed just one more in the fourth quarter to ensure it would remain in 10th position heading into Round 4 next weekend.

Leadership group member Declan Hamilton ran hard all day for his 33 disposals and seven marks while former Sydney Swan Matt Ling is looking more at home with each outing after tallying 24 disposals and eight marks.

Impressive 17-year-old Logan Evans handled the pressure of a huge minor round contest with ease on his way to 17 composed touches for the Legs.