NORWOOD proved too strong in the Round 4 SANFL clash with Port Adelaide, running out 34-point winners at The Parade on Easter Thursday.
The Redlegs claimed a 20.8-128 to 14.10-94 win on a perfect night for football, as the Magpies missed early opportunities and were overrun in a dominant third quarter, in which the Redlegs booted seven goals to three.
It was Port Adelaide who had the better of the first quarter and did most of the early attacking.
The visiting side were inspired by a rundown, goal-saving Matthew Broadbent tackle and a Boyd Woodcock hanger in the first two minutes of the match.
The Magpies led the disposals and were dominant in the inside 50 statistics at quarter time (18 to seven) but only led by one point at the first break.
Port trapped the ball in its forward half and found goals through Trent McKenzie and Jack Trengove, but were caught on the rebound as Cameron Taheny found a paddock of space for Norwood’s first goal.
Peter Ladhams was the star big man on the ground with eight hitouts and seven disposals at quarter time, which led to Port dominating the clearances 12 to six.
This ruck assistance didn’t lead to scoreboard pressure as the Magpies peppered the goal-face but were wasteful when it came to converting majors - kicking behinds, spraying out on the full and even kicking into the man on the mark.
The second term got off to a flying start for Norwood, with goals to Declan Hamilton and Matthew Panos within the first 90 seconds, which punished Port after a dominant, yet inaccurate first quarter.
After a low scoring start the match, the second quarter was just the opposite with 12 goals kicked between the two sides.
Ladhams continued his hot start and took an uncontested mark at the top of the goal square before converting against the flow to bring Port back to within five points.
The Magpies got a run on when Joe Atley split the pack to run into an open goal at the seven-minute mark to return his side to the lead.
The goal-fest continued when a poor Magpies turnover led to Hamilton’s second goal as the Redlegs wrestled back the lead, but it didn’t last long before young Magpie, Sam Davidson kicked two goals in a minute - including a sensational snap from the grandstand pocket.
Brady Dawe kicked two for the quarter and Anthony Wilson turned on the jets to snap and goal, which helped the Redlegs to an eight-point lead at the main break.
Port and Norwood traded goals in the opening seven minutes of the second half as the game’s pace lifted another notch.
The Redlegs began to get a run on as their lead stretched out to 19 points and began to get on top in the inside 50s and controlled the disposal tally.
Norwood hardly faulted in front of goal as Wilson, Taheny and Peter Bampton goals stretched the margin to 32 points late in the third quarter.
Norwood picked up where it left off in the final quarter as it booted four goals in front of a large home crowd.
Port’s Jack Trengove again found plenty of the football, finishing with 37 disposals while Steve Motlop (31 disposals) was also impressive in his SANFL return.
SCOREBOARD
Port Adelaide 2.4 7.8 10.10 20.8 (128)
Norwood 2.3 9.4 16.6 14.10 (94)
BEST: Trengove, Amon, Motlop, Mayes, Pudney, Lienert
GOALS: Amon 2, Davidson 2, Trengove 2, Atley 1, Edwards 1, Garner 1, Ladhams 1, Lienert 1, McKenzie 1, Motlop 1, Woodcock 1.
