SANFL 2006 ROUND 19: SOUTH ADELAIDE v NORWOOD

Legs lose grip on finals

By JAI BEDNALL

NORWOOD went down to South Adelaide by 33 points on Saturday, all but ending the side's chance of playing finals this season.

In a must-win game for both sides, Norwood faltered when it mattered most, giving up a 29-point lead as the Panthers ran rampant in the second half.

Norwood had been clearly the better side for the first two quarters, winning the ball from the clearances and hurting South on the rebound.

But it all fell apart once the Panthers clicked into gear, with Norwood seemingly powerless to stop the home side's running game.

To the Redlegs' credit they refused to stop trying and when Gavin Hughes slotted a goal in the last quarter the deficit was under three goals.

But that was as close as Norwood would come in a disappointing result for coach Trevor Hill's side.

“We put ourselves in a position to win the game and to play like we did for the last one and a half quarters was disappointing,'' Hill said.

“(South) got on top in the midfield, certainly at the centre bounces and then at the stoppages.

“They really smashed us which then gave their forwards plenty of opportunities.''

“Our players tried, they worked hard, but when you don't get first use of the ball it becomes really difficult.''

The Redlegs were well led by Brett James (33 disposals), Bryce Campbell (22 disposals) and Scott Borlace (26 disposals and three goals) but were stretched in defence as South played three tall forwards.

Hill admitted matching up on tall forward lines had been a problem all year.

“We're always going to have a bit of strife with talls, there's no secret there.

“But when you haven't got it, you haven't got it.''

The Redlegs now need to win their last three games to have any hope of making the finals, but even then, would still need other results to go their way.

Hill said losses to Glenelg last week and now South had cost the club.

“All year we've been talking about just trying to improve as a club and gain the respect of the footy public,'' Hill said.

“We've sort've taken a backwards step in the last fortnight so that hasn't been good.

“But for the most part we've worked really hard.

“Mathematically I think if we win our last three we're a chance but then you have to rely on what happens to other sides and I just hate that.''

SCORES: South Adelaide 4.2 8.6 14.12 23.12 (150) defeated Norwood 6.6 11.9 13.13 17.15 (117).

BEST: South - Kenna, Wright, Twomey, Torney, Parry; Norwood - B. James, Campbell, Borlace, Hughes, Culpitt.

GOALS: South - Twomey 5, Cupido 4, Iljcesen, Archard, Wright, Handby 2, Kenna, Warren, Torney, Davey, Clarke, Williams; Norwood - Hughes 4, Borlace, Brunoli 3, Carslake 2, Culpitt, Vlatko, Gallagher, Bartemucci, Meesen.