A third-quarter lapse has cost Adelaide dearly in a bruising 25-point loss to Norwood at Coopers Stadium on Sunday.

The Crows trailed by just 10 points after a competitive opening half but conceded six unanswered goals as heavy rain soaked The Parade in the third term.

Norwood’s big-bodied onballers adjusted to the conditions first and were able to score repeatedly on rebound out of defence.

The Redlegs led by as much as 44 points to all-but seal victory before the final break with a late goal to key forward Tom Pinyon, his fourth of the contest, Adelaide’s only major of the quarter.

The Crows outpointed Norwood in the final term to add some respectability to the scoreboard, but the damage was already done 9.12 (66) to 13.13 (91).

SANFL stats: Round 14 v Norwood

The result was Adelaide’s fourth-straight SANFL loss and leaves the Crows stranded in seventh place on the League ladder with just four rounds remaining.

Crows SANFL coach Ryan O'Keefe was disappointed his team let its good work go to waste in one poor quarter.

“That was the game in that third quarter,” O’Keefe said.

“I thought we played pretty well for the other three quarters and in the last quarter we dominated, but that lapse seems to be a bit of a trend for us at the moment.

“You’ve got to play hard footy for four quarters.”

Left-footer Harrison Wigg gave his all with a team-best 27 possessions and a match-high eight clearances and seven inside 50ms in another impressive midfield performance.

Ruckman Paul Hunter (27 hit-outs, 12 disposals, five clearances) took the points in an intriguing ruck duel with Norwood’s Sam Baulderstone, while development player Daniel Fry (18 possessions, five marks) could hold his head high following his best performance at SANFL level.

Pinyon equalled his career-best four-goal return from Round 11 and had three to his name by quarter-time in another example of his strength and talent.

Second-year defender Tom Doedee continued his strong SANFL season with his clean hands and combativeness in difficult conditions a highlight from 18 disposals and a team-high seven marks.


Experienced backman Kyle Cheney moved well in his return from a hamstring injury and wingman Paul Seedsman looked lively but Adelaide simply had too few contributors across the park.

Adelaide was down one player for the majority of the match after development player Louis De Michele injured his right elbow in the opening term and was unable to continue.

Pinyon’s three-goal first term helped Adelaide snatch the lead briefly in the early stages, but Norwood responded swiftly to take a 13-point lead at the first change.

Draftee Ben Davis showed glimpses of his potential in his debut for the Club by booting a beautiful set shot after a strong mark on the lead in the second term.

Goals to fellow first-year players Jordan Gallucci and Matthew Signorello kept the Crows in touch at half-time before Norwood exploded in the third quarter with six consecutive majors to run away with the victory.

Adelaide’s next SANFL match is against Glenelg at Bordertown Oval on Sunday afternoon.


ADELAIDE   3.4   6.5   7.8   9.12 (66)
NORWOOD   5.5   7.9   13.9   13.13 (91)

GOALS
Adelaide: Pinyon 4, Gallucci 2, Davis, Signorello, Jarman
Norwood: Dawe 3, Panos 2, Wilson 2, Jefferies 2, Fuller, Olsson, Terlich, Johnston

BEST
Adelaide: Wigg, Fry, Hunter, Seedsman, Pinyon, Doedee, Cheney, Jarman
Norwood: Panos, Shenton, Bampton, Jefferies, Forster, Nunn

INJURIES
Adelaide: De Michele (elbow)
Norwood: Nil