Round 6 Hostplus SANFL Snapshot – Friday Night

Norwood stretched its unbeaten run to six with an unflattering, yet highly-effective, 18-point win against Adelaide at The Parade.

Leading at every change, the competition pacesetters threatened on multiple occasions to run away with the contest only to have the desperate Crows keep them in check.

But eventually, Jade Rawlings’ charges – who now sit top of the table with a game in hand – wore down their opposition through weight of inside 50 entries, having won the count by a commanding 62 to 36.

Norwood midfield signings Mitch O’Neill (29 disposals, seven clearances) and Billy Cootee (26 disposals, one goal) again had a positive influence in the absence of injured captain Jacob Kennerley.

Matt Ling was polished across half-back for the hosts with 24 disposals and nine marks while forward Baynen Lowe has been relishing more time up the ground with 24 disposals and eight clearances.

Redleg Pierce Seymour (17 disposals, six marks) led a disciplined back six while the emergence of key forward Finn Heard continues to be a headline out of Norwood’s impressive start to the season.

The brother of acting captain Jack Heard, Finn Heard is a constant threat in the air or at ground level as he showed with his two goals crumbing like a crafty goalsneak who stands much shorter than his 195cm.

Connor Mclean also bagged two goals for Norwood before premiership teammate Henry Nelligan booted a fine sealer in the fourth minute of the last term when he changed direction before converting on the run.

Adelaide’s Kieran Strachan was one of the few players to cancel out the influence of Norwood’s Harry Boyd (47 hit outs, 12 disposals) this season, tallying 22 disposals and eight marks to go with 32 hit outs.

Strachan helped provide a path for fellow onballers Harry Schoenberg (23 disposals, eight clearances), Billy Dowling (22 disposals, one goal) and Sam Berry (17 disposals, 11 tackles).

Crows forward Lachie Gollant booted two majors, his second coming after a desperate defensive spoil resulted in an aggressive burst to goal.

Adelaide captain Jack Madgen kicked the last goal of the game from a set shot but was forced from the field soon after in the final term after copping a heavy knock.