Round 9 SANFL Snapshot – Sunday

Glenelg produced a stunning comeback to keep its unbeaten run in tact with a pulsating one-point win against Norwood at The Parade.

Trailing by as much as 47 points when Norwood’s Mitch Grigg booted his third goal four minutes into the third quarter, the Bays proceeded to kick the final eight goals of the game en route to a memorable victory.

The visitors had managed just two goals in more than a half before forward Toby Pink kicked their third nearly eight minutes into the third term.

By the time the former Sydney Swan nailed his second, Glenelg had hit the front for the first time since Jack Yates registered the opening score of the game – a behind – five minutes into the first quarter.

But Norwood – irresistible throughout the first half with its pressure around the contest – desperately tried to claw back the lead in the final 15 minutes, as evidenced in one of the clips below.

Redlegs forward Cole Gerloff swoops to soccer on the loose ball, only to have his desperate effort touched by Bays defender Sam Durdin, who flew across his boot to get a hand on the ball.

It would be the first of three significant acts from Durdin, who then clunked two huge contested marks as Norwood continued to surge in the frantic final minutes.

Glenelg’s Matthew Snook was instrumental in the turnaround, finishing with 27 disposals, 11 tackles and six clearances while Dylan Landt was involved in several scoring chains amongst his 24 disposals.

Co-captain Chris Curran finished with 26 disposals, seven marks and six tackles while Luke Partington and Brett Turner came into the game during the second half to each reach the 20-possession barrier.

Norwood captain Matthew Nunn returned from a hamstring strain to register a game-high 29 disposals, eight tackles and six clearances but blotted his copy book with 2.4 in front of goal.

Nik Rokahr had 23 disposals for the Legs while Mitch Grigg was influential in the first half with his 17 disposals, three goals and eight tackles.

South Adelaide was forced to fend off a plucky West Adelaide for a thrilling three-point win at Hisense Stadium. 

Seemingly in control of the contest with a 31-point lead late in the third term, the Panthers were only able to produce one more behind for the rest of the match.

At the same time, the buoyant Bloods made a bold play for victory as Josh Gore and Jono Beech booted majors either side of the final change.

Nippy Connor Fairlie, who produced one of his best League performances against his former club, then trimmed the margin to four points with his third goal in the 22nd minute of the fourth term.

He had the opportunity to follow up his major just two minutes later, but after receiving a handball from Kenny Karpany, was only able to manage a behind from a difficult checkside kick near the goal square.

South was then able to retain possession for the final minute as the siren sounded in just the 26th minute, just as West was mounting another serious attack from half-back.

Panthers defender Joe Haines led the way on the stats sheet with 31 disposals and 10 marks while Bryce Gibbs had 28 possessions and six clearances.

Impressive South youngster Hayden Sampson tallied 20 disposals and a cracking goal featured in the clip below, producing a classy checkside finish after his intercept.

West’s Kaine Stevens tried his heart out for 35 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances while Elliot Dunkin used the ball with precision with his 30 disposals and five marks.

Bloods premiership backman Logan Hill battled tremendously in defence for 25 disposals while often opposed to South star Joel Cross while captain Tom Keough hit the scoreboard again with three goals.